ISRA Members: To view the Illinois Shooter - Spring 2026, click HERE.
Super Tidbit
The British were pushing hard against the American Colonies in June, 1776. In the south, the British were stirring up the Cherokee, Creeks, Choctaw and Iroquois Federation. The British were doing all they could to break up any relationships
the native Americans had with the settlers. As was mentioned previously, the British were arming the Native Americans with all kinds of equipment.
One prize the British were looking at was the port of Charleston, South Carolina. South Carolina was expecting a British attack and began building a fort on Sullivan's Island to defend the harbor and city. Naturally it became known as Fort Sullivan. The British were about to receive a lesson on attacking
people on their home turf.
The South Carolinians built their fortifications out of palmetto wood, with walls 16 feet thick. The British were used to attacking fortifications made of wood, mostly oak, maple and other hard woods, which cannonballs would blow apart easily. However, palmetto wood is quite different, unbeknownst to the British. Palmetto wood is soft and absorbs cannonballs and mortar shells like a sponge.
The Americans were short on
gunpowder, as usual, and were outnumbered 435 to 2,200. Fort Sullivan was commanded by William Moultrie. General Lee ordered Moultrie to abandon Fort Sullivan but he refused knowing, if he did, the British would have an easy foothold in South Carolina.
The British began to bombard Fort Sullivan but, to their dismay, they inflicted very little damage. At one point, British sailors on board the well-armed British ships were so frustrated at the lack of
damage, they over-loaded their cannons and mortars. The excess loads managed to tear up the planking on the gun decks. The British Troops then attacked using shallow draft boats to get to the fort but they were met by South Carolina riflemen whose sniper fire forced the boats to retreat. Our friend "American marksmanship' once again helped turn the tide of battle.
The British hit Fort Sullivan with around 10,000 shells to no avail. William Moultie fired only about
1,000 rounds of cannon fire but his artillerymen were very accurate, damaging the British ships extensively, Moultie was even able to force one of the British ships to run aground which the British then burned. In the end, the British had 220 casualties, and the Americans suffered 37 casualties. The British decided to sail back to New York.
William Moultrie's heroic efforts earned him an appointment of Brigadier General by the Continental Congress and the
Committee of Five, quite aware of what was going on, were reviewing wording for what was to become the Declaration of Independence.
Tidbits
June 18, 1775 – Just a few weeks after the “shot heard around the world”, the Battle of Bunker Hill begins.
The American troops were under the command of Colonel William Prescott, who reportedly said the famous line “don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” At 40 yards, Americans unleashed lethal musket fire, driving the British back in retreat. General Thomas Gage reformed his troops and led his men up the hill. The American troops, low on ammunition, were out-numbered by the British and were forced to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
The
Patriots were eventually driven back, but the British had suffered nearly 1000 casualties, including 92 of their officers. The Patriots lost 370 troops, a majority of which were shot in the back while retreating.
June 18, 1812 – The War of 1812 begins. The British couldn't get used to the idea that the United States was a free, independent country. We had to take them to school
again.
June 19, 1865 – Juneteenth, officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday (since 2021) in the United States celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the country. It marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were informed of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was
issued.
June 19, 1944 – The Battle of the Philippines Sea begins. It was nicknamed the Marianna's Turkey Shoot because of the tremendous losses to the Japanese aircraft carriers and minimum losses to the Americans. The Japanese lost two aircraft carriers and 300 aircraft while the Americans lost only 29 airplanes.
The Japanese admiral thought that their missing aircraft
had landed on their airbase on Guam. The next day, he ordered another attack, which was equally bad. By the end of the second day, the Japanese had lost a total of 600 aircraft. It was one of the largest one-sided losses in history.
June 20, 1782 – Congress adopted the “Great Seal of the United States”. The Great Seal centers around the bald eagle which is clutching an olive branch in its right
talons and arrows in its left talons. On the eagle's breast is a shield marked with 13 vertical red and white stripes topped by a field of blue containing 13 white stars. In the eagle's beak is a banner inscribed the “E Pluribus Unum”, a Latin phrase meaning “Out of many, One.”
The back side of the Great Seal is often overlooked. The backside features a thirteen step pyramid with 1776 in Roman numerals at the base. On top of the pyramid is an “Eye of
Providence” with the inscription
“Annuit Coeptis” meaning “He favors our undertakings.” At the bottom of the pyramid there is a scroll which reads “Novus Ordo Seclorum” which is Latin for “New Order for the Ages.”
Now you know more about the Great Seal of the United States than 99.9% of the people.
June 21, 1788 – New Hampshire ratifies the newly created Constitution of the United
States. The rules required nine of the thirteen states ratify the newly constructed Constitution. The agreement was the the Bill of Rights would be added later, which occurred on December 15, 1791. New Hampshire was the ninth vote.
