Clarence the Cow

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

Wow, Chloride Chamber did a great job pulling off Founders Day. Looks like it was a lot of fun. I could have done great at that watermelon-eating contest. 3 bites and it would have been gone. Maybe next year I'll join in on the fun.

05/29/2026

Here is something to think about

03/28/2026

On This Day – March 28 1881 – P. T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey form what becomes known as “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

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On March 28, 1862, during the Civil War, the pivotal Battle of Glorieta Pass was fought in the New Mexico Territory—a clash often called the “Gettysburg of the West.”

Following their victory at the Battle of Valverde in February 1862, Confederate forces under General Henry Hopkins Sibley pushed north and west through New Mexico. Their goal was ambitious: secure the territory and ultimately reach the gold fields farther west. Access to that gold could replenish the struggling Confederate treasury and help fund weapons and supplies from Europe.

Before advancing further, however, the Confederates needed to capture Fort Union, a key Union stronghold. To reach it, they had to pass through the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Waiting for them there—unbeknownst to Sibley—was a Union force of about 1,300 Colorado volunteers led by Colonel John Slough.

The Union troops positioned themselves in Glorieta Pass, a narrow mountain route the Confederates would have to cross. On the morning of March 28, Confederate forces entered the pass and launched a fierce attack. Despite having time to prepare, Union troops were driven back toward Pigeon’s Ranch. There, among the adobe buildings, they regrouped and mounted a determined defense. Still, the Confederates held the advantage in numbers—an uncommon situation during the Civil War—and began to push the Union line into retreat.

At that moment, the tide of the battle shifted.

Behind Confederate lines, about 400 Union sharpshooters led by Major John Chivington maneuvered through the mountains. They struck the Confederate supply train, destroying wagons, killing pack animals, and cutting off vital resources. This devastating blow left the Confederate army unable to sustain itself in the harsh desert terrain.

The impact was immediate. As Confederate supplies burned, retreating Union troops regained confidence and turned back to fight. The Confederates, suddenly vulnerable and disorganized, were forced into retreat. Within days, they withdrew to Santa Fe and eventually back to Texas—losing nearly half their force along the way due to starvation and exhaustion.

The Union victory at Glorieta Pass effectively ended Confederate ambitions in the Southwest and secured New Mexico for the Union.

On This Day – March 28

1797 – Nathaniel Briggs patents one of the first washing machines in the United States.

1881 – P. T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey join forces to create what becomes known as “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

1930 – The cities of Constantinople and Angora are officially renamed Istanbul and Ankara, modernizing Turkey’s place names.

1979 – A serious accident occurs at Three Mile Island, marking the most significant nuclear incident in U.S. history.

2005 – A powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake strikes near Sumatra, Indonesia, causing widespread damage across the region.

Fun Fact
March 28 is sometimes associated with innovation and big turning points—from early inventions to major historical shifts.

03/27/2026

On This Day – March 27
Fun / Cultural Notes
• March 27 is often associated with World Theatre Day, celebrating the performing arts around the globe.
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On March 27, 1835, during the Texas Revolution—just weeks after the fall of the Alamo—Mexican forces carried out another devastating massacre of Texan soldiers in what became known as the Goliad Massacre.

While Mexican troops were laying siege to the Alamo in San Antonio, General Antonio López de Santa Anna dispatched a force of about 1,400 soldiers under General José de Urrea to capture the strategic Texan outpost of Goliad. This location was vital to the Republic of Texas because it safeguarded supply routes to the Gulf of Mexico. Defending it were only a few hundred inexperienced Texan troops led by Colonel James Fannin.

Fannin and his men had debated whether to reinforce the Alamo, but Urrea’s advancing army made that impossible. Faced with an increasingly dangerous situation, Fannin struggled with a difficult decision: defend Goliad and risk being surrounded, or retreat and abandon the post. Ultimately, he chose to withdraw and attempt to join General Sam Houston—but the decision came too late.

As the Texans retreated, Urrea’s forces caught up with them on an open prairie and surrounded them. Although the Texans managed to repel an initial attack and might have held out longer, they had left behind crucial supplies needed to withstand a siege. With no viable options remaining, Fannin surrendered on March 20 after receiving assurances from Urrea that his men would be treated humanely.

