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What happened on October 3 in American history
October 3 is the 276th day of the year (the 277th in leap years). Patriot Compass has published 5 stories from October 3 spanning 1789 to 2008. Among them: in 1789, Washington sets Thursday, November 26, as a day of thanksgiving; and in 1862, Van Dorn storms Corinth; Union line bends but holds through the night.
1789
Washington sets Thursday, November 26, as a day of thanksgiving
The first president's proclamation, issued from New York City, gives the new federal government its own holiday to declare.
1862Member story · 1776 Club
Van Dorn storms Corinth; Union line bends but holds through the night
A gap between two Union divisions lets Confederates break through by early afternoon, but Rosecrans pulls his army inside the redoubts by dark.
1863
Lincoln sets the last Thursday of November aside for thanksgiving and praise
The proclamation comes months after Gettysburg, with the war still far from over.
1962
Schirra rides Sigma 7 into orbit, six times around on the Mercury program's first full-day test
A steak sandwich rode along in the storage compartment, but the real test was whether the hardware could outlast six orbits.
2008Member story · 1776 Club
Bush signs the $700 billion bank rescue hours after the House passes it
Four days after rejecting the same plan, the House reverses itself, 263 to 171.
Read the full October 3 edition →
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