Part 80

=Navarre.= A province, and formerly a kingdom, of Spain, is bounded on the north by France, on the south and east by Aragon, and on the west by the Biscays. It was occupied in ancient times by the Vascones, who were subdued by the Goths in the 5th century: After having become gradually amalgamated with their conquerors, the people continued to enjoy a species of turbulent independence under military leaders until the 8th century, when they were almost annihilated by the hordes of Arabs who were rapidly spreading their dominion to all parts of the peninsula. Navarre was conquered from the Saracens by Charlemagne, 778. In 1076, Sancho Ramorez of Aragon seized Navarre. During the war of independence and the civil war, the province produced bands of formidable guerrilleros.

=Nave.= In gun-carriages, that part of a wheel in which the arms of the axle-tree move, and in which the spokes are driven and supported.

=Nave-boxes.= Are boxes which are placed in the naves; they were formerly made of brass, but experience has shown that those of cast iron cause less friction, and are much cheaper. There are two, one at each end, to diminish the friction of the axle-tree against the nave.

=Nave-hoops.= Are flat iron rings to bind the nave; there are generally three on each nave.

=Navel.= A lug with a hole through it on the under side of a carronade, used to connect it with its carriage.

=Naxos=, or =Naxia=. An island in the Ægean Sea, and the largest of the Cyclades; is situated nearly half-way between the coasts of Greece and Asia Minor. It was conquered by Pisistratus, who established Lydamis as tyrant of the island about 540 B.C. The Persians in 501 attempted, at the suggestion of Aristagoras, to subdue Naxos, but failed; Aristagoras, fearing punishment, induced the Ionian cities to revolt from Persia. In 490 the Persians, under Datis and Artaphernes, conquered Naxos, and reduced the inhabitants to slavery. The Naxians recovered their independence after the battle of Salamis (480). They were the first of the allied states whom the Athenians reduced to subjection, 471. After the capture of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204, the Ægean Sea fell to the lot of the Venetians; and Marco Sanudo in 1207 took possession of Nuxos, and founded there a powerful state under the title of duchy of the Ægean Sea. His dynasty ruled over the greater part of the Cyclades for 360 years, and was at length overthrown by the Turks in 1566. Naxos now belongs to the kingdom of Greece.

=Naxos.= A Greek city on the eastern coast of Sicily, south of Mount Taurus; was founded 735 B.C. by the Chalcidians of Eubœa, and was the first Greek colony established in the island. It carried on a successful war against Messina, and was subsequently an ally of the Athenians against Syracuse. In 403 the town was taken by Dionysius of Syracuse, and destroyed.

=Nebraska.= One of the Central States of the United States, lying west of the Missouri River. Nebraska formed a part of the great grant of the Mississippi Valley to Crozart in 1712, and was part of the territory included in Law’s celebrated Mississippi scheme. It came into possession of the United States in 1803, as a portion of the Louisiana purchase. In 1804, Lewis and Clarke explored the interior and western parts of the State. In 1854 it was erected into a Territory, and in 1867 admitted as a State.

=Necessaries.= The articles issued to the British soldier, such as boots, shirts, stockings, razor, etc., which are requisite for his comfort and cleanliness, are technically termed regimental necessaries. Non-commissioned officers are not allowed to sell regimental necessaries to the soldiers. Every article is directed by the regulations to be marked with the owner’s name, the letter of his company, and the number of his regiment; and the sale or injury of them renders him liable to be tried by court-martial and punished.

=Neck.= The elbow or part connecting the blade and socket of a bayonet.

=Neck Line.= An old term in fortification signifying the gorge.

=Neck of a Cascabel.= The part joining the knob to the base of the breech.

=Neck of a Gun.= The small part of the piece in front of the chase.

=Needle.= A slender bar of steel, usually pointed, and resting on a vertical pivot, in a mariner’s, or other compass, so as to turn freely towards the magnetic poles of the earth by virtue of the magnetic polarity with which it has been artificially endued; called also the _magnetic needle_.

=Needle-Gun= (Ger. _Zundnadelgewehr_). Is a breech-loading gun, so constructed that by pulling the trigger a stout needle or wire is thrust through the base of the cartridge, parallel with its axis, into the detonating charge behind the ball, causing explosion and the ignition of the cartridge. This gun was the regulation arm of the German infantry until it was replaced by the Mauser, a gun somewhat similar. The gun was invented by Nicolaus Dreyse, of Sömmerda, Prussia, where it is manufactured. It was first used by the Prussians in 1848, and again in the Italian war of 1866, when it proved a fearful instrument of destruction, and to it may be ascribed in a great measure the success of its employers.

