Herodotus on the Ancient Colchians:

The History of Georgia

Today in History – 2 January 1904

Confederate General James Longstreet Died

On this day in 1904, Confederate general James Longstreet died at Gainesville, Georgia, USA. He was known by General Robert E. Lee as his ‘Old War Horse.’ He was also known as ‘Old Pete.’

James Longstreet was born on the 8th January 1821, in Edgefield District, South Carolina, USA. He served in the military for most of his early life. He served with distinction in the Mexican-American War, in Texas and in the Confederate States Army.

General James Longstreet was one of the Confederate army’s leading generals, serving in both the eastern and western theaters of the American Civil War. Longstreet was severley injured at the Battle of the Wilderness, though he returned to the war.

Following the war, Longstreet lost many of his civil war friends, as he joined the Republican Party, helped President U.S. Grant and because of his highly critical comments on Robert E. Lee. His reputation has suffered great damage at his own hand, though it seems it is being restored with the passing of time.

For more read:
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Longstreet

– From Manassas to Appomattox, by James Longstreet (memoirs of the civil war in America, published in 1903)

Today in History – 8 May 1886

First Glass of Coca-Cola Sold: Coca-Cola now Celebrates 125 Years

OK, so this may not be of great historical note in the overall scheme of things, but since I am a huge fan of the drink I have to mention it. Coca-Cola is celebrating 125 years of existence in one form or another – what it is today is not what it was back in the beginning. In the United States, Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton invented (or perhaps stumbled upon would be more accurate) Coca-Cola while seeking a ‘remedy’ for headache and fatigue (among other claims of things it cured or helped). It was on this day in 1886 that he sold his first Coca-Cola drink at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1888 Asa Candler bought the rights to the recipe and began mass producing Coca-Cola as a soft drink. The rest they say is history.

For more visit:
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/ourheritage.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola