Wednesday, December 18, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1864, General George Stoneman’s Federal force of 4,000 troops clashed with Gen. John Breckinridge’s 1,000 defenders in the Battle of Marion. The Confederates held their position until they ran low on ammunition. They then retreated, leaving the Union effectively in control of Southwest Virginia.  Today, The […]

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1777, France formally recognized the United States as a nation independent of Great Britain. It was a significant boost for General George Washington and his troops in the field. Coaching changes abound in the Commonwealth. Check out our Sports section to learn about a renowned […]

Monday, December 16, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1777, Virginia became the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, the first document to attempt to organize a government for the newly independent United States. The Articles would be replaced by the Constitution in 1789. Welcome to a new week with The Virginia […]

Friday, December 13, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1862, Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s offensive at Fredericksburg was crushed by Robert E. Lee’s much smaller Confederate force. Lee’s troops held the high ground on Marye’s Heights and wiped out wave after wave of attackers. The annual Army-Navy game kicks off at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Virginia […]

Thursday, December 12, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1862, the entire Federal army, some 120,000 soldiers, crossed the Rappahannock River and took up positions in the town. Commanding General Ambrose Burnside planned to attack Robert E. Lee’s much smaller Confederate force the next day.  Thank you for flying with The Virginia Flyover! Our […]

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1862, Federal engineer regiments began trying to build pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock River under heavy fire from Confederate troops in Fredericksburg. After hours of fighting, Federal forces managed to cross the river and triggered house-to-house skirmishes in the city. Thank you for reading The Virginia […]

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1606, the Virginia Company of London put out detailed instructions for colonists to follow. The Company expected settlers to set up a port 100 miles up a navigable river from the ocean, and it wanted them to begin searching for a “Northwest Passage” to Asia. […]

Monday, December 9, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1775, Patriot forces skirmished with the British in the Battle of Great Bridge near Norfolk. The fighting lasted only about an hour, with the British taking over 100 casualties while the Patriots suffered only one casualty and took control of the land on both sides […]

Friday, December 6, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1606, three ships left England bound for Virginia. It would be months before the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery made landfall. When they arrived the following year, the 105 passengers founded Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America.  Robbing a store is never […]

Thursday, December 5, 2024 Good morning! On this day in 1960, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Boynton v. Virginia. The case involved a black passenger who refused to leave a “whites-only” area of a restaurant at a bus station. The Court held that segregation in public transportation facilities was unconstitutional. Changes may be […]