=Neemuch.= In Hindostan, a town with a British cantonment, in the territory of Gwalior, or possessions of Scindia. The native troops stationed at this place participated in the general mutiny of the Bengal army. The rising took place on the night of June 3, 1857, when a general massacre of the Europeans took place. The work of slaughter was commenced by the artillery, and all the native troops joined heartily in it. A native officer opened the gate of the fort and gave entrance to the rebels. Having committed the most frightful enormities, and outraged every law of humanity, a large body of the miscreants marched in the direction of Agra.

=Neerwinden.= A village of Belgium, in the province of Liège. William III. of England was defeated by the Duke of Luxemburg between this place and Landen in 1693; the French were also defeated here in 1793 by the Austrians.

=Neeshungpat= (_Ind._). A violent assault without bloodshed.

=Negapatam.= A considerable seaport in the south of India, and province of Tanjore. In 1660 it was taken from the Portuguese by the Dutch. It was a very flourishing city in 1781, when it was besieged and taken by the British with about 4000 troops, and finally ceded to them at the peace of 1783.

=Negative.= This term is sometimes used to express the result of measures or enterprises which, though not entirely successful, are not productive of serious or mischievous consequences. Hence the British expeditions to Spain and Walcheren may be considered as having had negative success.

=Negative Penalty.= Deprived of command; a bar to indulgence; a reprimand; etc.

=Neglect of Duty.= Is total omission or disregard of any prescribed service, or unsoldier-like execution, which is punishable at the discretion of a court-martial. See APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR, 62.

=Negrais.= An island, harbor, and cape of the Eastern Peninsula, situated on the southwest extremity of the kingdom of Pegu. In 1687 a settlement was founded here by the British; it was soon after abandoned; again occupied by the British in 1751; it was attacked by the Burmese in 1759, and nearly all the inhabitants were put to death.

=Negropont.= See CHALCIS.

=Nelli-Cotah.= A fort situated about 40 miles to the south of Tinnevelly, East Indies. This fort has been rendered memorable by the manner in which it was carried by the English in 1755, and the barbarity with which the garrison was treated which had not killed a man and had called for quarter, and yet men, women, and children, to the number of about 400, were massacred.

=Nepaul=, or =Nipal=. An extensive country of Hindostan. It is said to have been completely subdued in 1323 by Hurr Singh, one of the princes of Oude, who was driven out of his own possessions by the Patans. Runjeet Mull was the last of the Surya Bansi race that reigned in Nepaul. He formed an alliance with Purthi Nirain, which ended in the loss of his dominions, of which he was stripped by his ally in 1768. It was in his reign that Capt. Kinloch with a British force endeavored to penetrate into Nepaul, but from the sickness of the troops, and the difficulty of the country, the enterprise was abandoned. In 1790 the Nepaul government became involved in a war with the emperor of China, who sent against them an army of 70,000 men, and defeated the Nepaulese in repeated battles. A peace was at last concluded, though on terms ignominious to the Nepaulese, who were compelled to become tributaries to the Chinese. In the year 1814 the British commenced a war against the Nepaulese, and, after a long and arduous struggle, during which the British suffered a number of reverses, the Nepaulese were compelled to sue for peace.

=Nervii.= A nation of Gallia Belgica, whose territory was situated north of the Ambiani. On receiving intelligence that Cæsar was advancing into their country, the inhabitants sent away their old men, women, and children to a place of refuge among the marshes by the sea-shore, and posted themselves in ambush on the banks of the Sabis (_Sambre_). The invaders had approached to the place of concealment, and, unsuspicious of any danger, were engaged in forming a camp, when they suddenly found themselves attacked by 60,000 fierce barbarians. The Romans would have been immediately routed, had not the invincible genius of Cæsar been there to sway and turn the tide of battle. After a hard-fought contest, the Nervian forces were almost annihilated; but the Nervii were not yet subdued. In 54 B.C. they assisted the Eburones in the unsuccessful attack upon the camp of Quintus Cicero; and it was not until the following year that they finally submitted to the Romans.

=Neshaumburdar= (_Ind._). An ensign.

=Netherlands, Kingdom of the.= A country in the northwest of Europe. The name of the Netherlands was, for several centuries, applied to the countries which now form the kingdoms of Belgium and the Netherlands and part of the north of France. The greater portion of this territory was held by the Spaniards until Marlborough, the general in command of the allied forces, gained the memorable victory of Ramilies in 1706. After this, Brussels, the capital, and great part of these provinces acknowledged Charles VI., afterwards emperor of Germany, for their sovereign. They were held by the German house until the war of 1741, when the French made an entire conquest of them, except part of the province of Luxemburg. They were restored, however, by the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, in the year 1748. In 1794 Holland was overrun by the troops of the French republic, and annexed to the French empire in 1810, after having been formed into the Batavian republic, and subsequently into a kingdom under Louis Bonaparte. In 1814 the royal family of Holland was restored, and two years after Holland and Belgium were once more reunited under the common title of the Netherlands; but in 1830 Belgium became a distinct kingdom. See BELGIUM, HOLLAND, and FLANDERS.

