Part 14

The Italians, we are assured, behaved with great heroism, and, no doubt although they lost the day, they came off without loss of honour. An advance across the Mincio, right into the heart of the Quadrilateral, is an enterprise which no other European army would, under such circumstances, have ventured upon, but a frenzy to do something seems to have possessed the whole Italian nation, and the men in command could think of nothing better than dashing their heads against those formidable stone walls. There may be bravery in so desperate an attempt to take the bull by the horns, but we believe it would be impossible for the king or La Marmora to say what results they expected from their ill-conceived and worse-executed attempt. It was a battle in which they staked the very existence of their army, while their enemies, in the worst event, ran no other risk than that of a safe and leisurely retreat behind the shelter of their bastions. The least that may be said of it is, that like the Balaklava charge, “_C’était beau mais ce n’était pas la guerre_.” Ever since 1848 and 1849 the Austrians have strained every nerve to strengthen these four citadels, and have extended their outworks, so that the line between Peschiera and Verona, especially, is a vast intrenched camp.”

CYZICUM, BATTLE OF.--Fought during the Peloponnesian war. Plutarch states that Mindarus was slain in this battle. The Athenians gained a complete victory over the Lacedæmonian fleet. Fought B.C. 410.

D.

DAMASCUS.--Taken by the Saracens, 633. Again by the Turks in 1006, and was destroyed by Tamerlane in 1400.

DANTZIC.--It surrendered to the French, after a siege of four months, May 5th, 1807; and, by the treaty of Tilsit, was restored to its former independence under the protection of Russia and Saxony. It was besieged by the Allies in 1812, and surrendered to them January 6th, 1814. By the treaty of Paris it reverted to its former status.

DARDANELLES, PASSAGE OF THE.--This was achieved by the British fleet under Sir John Duckworth, February 19th, 1807; but the admiral was obliged to repass them--which he did with great loss and immense damage to the fleet, March 2nd following. The castles of Sestos and Abydos hurled down rocks, each of many tons weight, upon the decks of the British ships.

DARTMOUTH.--Burnt by the French, in the reign of Richard I and Henry IV. Prince Maurice took it in 1643, but it was retaken by General Fairfax, by storm, A.D. 1646.

DELHI.--Once the great capital of the Mogul empire. In 1738, when Nadir Shah invaded Hindostan, he entered Delhi, and 100,000 of the inhabitants were put to the sword. In 1803, the Mahrattas aided by the French, got possession of the place; but they were afterwards defeated by General Lake. This city has been the scene of much commotion in the course of its history.

The following is a short account of the storming of Delhi, in the last great mutiny:

“Until the latter end of August, the British troops before Delhi are rather to be considered as an army of observation, than as a besieging force. Their inferiority in numbers and artillery was barely counter-balanced by their superior discipline, courage and physical strength. These advantages enabled them, indeed, to maintain their ground, but not to assume the offensive.

Toward the close of August, however, a re-inforcement of European and Sikh troops, under Brigadier Nicholson, arrived from the Punjab, and, on the 25th of that month, the rebels were defeated at Nujuffghur, with great slaughter, and the loss of thirteen guns. A few days later a heavy siege-train was received from Ferozepore, and breaching batteries were constructed on the north side of the city. The siege may be said to have commenced on the 7th September, and by the evening of the 13th, the engineers reported two practicable breaches--one near the Cashmere, the other near the Water bastion. Arrangements were, therefore, at once made for an assault, to take place at daybreak on the following morning.

The first column, commanded by Brigadier Nicholson, advanced under a tremendous fire, and, applying their scaling-ladders, carried the Cashmere bastion, and established themselves in the main-guard. Almost simultaneously, the second column, under Brigadier Jones, stormed the Water bastion, and effected a junction with their comrades inside the walls.

