Today in history: The ironclad Galena is launched in 1862

1862: The U.S. Navy’s first seaworthy ironclad warship, Galena, was launched in Connecticut. Read a short history of the Galena's development, on HistoryNet.com.

Also today in history, in the U.S. and elsewhere:

1779: Britain’s "Southern Strategy" to deal with the colonists’ rebellion suffered a major setback when the Georgia militia commanded by Colonel Andrew Pickens intercepted Loyalists en route to join British forces in Augusta, in the Battle of Kettle Creek. For a loss of seven to nine men killed and 14 to 23 wounded or missing, the Georgian Patriots killed anywhere from 40 to 70 Tories and wounded or captured 75.