April 3rd Matters

Charles

If you're a blogger, you know one of the cardinal rules is never fuss about how hard it is to come up with stuff to write about. Another is to never start a history blog with, "Hmm, let's see what today in history looks like." That's like starting an essay with, "Webster defines (whatever you're writing about) as...."

HUGE no-no.

But I make an exception to the anti-"Hmm" rule today, because there's nothing else to write about. (Uh oh.) I recall that April 3 is a day with several interesting historical tidbits. Seriously, try it with March 23: Nothing there.

April 3rd has three events I have to key on. First, the Union Army captured Richmond, Virginia , the Confederate capital. The American Civil War ended six days later. It's really big because that war was so fierce and seemed to last an eternity. By some historical thinking (mine), the Civil War was the culmination of America's first 250 years — and the blueprint, if you will, of the following century and a half (or so).

(Another cardinal rule: Ease up on the punctuation, will ya?)

Then there's the assassination of Jesse James. The James Gang terrorized banks and railroads for years, before the legendary outlaw was killed by one of his followers. Many believe that James was still fighting the Civil War through his crimes. While that may be true, James managed to find an enchanted place in American memory while being a criminal. Unlike, say, Bruno Richard Hauptmann , executed this day for the kidnap and murder of the Lindbergh baby, "The Crime of the Century" (at that time, anyway). Hauptmann is one of history's great villains, despite a body of evidence that suggests his innocence.  A very interesting thing to ponder.

Finally, the Pony Express  started its first successful run from point to point in 1860 — Saint Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. The hard-luck operation would fade from view in about 18 months, but the Pony Express still charges hard and purposefully through the imagination. There are big plans to commemorate the Pony Express next year, its sesquicentennial. Wells Fargo had a piece of the Pony Express during its final months, so we hope to play a role. We did a lot for the 150th of the first overland stagecoach.

Oh, and one more thing: The von Kappelhoffs  had a baby girl today. We're all the better for it.