=Netley, Royal Victoria Hospital at.= Is a superb building on the shore of Southampton Water, Hants, England, for the reception of invalids from the army on foreign service, and from among the troops serving in the adjoining military districts. In times of peace, it is only necessary to use a portion of the vast structure; but in the event of a European war, in which the British army should take part, the exigencies of the service would probably tax its accommodation to the utmost. There is provision for 1000 patients, with power to increase the number. The establishment has a complete medical staff. Netley is also the headquarters of the female nurses of the army, who are under the control of a lady stationed here as superintendent-general. Complete arrangements have been made for the landing of wounded men in front of the hospital, and for conveying them thither with the least disturbance. See MEDICAL SCHOOL.

=Nettoyer les Magazins= (_Fr._). In artillery, signifies to remove the different pieces of ordnance, for the purpose of having them carefully examined, etc., and to have the stores and ammunition so arranged as not to receive damage.

=Nettoyer les Tranchées= (_Fr._). To scour or clear the trenches. This is effected by means of a vigorous sally which the garrison of a besieged place make upon the besiegers; when they beat in the guard, drive off the workmen, level the parapet, break up and choke the line of circumvallation, and spike or nail the cannon.

=Neusatz.= A town of Hungary, on the Danube, opposite Peterwardein. On June 11, 1849, it was taken from the Hungarian insurgents by the imperial troops, and was almost wholly destroyed.

=Neutral.= Not engaged on either side; not taking part with either of contending parties; neuter.

=Neutral.= A person or nation that takes no part in a contest between others.

=Neutral Powers.= By the treaty of Paris, signed by the representatives of Great Britain, France, Austria, Russia, Prussia, Turkey, and Sardinia, on April 16, 1856, it was determined that privateering should be abolished; that neutrals might carry an enemy’s goods not contraband of war; that neutral goods not contraband were free even under an enemy’s flag; and that blockades to be binding must be effective. The President of the United States acceded to these provisions in 1861.

=Neutrality.= In international law, the state of a nation which takes no part between two or more other nations at war with each other. Neutrality consists in the observance of a strict and honest impartiality, so as not to afford advantage in the war to either party; and particularly in so far restraining its trade to the accustomed course, which is held in time of peace, as not to render assistance to one of the belligerents in escaping the effects of the other’s hostilities. Even a loan of money to one of the belligerent parties is considered a violation of neutrality. A fraudulent neutrality is considered as no neutrality.

=Neutrality, Armed.= See ARMED.

=Nevada.= One of the Pacific States of the United States. Nevada is a part of the territory ceded to the United States by Mexico in 1848. It was at first a part of California Territory; it was subsequently attached to Utah; in March, 1861, was organized as a Territory; and on October 31, 1864, was admitted as a State.

=Nevers.= A town of France, the capital of the department of Nièvre, situated on the right bank of the Loire, 153 miles south-southeast from Paris. The town is ancient, and is mentioned by Cæsar under the name of Noviodunum. Here that general, in 52 B.C., fixed his headquarters, and here he left his hostages, supplies, baggage, and military-chest. After his defeat at Gergovia, the people of Noviodunum rose against the Romans, massacred all of them who were in the town, and plundered the stores.

=Neville’s Cross= (or Durham), =Battle of=. Fought between the Scots under King David Bruce, and the English under Philippa, consort of Edward III., and Lord Percy, October 12 or 17, 1346. More than 15,000 of the Scots were slain, and their king taken prisoner.

=Nevis=, or =Nievis=. One of the West India Islands, belonging to Great Britain, and separated from the south extremity of St. Christopher by a channel about 2 miles in width. It was taken by the French February 14, 1782; restored to the English in 1783.

=Newark.= A town of England, in Nottinghamshire, on the Newark River, 16 miles northeast from Nottingham. Here, in the midst of troubles, died King John, October 9, 1216; here the royal army under Prince Rupert repulsed the army of the Parliament, besieging the town, March 21, 1644; and here, May 5, 1646, Charles I., after his defeat at Naseby, put himself into the hands of the Scotch army, who afterwards gave him up to his enemies.

=Newbury.= A town of England, in Berkshire, on the Kennet, 15 miles southwest from Reading. Near here were fought two desperate battles: (1) On September 20, 1643, between the army of Charles I. and that of the Parliament under Essex; it terminated somewhat favorably for the king. (2) A second battle of dubious result was fought between the royalists and the Parliamentarians, October 27, 1644.

=New Caledonia.= An island of the South Pacific Ocean, discovered by Cook on September 4, 1774; seized by the French September 20, 1853. The French government in December, 1864, redressed the outrages committed on British missionaries at a station established here in 1854.

