Preparedness Notes for Saturday — September 13, 2025

On September 13th, 122: construction began on Hadrian‘s Wall in Northern England. — September 13th, 1951 was the birthday of President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan. — We are running a week-long sale on all of our Swedish Mauser rifles at Elk Creek Company.  Just until Monday, September 15th, 2025, the prices of all of our  6.5 x55mm “Swedes” have been reduced by 10 to 25 percent. These are all pre-1899 (no paperwork) rifles that can be mailed right to your door. They include original military configuration rifles and carbines, as well as a few sporters. Note that if …




Preparedness Notes for Friday — September 12, 2025

On September 12, 1683, during the Austro-Ottoman War: The Battle of Vienna. Several European armies joined forces to defeat the Ottoman Empire. From the biased Wkipedia: “The Siege and Battle of Vienna took place at Kahlenberg Mountain near Vienna on 12 September 1683 after the city had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months. The battle was fought by the Holy Roman Empire (led by the Habsburg monarchy) and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, both under the command of King John III Sobieski, against the Ottomans and their vassal and tributary states. The battle marked the first time the Commonwealth …




Preparedness Notes for Thursday — September 11, 2025

September 11, 1297: The Battle of Stirling Bridge. Scottish rebel William Wallace defeated the English. — September 11th is of course the anniversary of the 2001 Al Qaeda attacks on the U.S., but it is also the anniversary of the Benghazi Embassy attacks, in 2012. (Those events were recounted in the Hollywood film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.) Please remember the sacrifice of J. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, and CIA (former Navy SEAL) agents Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. Between them, Woods and Doherty reportedly dropped at least 60 of the attackers, before their position was overwhelmed. Please …




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — September 10, 2025

On September 10, 1608, John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown Colony Council, Virginia. — September 10,1813: American naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry defeated the British in the Battle of Lake Erie. — A sad farewell: Edward Faulkner, Actor in John Wayne and Elvis Presley Films, Dies at 93. — We are running a week-long sale on all of our Swedish Mauser rifles at Elk Creek Company. Until Monday, September 15th, 2025, the prices of all of our 6.5 x55mm “Swedes” have been reduced by 10 to 25 percent. These are all pre-1899 (no paperwork) guns that can be mailed right …




Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 9, 2025

On September 9, 1543, Mary Stuart, then just nine months old, was crowned Queen of Scots in the central Scottish town of Stirling. — September 9, 1830: Charles Durant, the first US aeronaut, flew a balloon from Castle Garden, New York City to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. This was a distance of about 25 miles, covered in three hours. — And on September 9, 1908, Orville Wright made the first hour-long airplane flight at Fort Myer, Virginia. His flight lasted 62 minutes and 15 seconds. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing …




Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 8, 2025

On September 8, 1628, Dutch privateer Piet Heyn captured the Spanish silver fleet in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba. — September 8, 1860: The excursion steamer Lady Elgin sank after being rammed in a storm on Lake Michigan, drowning about 300 people. This was the largest loss of life ever recorded on the Great Lakes. — And on September 8, 1892: The first appearance of “Pledge of Allegiance” was published in the Youth’s Companion. — Just in time to be ready for deer hunting season, we’ve just started a week-long sale on all of our Swedish Mauser rifles at Elk …




Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 7, 2025

On September 7, 70, the Roman army under General Titus occupied and plundered Jerusalem. — On September 7, 1876, the Younger Brothers outlaws, who were often allied with Jesse James, were captured following an unsuccessful bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota. There, armed townsmen bested the robbers in a protracted gun battle. — Today is the birthday of novelist Taylor Caldwell. (Born 1900 – August 30, 1985). — And September 7th is also the birthday of Richard Cole, born in 1915. He passed away on April 8, 2019, at age 103. Cole was the last living Doolittle Raider. He was General …




