Really? That happened in 1862?

While looking for some fun facts about some recent purchases from an estate sale, I ran across some interesting tidbits that happened in the year of 1862.  Here’s some of them:

On January 1^st the first US income tax was enacted, and was collected on August 4^th.

January 30^th saw the launch of the US ironclad warship called the MONITOR was launched, and on March 8^th saw the Confederacy launch their ironclad warship called the MERRIMACK.  The next day on the 9^th, the MONITOR and the MERRIMACK engaged in the battle of Hampton Roads, the first time two ironclad ships did battle.  This fight ended in a draw.  The MONITOR sank off the North Carolina cost on December 31^st, while the MERRIMACK was destroyed on May 11^th to avoid falling into the hands of the Union.

On February 25^th, the U.S. Congress passes the Legal Tender Act, authorizing the use of paper notes to pay the government's bills.  This type of bill is often called a “Greenback.”

What kinds of tidbits have you found when looking up your recent purchases?