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What happened on September 13 in American history
September 13 is the 256th day of the year (the 257th in leap years). Patriot Compass has published 6 stories from September 13 spanning 1788 to 2001. Among them: in 1788, Congress schedules the first presidential vote, and picks New York as the temporary capital; and in 1814, British warships open a 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry.
1788
Congress schedules the first presidential vote, and picks New York as the temporary capital
Electors chosen January 7, votes cast February 4, new government seated March 4.
1814
British warships open a 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry
Baltimore's harbor defenses hold as Admiral Cochrane's fleet fires from beyond the range of the fort's guns.
1862
In a Maryland field, Union troops find Lee's entire battle plan
The orders were addressed to a Confederate general and marked "important papers inside."
1956Member story · 1776 Club
IBM shows off a computer that can find a record in six-tenths of a second
The 305 RAMAC pairs a ton of vacuum tubes with fifty spinning disks and ditches the punch-card file cabinet for good.
1962Member story · 1776 Club
A district court orders Ole Miss to register James Meredith
The injunction lands the same day Mississippi's legislature creates a new felony charge, one Meredith is convicted of in absentia within hours.
2001Member story · 1776 Club
Skies reopen: civilian flights resume across the United States
The FAA lifts its ground stop after 48 hours, but only a fraction of flights get airborne.
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