A third column, under Colonel Campbell, awaited the blowing open of the Cashmere gate to join the assault. They had not long to wait. Lieutenants Salkeld and Home, of the engineers, accompanied by three sergeants carrying the powder-bags, walked up to the gateway in broad daylight, and, while exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, coolly fastened the bags to the iron spikes of the gate. In the performance of this heroic exploit, Lieutenant Salkeld was severely wounded, and two of the sergeants killed upon the spot; but the train was lighted, and the gate blown open with a tremendous crash.

As the smoke cleared away, the storming party sprang through the ruins with a British cheer; and the three columns uniting, made themselves master of the whole line of works, from the Water bastion to the Cabul gate; and before nightfall were in possession of Skinner’s house, the Church, the College, and the adjacent grounds. This brilliant success, however, was not achieved without great loss of life.

Of the European soldiery, eight officers and 162 rank and file were killed, with 52 officers and 510 rank and file wounded; of the Sepoys, 413 were placed _hors de combat_, of whom 103 were slain outright. The total number of casualties thus amounted to 1145, or one-third of the entire assaulting force. Among the mortally wounded was Brigadier Nicholson, whose death was justly deplored as a national calamity.

Simultaneously with these main attacks, a diversion was made by a fourth column, consisting of Sikhs, Ghoorkas, and Cashmerians, on the suburbs of Kishengunge and Pahareepore. But, in spite of their most strenuous efforts, these troops failed to overcome the desperate resistance offered by the enemy, and, in the end, were compelled to retreat, though not ingloriously.

The day following the assault was consumed in shelling the palace, and in battering the magazine. A breach was effected, and, at daylight on the 16th, a storming party dashed forward with such impetuosity that the rebel artillerymen dropped their lighted port-fires and fled, leaving undischarged six guns of large calibre commanding the breach and loaded with grape. On the 17th, the British troops became masters of the Bank, formerly the palace of the Begum Sumroo, and shortly afterwards, of the Jumma Musjid, or principal mosque. Heavy guns were now brought to play upon the palace and the bridge of boats, and, by the evening of the 20th, the rebels entirely evacuated the city and its suburbs. Then was seen the extent of the damage sustained by the former capital of the Mogul dynasty. Whole streets had been laid in ruins; dead bodies tainted the air in all directions; the inhabitants, reduced to beggary, were crouching, terror-stricken, in obscure lurking-places. But the British soldier is merciful in victory, as he is irresistible in battle. To armed rebels, no mercy was shown; but women and children, and the defenceless citizens, were spared and protected.

The venerable descendant of Timour--venerable only by reason of his gray hairs and extreme old age--had fled, with his principal Begum, two sons, and a grandson, to the tomb of his ancestor, Hoomavoon, son of the mighty Baber. He was discovered and seized by captain Hodson, of the 2nd European Fusiliers. His own life, and that of his queen, were respected--but the princes were led out and shot, and their dead bodies publicly exposed at the kotwalee, or mayor’s court.

General Wilson, whose health failed him in the hour of victory, now resigned the command to Brigadier Penny, C.B., a veteran of approved gallantry. Colonel Burn, whose father so gallantly defended Delhi against Jeswunt Rao Holkar, in 1803, was appointed military commandant within the city, and measures were successfully taken to re-establish order, and to afford protection to well-disposed and peaceful citizens. Two movable columns, consisting each of 1600 infantry, 500 cavalry, three troops of horse artillery, and eighteen guns, were told off, and ordered to follow up the retreating enemy without delay. One of these, commanded by Colonel Greathed, of the 84th, came up with a rebel force strongly posted near Bolundshuhur, and, after a spirited engagement, utterly discomfited them with the loss of two guns, a vast quantity of ammunition, and 100 men.”

DEMERARA AND ESSEQUIBO.--Founded by the Dutch but taken by the British, under Major General White, April 22nd, 1796. Restored in 1802. Again surrendered to the British, under General Grinfield and Commodore Hood, September 20th, 1803. They are now British colonies.

DENNEWITZ, BATTLE OF.--In this battle a remarkable victory was obtained by Marshal Bernadotte, Prince of Denmark--who afterward became Charles XIV of Sweden--over Marshal Ney, September 6th, 1813. The loss of the French exceeded 16,000 men and two eagles, while the loss of the opposite army was inconsiderable.

