Samuel Colt and His Legendary Model 1860 Army Revolver
Until the 19th century was well along, handguns were limited to single-shot weapons. In 1836, a 22-year old Hartford, Connecticut man, Samuel Colt, came up with a concept for controlled rotation of a firearm that would allow multiple rounds to be fired without reloading. Colt, the son of a textile manufacturer, developed a fascination for […]
Stiletto — Born in Rhode Island: First of the Mosquito Fleet
Recently, the Naval War College temporarily made available to another facility its handsome model of a highly significant war craft, the USS Stiletto. The loan prompted this writer to share the story of its influence on modern naval warfare. The Herreshoff brothers had already earned a reputation for small boat design and construction as well as integrating […]
11-11-11: One Hundred Years Ago in Providence, RI
The Great War had raged in Europe since 1914. President Woodrow Wilson, following the will of the majority of Americans, had valiantly sought to keep the United States neutral. But, Great Britain was a staunch ally of this country and there was a desire to help but not to become embroiled in the bitter battles […]
Revisiting Rhode Island’s Top-Secret Ear on the World
The story of one of Rhode Island’s best-kept World War II wartime secrets is briefly recounted in our book “World War Two Rhode Island” (The History Press; 2017). The material was drawn from a story written for these pages back in 2016. Now and then, I’ve been asked for more details about this tale, so […]
World War I Hits Cape Cod: The U-156 Attack on Orleans in 1918
We’ve shared a few World War I stories on these pages as we mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the conflict. This month, we look at the first time a foreign power fired on American territory since the Siege of Fort Texas in 1846. Such action would not be repeated until the terrorist […]
Rhode Island’s Albert Martin, A Hero of the Alamo
Three years ago, we shared this story about Albert Martin at the Alamo with you in Varnum News. Now, there is a new piece of information that may have come about as a result of Rhode Island calling the attention of our friends in Texas to an error in their memorial to the fallen heroes […]
John Browning’s Remarkable Automatic Rifle: the BAR
Sitting on a display case in the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum’s “World Wars Room” is a Model M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). Introduced late in World War I and now known by infantrymen around the globe, the “BAR” was the product of the fertile mind of John Moses Browning. He is considered to be one […]
A Fowler Musket With a Rhode Island Connection
As we have come to discover, the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum archives are a genuine treasure trove. Armory Museum Curator Patrick Donovan and the rest of his team continue to sift through decades of acquisitions, and have come up with some surprising pieces. Recently, an item was discovered that carries an interesting history of its […]
World War I Splinter Fleet: The Sub Chasers that Challenged the U-Boat Menace
Over the past months, we’ve shared stories about the impact of World War I on the Ocean State. This time, here’s a look at one of the unsung heroes of the war: the SC-1 sub chasers, affectionately known as “The Splinter Fleet.” On July 20, 1917, the U.S. Navy set up operations on Block Island, […]
Rhode Island Service Organizations Rally to Serve the Troops in World War I
In the early years of World War I, the conflict seemed a long way away from America’s shores. President Woodrow Wilson had pledged to do all he could to keep the United States neutral. But, finally, by early 1917, events had escalated to the point where on April 6, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany. […]