Star-Spangled Salute To America

First transatlantic telegraph cable completed

On this day in US history, after multiple unsuccessful attempts, the first telegraph line across the Atlantic Ocean was completed on August 5, 1858. Cyrus West Field conceived the idea of the telegraph cable in 1854 and secured a charter to lay the well-insulated line across the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. By 1958, 2,000 miles of cable had been successfully laid at a depth of almost two miles below the surface. It connected from the US to Great Britain. To test the connection, President James Buchanan and Queen Victoria exchanged pleasantries on a call powered by the transatlantic cable.

Battle of Bad Axe

This week in Wisconsin history, the final and most brutal engagement of the Black Hawk War occurred on August 2, 1832. Otherwise known as the Massacre at Bad Axe, after being pursued by US forces, Black Hawk’s band of 500 Sauk and Fox tried to cross the Mississippi River. However, they were mowed down by gunmen on a steamboat that had outflanked the Native band attempting to flee. The following day, despite attempts to surrender, 400 more Natives were mercilessly attacked, including women and children attempting to flee across the river. The death toll for the Black Hawk band was around 400-500, while only 5 US service members lost their lives.