DETTINGEN, BATTLE OF.--Between the British, Hanoverian, and Hessian army, commanded by George II of England in person and the Earl of Stair, on the one side, and the French army, commanded by Marshal Noailles and the Duke of Grammont, on the other side. The English army amounted to 52,000 men, the French to 60,000 strong. The French having passed a defile which they should have guarded, the British and Allies bravely sustained the impetuous charge of the French cavalry, so that they were obliged to give way, and recross the Mayne, with the loss of 5000 men. Fought June 16th, 1743.

DIEPPE.--_In France._--This town was bombarded by an English fleet, under Admiral Russell, and laid in ashes, July 1694. Again bombarded by the British, September 14th, 1803.

DIZIER ST.--_In Champagne._--One of the most memorable sieges in modern history. This town sustained a siege for six weeks against the army of Charles V, Emperor of Germany, A.D. 1544. A battle was fought here between the armies of the Allies on the one side, and the French, commanded by Napoleon in person, on the other, in which he was defeated with great loss, January 27th, 1814.

DONNINGTON, BATTLE OF.--_In Lincolnshire, England._--Fought between the Royalists, commanded by Colonel Cavendish, and the forces of the Parliament--the latter defeated, 1643. The battle of Donnington, in Gloucestershire, was fought in 1645, when the Royalists, under Lord Aston, were defeated by Colonel Morgan. This victory led to the surrender of the King’s garrison at Oxford.

DRAGOON.--Name supposed to have been derived from dragon. The first regiment of dragoons in England was raised A.D. 1681.

DRESDEN, BATTLE OF.--Between the allied army, under the Prince of Schwarzenberg, and the French army, commanded by Napoleon, August 26th and 27th, 1813. The Allies were 200,000 strong. They attacked the position of Napoleon, and the event had nearly proved fatal to them, but for an error of General Vandamme. They were defeated with dreadful loss, and were obliged to retreat into Bohemia. Vandamme pursuing them too far, his division was cut to pieces, and he and all his staff made prisoners. In this battle, General Moreau received his mortal wound, while in conversation with the Emperor of Russia.

DROGHEDA.--_In Ireland._--Cromwell took this city by storm, and put the governor and all the garrison to the sword, August 14th, 1649. More than 3000 men, mostly English, perished, one individual--a lieutenant--alone escaping. Cromwell also murdered every man, woman, and child of the citizens that were Irish!

DRUM.--A martial instrument--the invention of which is ascribed to Bacchus. Being an oriental invention, it was introduced into Europe by the Moors, A.D. 713.

DUMBLANE OR DUNBLANE, BATTLE OF.--Called also the Battle of Sheriffmuir.--Fought between the Royalist army, and the Scotch rebels, November 12th, 1715. The Duke of Argyle, who commanded the Royalists, had in his army 4000 veteran troops; the Earl of Mar, who commanded the rebels, 8000, but all newly raised. The loss was equal on both sides, and each claimed the victory. The Highland foot behaved most gallantly.

DUNBAR, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the Scottish and English army, in which John Baliol was defeated by the Earl of Warrenne, and Scotland subdued by Edward I, April 27th, 1296. Another battle was fought here between the Scots and the English, under Cromwell, who obtained a great victory, September 3rd, 1650.

DUNDALK.--Edward Bruce, being defeated in his unfortunate invasion of Ireland, was beheaded here, in 1318, and with him 6200 Scots invaders, lost their lives. The walls and fortifications were destroyed in 1641.

DUNGAN HILL, BATTLE OF.--_In Ireland._--Fought between the English and Irish armies. The former commanded by Colonel Jones, who signally defeated the insurgent Irish, of whom 6000 were slain, while the loss of the English was inconsiderable. Fought July 10th, 1647.

DUNKIRK.--Taken by the English and French from the Spaniards, June 24th, 1658. Sold by Charles II, for £500,000, to Louis XIV, in 1662. The English attempted to besiege this place, but the Duke of York, who commanded, was defeated by Hoche, and forced to retire with loss, September 7th, 1793.