Preparedness Notes for Saturday — September 6, 2025

September 6, 1899: The Carnation Company processed its first can of evaporated milk. — September 6th, 1757 was the birthday of Marquis de Lafayette (often known simply as Lafayette), a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. (Sept. 6, 1757 – May 20, 1834) came to America at age 19 and served meritoriously in the American Revolution at his own expense. — Today’s feature article is a guest post by Jennifer Rader, an author who is a prize donor for our writing contest, so it is not a writing contest entry. We are in great …




Preparedness Notes for Friday — September 5, 2025

Today is the birthday of the late comedian Bob Newhart. He was born September 5, 1929, and passed away on July 18, 2024. His comedic timing was great. — On September 5, 1836, Sam Houston was elected President of the Republic of Texas. — And on this day in 1932, the French Upper Volta was broken up into Ivory Coast, French Sudan, and Niger. — Today’s feature article is a short piece by our friend Hub Moolman, of South Africa. — We are in great need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Take note that …




Preparedness Notes for Thursday — September 4, 2025

On this day in 1618, the “Rodi” avalanche destroyed the town of Plurs, Switzerland (now Piuro, Italy, pictured) at the base of Monte Conto, killing 1,500 residents. — September 4, 1862 is the fateful day that General Lee invaded the North with 50,000 troops. — Today’s feature piece is a product review that was authored by SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Christianson. — We are in great need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 120 ends on September 30th, so get …




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — September 3, 2025

On September 3, 301, San Marino, one of the smallest nations in the world and the world’s oldest republic still in existence, was founded by Marinus. He was named a Saint by the Roman Catholic church. — English general and statesman Oliver Cromwell died on September 3, 1658. — On September 3, 1752, Great Britain and its colonies, including the future United States of America officially adopted the Gregorian calendar, and it immediately became September the 14th. — Today’s feature article is a guest post by our friend and fellow American Redoubt resident Brandon Smith, the editor of the Alt-Market.us …




Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 2, 2025

September 2, 1798: The first reported bank robbery in the US: Bank of Pennsylvania robbed of $162,821 at Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia. The wrong man — blacksmith Patrick Lyon (pictured) — was accused of being one of the perpetrators. — September 2, 1969 was the day that the first automatic teller machine (ATM) made its first public debut, dispensing cash to customers at Chemical Bank in Rockville Center, New York. — The prepping Paratus holiday — an invention of our friend Commander Zero — is observed on the third Friday in September.  I recommend giving very practical preparedness-related gifts. — Today’s …




Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 1, 2025

On September 1, 1752, Pennsylvania’s new State House bell (known today as the Liberty Bell) arrived in Philadelphia from Whitechapel Foundry in London, England. — On September 1, 1836 Narcissa Whitman, one of the first white women to settle west of the Rocky Mountains, arrived at Walla Walla, Oregon Country (now US state of Washington.) On November 29, 1847, Dr. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and twelve others were killed by members of the Waiilatpu band of the Cayuse tribe. This heinous massacre has recently been the subject of massive revisionism, mostly at the hands of National Park Service historians/apologists.  To …




Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 31, 2025

90 years ago today, August 31, 1935, the first national skeet championship was held.  This tournament match ran from August 26th to 31st, 1935. A roster of 113  participants was hosted by the Solon Skeet Club, near Cleveland, Ohio. — August 31, 1911: The unconstitutional “Sullivan Act” requiring New Yorkers to possess licences for firearms small enough to be concealed went into effect. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used …




Preparedness Notes for Saturday — August 30, 2025

On August 30, 1645, Dutch settlers and local Indians signed a peace treaty in New Amsterdam (New York). — August 30th is the birthday of the late Joachim Rønneberg, a hero of the Norwegian resistance during World War II. He was born in 1919. His exploits earned him the War Cross With Sword, Norway’s highest military honor.  Rønneberg died in 2018, just one year short of his 100th birthday. — Today’s feature piece is too short to be included in the judging for the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started …