June 21, 1916 – The U.S. military expedition into Mexico, commanded by General John J. Pershing, is attacked. The Pancho Villa Expedition - now known
officially in the United States as the Mexican Expedition, was originally referred to as the "Punitive Expedition, US Army" and was embarked upon to kill or capture Poncho Villa
In January, 1916, Villa executed 16 U.S. citizens in Santa Isabel, Northern Mexico. On March 9, 1916, Villa raided the border town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing 17 U.S. citizens. The town was burned to the ground. Had it not been for the war in Europe, the United States would have
probably declared war on Mexico.
If you recall, in January, 1917, German Foreign Minister, Arthur Zimmermann, was trying to make a deal with Mexico to attack the United States. Fortunately, the British intercepted the telegram an it was revealed to the American public.
During World War I and World War II, German spies and saboteurs made their way into the United States through Mexico. I don't believe any of this could have been done without the
blessings of the Mexico government in some form. Don't forget your history.
June 21 – Summer officially starts at 3:24AM on June 21. I'm sure you will be getting up to see it start.
June 22, 1775 – Congress authorizes the issue of paper currency, known as “Continental Currency”. It didn't work out very well. It was said a wagon
load of currency would not buy a wagon load of provisions. One of the phrases that was popular was “not worth a Continental”, which became a moniker for anything worthless.
June 22, 1941 – Adolf Hitler double crosses Joseph Stalin and invades the Soviet Union. German intelligence had underestimated the Soviet Army. The German Army was better trained, better equipped, and could have
handled one, two or possibly even three German armies. What German intelligence didn't understand was that the Soviet Union had enough able-bodied men to field 12 or 13 armies. This wasn't a good idea, Adolf.
June 22, 1953 – A newsboy drops a nickel on the ground and finds more than he bargains for. The nickel broke open and, inside, was a piece of micro film. The newsboy turned it into the FBI and it
eventually led to the arrest of the Soviet spy, Rudolph I. Abel.
June 23, 1314 – The Battle of Bannockburn, a decisive engagement in Scottish history whereby the Scots defeated the English, regained their independence, and established Robert the Bruce as Robert I, began this day.
June 24, 1947 – American businessman Kenneth Arnold saw a number of objects “flying
like saucers” while piloting a small plane over Mount Rainier in Washington; it was considered the first modern sighting of UFOs and gave rise to the term “flying saucer”.
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Gun Shows
While the gun show
information shown in this email is believed to be accurate, sometimes changes occur. This is provided for informational purposes only.
If your club or organization is holding a gun show, event or class, let us know the details, and we’d be happy to post it in our Weekly Range Schedule.
June 19 – June 21, 2026 Pecatonica Gun Show, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica, IL.
Sept. 19 – Sept. 20, 2026
Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club House, Chillicothe, IL.
Sept. 19, 2026 National Civil War, Military, and Collector Arms Show, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton, IL.
Oct. 3 - 4, 2026 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association - New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL.
Oct. 24 - 25, 2026 Belleville Gun
& Knife Show, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville, IL.
Oct. 24 - 25, 2026 Sauk Trail Gun Collectors Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Nov. 7 - 8, 2026 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington, IL.
Nov. 28 - 29, 2026 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association - New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL.
Nov. 28 - 29,
2026 Sauk Trail Gun Collectors Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Dec. 6 – Dec. 7, 2026 Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club House, Chillicothe, IL.
Feb. 13 - 14, 2027 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association - New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin,
IL.
ISRA Town Hall Monthly Meetings
Come and meet fellow activists and learn the latest on protecting our Second Amendment Rights!
Livingston County – 4th Tuesday of the month – South Post Guns, 104 Livingston Rd., Streator, IL; Summer meetings are postponed until August.
Madison County – 1st Wednesday of the month – Piasa Armory, 625 Lewis and Clark Blvd., East Alton, IL; Doors open at 6:15pm; Meeting starts at 6:30pm
Northwest Suburban - 3rd Tuesday of the month – Algonquin/Dundee area - New Location -
GAT Guns, 970 Dundee Ave, East Dundee, IL - Discounted Pistol Range from 4pm to 6pm, Social starts at 5:30pm, Meeting 7pm – 8pm, Catering fee $20
South Suburban/Cook County - 2nd Thursday of the month – New Location: Papa Joe's Italian Restaurant, 14459 LaGrange Rd, Orland Park, IL; Doors open 6:00pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm
Will County - 3rd Wednesday of the month – Silver Dollar Restaurant, 422 E. Mississippi Ave., Elwood, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm
