Good morning.
Monday begins with a high of thirty-three, and a slight chance of flurries in the afternoon.
Tonight at 6 PM, Whitewater’s Planning Commission meets.
On this day in 1942, the Battle of Guadalcanal began. The battle ended as a major American victory over Japan. Here’s how the New York Times reported the beginning of the battle:
The Army and Marine forces on Guadalcanal Island carried out offensive action against the Japanese there both on the east and west on Monday (Solomons date), the Navy reported in a communique issued here today. The communique indicated, by lack of word to the contrary, that the operations proceeded successfully. Army planes based in Alaska destroyed seven Japanese seaplanes and damaged two cargo vessels in the western reaches of the Aleutian Islands, the Navy said.
The Guadalcanal operations were supported by Army planes, which on previous occasions have aided in our new offensive moves by bombing enemy supply dumps and by strafing such enemy forces as could be located in clearings in the jungle.
While supporting the ground attacks the air forces based at Henderson Field, on Guadalcanal, also carried attacks to the enemy at sea and in the air. One group of unidentified American planes attacked five Japanese destroyers to the east of New Georgia Island, but the fliers were unable to observe the results of their attack.
On this day in 1836, the Wisconsin Territory had her first law:
1836 – Governor Dodge Signs First Law
On this date territorial governor, Henry Dodge, signed the first law passed by the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature. The law prescribed how the legislators were to behave, and how other citizens were to behave towards them. For example, it authorized “the Assembly to punish by fine and imprisonment every person, not a member, who shall be guilty of disrespect, disorderly or contemptous behavior, threats, in the legislature or interference with witnesses to the legislature; also to expel on a two thirds majority in either house a member of its own body…” This did not keep the members from vociferous arguments, fist fights, or even shooting one another (see Odd Wisconsin or the entry in This Day in Wisconsin History for February 11th)
Google’s daily puzzle asks about poetry: “Which poet likens youth to a budding flower in his “carpe diem” poem, urging its reader to gather them up?”