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1789 The United States War Department first establishes the nation's first regular army
, with a strength of several hundred men.
1806 Pike expedition: Near St. Louis, Missouri
, United States Army Lieutenant Zebulon Pike
leads an expedition from Fort Belle Fountaine to explore the west.
1856 American Old West
: On the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona
, the United States Army establishes Fort Buchanan in order to help control new land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.
1861 American Civil War: Citing failing health, Union
General Winfield Scott
resigns as Commander of the United States Army.
1868 Indian Wars
: Battle of Washita River - In the early morning, United States Army Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
leads an attack on a band of peaceful Cheyenne
living on reservation land with Chief Black Kettle, killing 103 Cheyenne (later regarded as the first substantial US victory in the war).
1876 Indian Wars
: In retaliation for the dramatic American
defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
, United States Army troops under General Ranald S. Mackenzie sack Chief Dull Knife's sleeping Cheyenne
village at the headwaters of the Powder River (the soldiers destroyed all of the villager's winter food and clothing and then slashed their ponies' throats).
1877 Indian Wars
: Sitting Bull
leads his band of Lakota
into Canada
to avoid harassment by the United States Army under Colonel Nelson Miles.
1877 Indian Wars
: Battle of Big Hole - Near Big Hole River in Montana
, a small band of Nez Percé Indians who refused government orders to move to a reservation, clash with the United States Army. The army lost 29 soldiers and Indians lost 89 warriors in a US Army win.
1890 In West Point, New York
, the United States Navy
defeats the United States Army 24 to 0 in the first Army-Navy football game.
1914 The Signal Corps of the United States Army is formed, giving definite status to its air service for the first time. British Fleet at Spithead: reviewed by the King.
1932 US President Herbert Hoover
orders the United States Army to forcibly evict the "Bonus Army" of World War I
veterans gathered in Washington, DC. US troops dispersed the last of the "Bonus Army" the next day.
1933 The United States Army Disciplinary Barracks on Alcatraz is acquired by the United States Department of Justice
, which plans to incorporate the island into its Federal Bureau of Prisons as a federal penitentiary.
1942 The Secretary of War reorganized the United States Army into three major commands - Army Ground Forces, Army Air Forces
, and Services of Supply, later redesignated Army Service Forces
under attack by US aircraft at the Battle of Midway.]]
1943 The United States Army contracts with the University of Pennsylvania
's Moore School to develop the ENIAC
.
1945 World War II: Hermann Göring
is captured by the United States Army; Norway
arrests Vidkun Quisling
; Soviet Union
marks V-E Day.
1954 Senator
Joseph McCarthy
begins hearings investigating the United States Army for being "soft" on Communism
.
1954 McCarthyism: Joseph Welch, special counsel for the United States Army, lashes out at Senator
Joseph McCarthy
during hearings on whether Communism
has infiltrated the Army
1958 The United States Army launches Explorer III
1968 Vietnam War
: The United States Department of Defense
announces that the United States Army and United States Marines will be sending about 24,000 troops back to Vietnam
for involuntary second tours.
1970 My Lai massacre
: The United States Army charges 14 officers with suppressing information related to the incident.
1972 Vietnam War
: Vietnamization - The United States Army turns over the massive Long Binh military base to South Vietnam
.
1976 Clifford Alexander Jr. is confirmed as the first African-American Secretary of the US Army
.
1997 The United States Army suspends Sgt. Major Gene McKinney, its top-ranking enlisted soldier, after hearing allegations of sexual misconduct.
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Timeline
