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1856 - Prepresentative Preston Brooks of South Carolina enters the Senate chambers in Washington, D.C., and brutally beats Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts.

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1863 - General Grant begins siege on Vicksburg.

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1864 - Battle of North Anna River, Virginia (Totopotamy River, Haw's Shop, Hanovertown).

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1906 - The Wright brothers are granted U.S. patent number 821,393 for their "Flying-Machine."

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1915 - Lassen Peak erupts, the only mountain other than Mount St. Helens to erupt in the continental U.S. during the 20th century.

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1931 - Canned rattlesnake meat first goes on sale in Florida.

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1933 - US Congress declares all currency in circulation legal tender dollar for dollar as if it were gold.

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1945 - US 6th Marine division reaches suburbs of Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

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1947 - "Truman Doctrine" goes into effect, aiding Turkey and Greece.

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1947 - First US ballistic missile fired.

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