United States History On This Date: March 13

1794 — Congress Establishes the U.S. Navy

Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794, authorizing six frigates and formally creating the United States Navy. The legislation responded to threats against American merchant shipping and laid the foundation for a permanent naval force that would shape U.S. power for centuries.
1861 — First Transcontinental Telegraph Completed
The final link of the first transcontinental telegraph line was completed, connecting Washington, D.C., to San Francisco. This breakthrough collapsed communication times from weeks to minutes, transforming national governance, business coordination, and military decision‑making on the eve of the Civil War.
1865 — Confederacy Approves Enlisting Black Soldiers
Facing imminent defeat, the Confederate Congress reluctantly authorized the enlistment of Black soldiers. The measure came far too late to alter the war’s outcome, but it revealed the Confederacy’s desperation and contradicted its own ideological foundations.
1942 — U.S. Army Launches the K‑9 Corps
The U.S. Army formally established its War Dog Program, known as the K‑9 Corps, beginning the training of dogs for sentry duty, message delivery, and mine detection. These canine units became an important support force throughout World War II.

Military working dogs first entered the service in March of 1942 to serve in the Army’s K-9 Corps. Today, the dogs, who have an actual military service record book assigned to them, are still playing an active role in searching for explosives and seizing the enemy.  Photo by Defense.gov