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What are some events in recorded history that are extremely hard to believe, but without a doubt actually happened? (kbin.social)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've watched the Oversimplified Video and there was a bit about Wilmer McClean.

And the best part is, it was actually true!

Here let me copy and paste something from the internet

"The Battle of Bull Run, one of the first battles of the US Civil War, occurred on and around Wilmer McClean's farm in Northern Virginia. Not wanting to live surrounded by war, McClean and his family moved to Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The Battle of Appomattox Courthouse was the last significant battle between Union and Confederate forces. The Confederates signed the surrender order in Wilmer's sitting room. It is said that the Civil War started on Wilmer's farm and ended in his sitting room."

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Shackleton's journey by open lifeboat from Elephant Island to South Georgia was in itself pretty astonishing. Captain Frank Worsley navigated using iirc a couple of pencils and a rubber band, and only caught a few glimpses of the sun to help his calculations. They landed on the wrong side of the island and had to climb a mountain pass to get to the whaling station. At the top of the pass they decided, what the hell, and slid down on their backsides. This didn't kill them, phew, but it did shred their trousers, so at the bottom they carefully safety-pinned the bits together, "in case there are ladies".

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Not just astonishing but arguably "the greatest small-boat journey ever completed." A truly fascinating voyage…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_of_the_James_Caird

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I recently became fascinated by the Shackleton story--it's really amazing. I can't add much, besides "yes, read up on it!", but here is a cool, relevant song with beautiful lyrics that captures the adventure aspect really well.

The Punch Brothers - Another New World

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

comes between that and William Bligh of the bounty. following mutiny his small crew was cast adrift 35 miles to the south of Tofua near the Kingdom of Tonga in a 23ft open keel-less boat. They were able to safely navigate across 4000 miles of open ocean to Kupang, Timor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutiny_on_the_Bounty#Bligh's_open-boat_voyage