Images in History

The Battle of Murfreesboro/Stones River, Tennessee, ended on January 2, 1863. General William Rosecrans (1819-1898) (top left) commanded the Union forces, while the Rebel army was led by General Braxton Bragg (1817-1876) (top right). On the night before the battle, Confederate and Union bands played their partisan songs, but then joined together with "Home Sweet Home." Thousands on both sides sang in unison across the banks of the Stones River. Both armies attacked at dawn, each trying to envelop the other's flank. A massive Rebel attack on December 31 under General William Hardee (1815-1873) almost drove the Federals into a rout (below left), but Rosecran's forces (below right) reformed and threw back several more attacks. Bragg finally retreated on January 2, leaving the field and uncertain victory to the Union.

FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972) (left), is present in a New York Federal District Court on January 2, 1942 to see thirty-three convicted spies sentenced to more than 300 years in prison. Hoover's undercover agents exposed and captured the Nazi spy ring led by Frederick "Fritz" Joubert Duquesne. Hermann Lang (c.1901- ?) (right) stole the blueprints for the Norden Bombsight from the New York plant where he worked, passing these top secret plans to spymasters in Germany; Lang received an 18-year prison sentence.

Japanese army and navy forces (left) march along Escota Street, Manila, Philippines, on January 2, 1942, after invading the country. Manila had been declared an "open city" to safeguard its population from bombing, while American and Filipino forces retreated to the Bataan peninsula to make a four-month defensive stand under the command of General Douglas MacArthur (right).

First delivered to the U.S. Navy on January 2, 1928, the OC-2 Falcon Observation Scout Biplane had a 410 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine, a top speed of 138 mph, a length of 28 ft, wing span of 38 ft, and a gross weight of 4,020 lbs. Manufactured by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co., 151 of these planes were purchased from 1928 to November 1931.

Mitt Romney (Willard Mitt Romney; March 12, 1947-), American businessman and politician, became governor of Massachusetts on January 2, 2003, holding that office until January 4, 2007. Romney was former chief executive officer of Bain & Company, a management consulting firm, and a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2008 and 2012 Presidential elections.

Actress Anna Lee
Born January 2, 1913
Died May 14, 2004
With Edward G. Robinson in
Flesh and Fantasy (1943).

Politician Barry Goldwater
Born January 2, 1909
Died May 29, 1998
Five-term (Republican)
U.S. Senator from Arizona.

Actor Dick Powell
Born November 14, 1904
Died January 2, 1963
With his son Richard, and wife
June Allyson, California, 1952.

Actress Nancy Kelly
Born March 25, 1921
Died January 2, 1995
With Richard Greene in
Submarine Patrol (1938).

Joe Namath (Joseph William Namath; 1943-) signed as quarterback with the New York Jets on January 2, 1965. He became a four-time AFL All-Star, two-time AFL MVP, and Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee. Namath is shown at left throwing a pass during Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969. At right, Namath wipes a tear as he announces his retirement in June 1969, but that retirement would be short-lived. He would play an additional eight seasons, his professional football career spanning 1965 to 1977 where he amassed 173 career touchdowns and 27,663 passing yards. Namath also predicted (and delivered) the New York Jets victory at Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969.