=Newcastle-upon-Tyne.= A river-port and the chief town of the county of Northumberland, England, 14 miles north from Durham. The Romans had a stationary camp here, called _Pons Ælii_, one of the chain of forts by which the Wall of Hadrian was fortified. Newcastle surrendered to the Scotch in 1646, who here gave up Charles I. to the Parliament in 1646. The town occupied by Gen. Wade in 1745.

=New England.= The name given by Capt. John Smith, in 1614, to the territory granted by James I. to the Plymouth Company for colonization, which now comprises the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. For history of New England, see these States under appropriate headings.

=Newfoundland.= A large island of British North America, at the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Newfoundland is supposed to have been discovered by the Norwegians, or Northmen, about the year 1000; it was rediscovered by John Cabot on June 24, 1497; a settlement was subsequently formed here by some Portuguese adventurers, who were in their turn expelled by Sir Francis Drake in the reign of Elizabeth. After this period numerous English colonies were established from time to time along the east coast, and several French along the south coast, in the Bay of Placentia. The French often tried to conquer the island, and during the French and English wars it was the scene of many bloody events. In 1713, Newfoundland and its dependencies were declared, by the treaty of Utrecht, to belong wholly to Great Britain; the French reserving a right to fish on certain parts of the coast. In 1728 the island was made a province of Great Britain.

=New Grenada= (now _United States of Colombia_). A republic in the northwest of South America, discovered by Ojeda in 1499, and settled by the Spaniards in 1536. It formed a part of the new republic of Bogota, established in 1811, and combined with Caracas, formed the republic of Colombia, December 17, 1819. (See COLOMBIA, UNITED STATES OF.) A struggle took place between the conservative partisans of the old government and the liberals, January, 1861, and Gen. Mosquera (liberal) deposed Ospina and seized the government, July 18, 1861. Mosquera invited Venezuela and Ecuador to join the confederation, August, 1863; Ecuador declined, which resulted in a war, which commenced November 20, 1863. The troops of Ecuador were defeated, December 6; peace ensued, and Ecuador remained independent, December 30, 1863; Mosquera declared himself dictator, by a _coup d’état_, March 11, 1866; he was deposed by Santos Acosta, May 23, 1867; Gen. Ponce was made provisional president, July, 1868, and was succeeded by Correoso, August 29, who defeated his opponents, November 12, 1868.

=New Hampshire.= One of the Eastern States, and one of the original thirteen of the American Confederacy. New Hampshire was first visited in 1614, and was settled near Portsmouth in 1623. It was several times connected with Massachusetts up to 1679, when it became a royal province, but renewed its connections with Massachusetts in 1689, and was for a short time attached to New York; finally, in 1741, it became an entirely separate province, and so remained till the Revolution. New Hampshire was much harassed by the Indians, and in 1689 a party of them sacked Dover, killed many of the whites, and burnt the town. No important action took place on the soil of this State, either in the war of the Revolution or that of 1812. The State contributed greatly to the cause of the Union in the late civil war.

=New Jersey.= One of the Middle Atlantic States, and one of the original thirteen of the American Confederacy. Settlements were made at Bergen, in New Jersey, soon after their arrival in New York, by the Dutch, between the years 1614 and 1624. The whole of the region lying between the Delaware and the Hudson was claimed by them, although the Swedes had made some settlements in the western part of the same country. These claims, however, were disregarded by the British; and in 1664, Charles II. granted to the Duke of York the whole of this country, and in the same year the duke sold it to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, in honor of the latter of whom, a native of Jersey, it received the name which it still bears. The Dutch again got possession of it in 1673, but resigned it on the conclusion of peace in the following year. New Jersey escaped the inroads of the savage tribes which desolated and afflicted most of the older colonies; but in the war of the Revolution it suffered greatly, and was the scene of many important battles, such as Trenton, Princeton, Millstone, Red Bank, and Monmouth. In the late civil war, New Jersey contributed greatly to the cause of the Union, and her regiments were distinguished on many important battle-fields.

=New Matter= (in military courts). Should either party, in the course of their examination of witnesses, or by bringing forward new ones for that purpose, introduce new matter, the opposite one has the right of calling other witnesses to rebut such new matter. A prosecutor, however, cannot be allowed to bring forward evidence to rebut what has been elicited by his own cross-examination, but must be confined to new matter introduced by the accused, and supported by the examination-in-chief of the accused. The court should be very circumspect to see and prevent new matter from being introduced, either in the prosecution or defense. But the accused may urge in his defense mitigating circumstances, or examine witnesses as to character or service, and produce testimonials of such facts, without its being considered new matter; and if any point of law be raised, or any matter requiring explanation, the judge-advocate may explain; no other reply is admitted.