1861: U.S. Army troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia, while in Maryland, Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler declares any slaves who seek sanctuary in his unit "contraband of war." Looking for more on Benjamin Butler? HistoryNet.com can has your information.

Also today in history, in the U.S. and elsewhere: 

1218: Figuring on taking Jerusalem by means of an unexpected end run, the Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. This will not end well.

1798: The United Irishmen rise up against British rule. 

1846: After a hell of a fight, Brig. Gen. Zachary Taylor secures Monterey.

1941: In the Battle of the Denmark Strait, German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen sink British battleship Hood, which goes down with 1,416 of her 1,4,19-man crew, and badly damaged battleship Prince of Wales.

1958: Cuban Presidente Fulgencio Batista begins a major offensive to crush Fidel Castro's revolutionaries. This will not end well.

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