April 1: Robert Winthrop

April 1: Brigadier General Robert Winthrop, who rose from a private at the beginning of the Civil War to triumph at the Battle of Five Forks on this date in 1865, where thousands of Confederates surrendered, was mortally wounded and to be carried from the field by his triumphant but mourning troops.

March 31: Horatio Collins King

March 31: On this date in 1865, Major and Quartermaster of U.S. Volunteers Horatio Collins King earned the Medal of Honor near Five Forks, Virginia: “While serving as a volunteer aide, [he] carried orders to the reserve brigade and participated with it in the charge which repulsed the enemy.”

March 30: DeWolf Hopper

March 30: On this date in 1858, DeWolf Hopper, who made a career, starting in 1888, of dramatically reciting the classic baseball poem, “Casey At The Bat,” was born.

March 29: Sir Richard Rodney Bennett

March 29: Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, who composed the scores for many movies, including “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Enchanted April,” and “Nicholas and Alexandra,” was born on this date in 1936.

March 27: James Harper

March 27: On this date in 1869, James Harper, one of the Harper & Brothers of publishing fame (now HarperCollins), and who served as Know-Nothing New York City mayor, died.