Today in history: May 12

1864: While the struggle between the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia raged on at Spotsylvania and Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan battled Confederate cavalry at Todd's Tavern, Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler's Army of the James ran afoul of Richmond's Confederate defenders, led by General P.G.T. Beauregard, at Fort Darling to start the Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff.

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

1780: They failed in 1776, but almost four years later, British troops occupied Charleston, South Carolina.  Interested in learning more about British troops in Charleston, visit HistoryNet.com for more.

1865: The last battle of the Civil War took place at Palmito Ranch, Texas, in which Rip Ford's Texas Rangers whipped the attacking Yankees before formally surrendering. Didn't really prove much except maybe, "Don't mess with Texas."

1885: In the hard-fought Battle of Batoche, Canadian forces under Maj. Gen. Frederick Middleton defeated the Métis, dissolved the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan and captured its leader, Louis David Riel. 

In Other News

VA will end remote work status for thousands of staffers this month

The move to end telework at VA follows instructions from the White House to return most federal employees to their pre-pandemic duty stations.

Vets group blasts Trump plane crash comments as ‘shameful’

The president on Thursday suggested that programs to hire workers with disabilities may have lead to the aircraft collision that killed 67 people.

Defense Department dumps travel policy for troops seeking abortions

Defense leaders had provided travel stipends to troops who needed to cross state lines to seek abortion counseling.

Army Secretary pick says pay boost isn’t enough to fix recruiting woes

Increasing pay and benefits alone won't be enough to attract young people to the service, Army Secertary nominee Daniel Driscoll said.

VA leaders dismiss directors of offices for women, minority veterans

Officials said the staff changes are not part of larger efforts to eliminate diversity and inclusion programs from the department.

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