The prisoners were marched back to Goliad and held at the very fort they had once occupied. Days later, Urrea received a chilling order from Santa Anna: the Texan prisoners were to be executed, as they were considered traitors undeserving of mercy. Reluctantly, and under threat of punishment himself, Urrea complied.

The Texans, believing they were being released, were marched out of town in groups. Instead, they were lined up and fired upon without warning. Within minutes, nearly 350 Texan soldiers were killed—almost twice the number who had died at the Alamo.
Colonel Fannin was executed last. Before his death, he requested that his personal belongings be sent to his family, that he not be shot in the face, and that he receive a proper Christian burial. None of these requests were honored.

Rather than ending the rebellion, the brutality of the Goliad Massacre—alongside the tragedy at the Alamo—ignited greater determination among Texan forces. Just weeks later, under the leadership of Sam Houston, they achieved a decisive victory over Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Also on This Day

• 1513 – Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León sights land in present-day Florida, becoming one of the first Europeans to do so.

• 1625 – Charles I ascends to the English throne after the death of his father, James I.

• 1790 – The U.S. Congress passes the Naturalization Act, setting early rules for citizenship.

• 1794 – The U.S. government establishes a permanent navy and authorizes the construction of six frigates.

• 1866 – President Andrew Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (Congress later overrides the veto).

• 1884 – The first long-distance telephone call is made between Boston and New York City.

• 1912 – The first Japanese cherry blossom trees are planted in Washington, D.C., a gift symbolizing friendship between Japan and the United States.

• 1964 – The powerful Great Alaska Earthquake (9.2 magnitude) strikes, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America.

• 1977 – Two Boeing 747s collide on the runway in the Tenerife Airport Disaster, the deadliest accident in aviation history.

• 1980 – After 123 years of dormancy, Mount St. Helens begins erupting, signaling one of the most significant volcanic events in U.S. history.

• 1981 – The Pac-Man arcade game is released in North America, becoming a global pop culture phenomenon.

• 1998 – The FDA approves Vi**ra, the first oral treatment for erectile dysfunction.

03/26/2026

On This Day – March 26

On March 26, 1979, a historic moment for peace unfolded at the White House. Under the leadership of President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin formally signed a groundbreaking peace treaty between their two nations.

For more than 30 years, Egypt and Israel had been locked in conflict following Israel’s establishment in 1948. Repeated wars brought devastating losses on both sides. Determined to end the cycle of violence, Sadat made a bold and controversial move—traveling to Jerusalem to pursue peace talks directly with Begin. His decision shocked and angered many in the Arab world.

Sadat addressed the Israeli parliament and continued negotiations, eventually agreeing to meet again with Begin. The United States offered neutral ground, hosting both leaders at Camp David. There, in September 1978, the two leaders reached a historic agreement—the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab nation.

Six months later, the agreement was officially signed at the White House. In recognition of their extraordinary efforts, both Sadat and Begin were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tragically, Sadat’s pursuit of peace came at a great personal cost—he was assassinated just a few years later by extremists who opposed his actions.

What Else Happened on March 26

• 1790 – Congress passes the Naturalization Act, requiring a two-year residency for citizenship.

• 1812 – A massive earthquake destroys much of Caracas, Venezuela, killing thousands.

• 1872 – A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes the American West Coast, from Oregon to the Mexican border.

• 1917 – The Seattle Metropolitans become the first American team to win the Stanley Cup.

• 1937 – The Spinach Festival is first celebrated in Crystal City, Texas, honoring the crop that made the town famous.

• 1945 – Allied forces, led by the U.S. Marine Corps, secure the island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

• 1953 – Dr. Jonas Salk announces the successful testing of a polio vaccine.

• 1971 – Bangladesh declares independence from Pakistan, beginning the Bangladesh Liberation War.

• 1997 – The Hale-Bopp Comet makes its closest approach to Earth, becoming one of the most widely observed comets of the 20th century.

• 2012 – Trayvon Martin protests spread across the United States, sparking national conversations about race and justice.