DUNSINANE, BATTLE OF.--Celebrated by Shakespeare. Fought between Macbeth, the thane of Glamis, and Seward, earl of Northumberland. Macbeth was signally defeated, fled, and was pursued, when he was slain, 1057.

DURHAM, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the English and Scottish armies, October 17th, 1316. See _Nevill’s Cross_.

E.

EBRO.--Scene of a signal defeat of the Spaniards, by the French, November 23rd, 1808. Scene also of several movements of the allied forces during the Peninsular War.

ECKMUHL, BATTLE OF.--Fought, April 22nd, 1809, between the main armies of France and Austria. The French army was commanded by Napoleon, and the Austrian by the Archduke Charles. Napoleon, by one of his masterly movements, broke through the Imperial army, and completely routed them.

EDGEHILL, BATTLE OF.--Fought, October 23rd, 1642, between the Royalists and the Parliament army, the first engagement of importance in the civil war. Charles I was present in this battle. Prince Rupert commanded the Royalists and the Earl of Essex the Parliamentarians. The Earl of Lindsay, one of Charles’ Generals, who commanded the foot forces, was mortally wounded and taken prisoner. The King’s army lost 5000 men, dead on the field of battle, with vast numbers of wounded and prisoners; but the great loss on the other side prevented them from making all they could of the victory.

ENSIGN.--A flag or banner. The lowest commissioned officer in an infantry regiment--he who carries the flag or colors--hence the name; derived from the French.

ENGHIEN, BATTLE OF.--Fought, August 3rd, 1692, between the British, under William III, and the French, under Marshal Luxembourg, who were victorious. William had put himself at the head of the confederate army in the Netherlands, and leagued himself with the Protestant powers upon the continent against the ambition of Louis XIV, and in the end he triumphed.

ENLISTMENT OF SOLDIERS AND SEAMAN.--None enlisted are to be sworn in before a magistrate in less than twenty-four hours, and then they are at liberty to withdraw, upon returning enlistment or bounty money and 21s. costs. All enlistment is now voluntary.

ENNISKILLEN.--_Ireland._--It made an obstinate defence against the army of Elizabeth; then against James II, 1689--1500 Enniskillens met General McCarty with a force of 6000 men--defeated him, with a loss of 3000 men, and took all the rest--losing only twenty men, July 1689. The Enniskillen dragoons were raised here.

ESSLING, BATTLE OF.--Fought, May 22nd, 1809, between the armies of France and Austria, commanded by Napoleon and the Archduke Charles,--a dreadful conflict, which began on May 21st, and continued on the 22nd. Napoleon was defeated with the loss of 30,000 men--but the Austrians lost 20,000. This was the most severe check that Napoleon had ever yet experienced, which rendered his army’s retreat very difficult.

EUPATORIA.--_Crimea._--Famous in the Crimean war. The following is an account of its capture by the Allies:

“About 25,000 Turks, under Omer Pacha, the veterans for the most part of the army of the Danube, had occupied the town, and strongly entrenched themselves, assisted by a small force of English and French, and supported by the presence of a naval squadron, under the command of Captain Hastings, of the _Curaçoa_. For some days previous to the 16th of February, large bodies of Russians had been observed in the vicinity; and on the morning of that day, a strong force of artillery, supported by bodies of cavalry and infantry, estimated at about 40,000 men, opened a smart fire upon the town, at a distance of 1200 yards, subsequently advancing nearer. The small squadron, under Captain Hastings, was enabled to do good service; the _Valorous_ pitching shells and shot among the enemy on the left; and the _Viper_, an active little gun-boat, smartly seconding her efforts on the left. The enemy’s infantry approached to the right of the town, through the cemetery. As they advanced from the burying-ground, they were met by a vigorous fire of musketry from the entrenchments. The _Furious_ had detached a rocket-party, which coming round among the windmills to the right of the town, met the advancing Russians with a succession of volleys. The enemy advanced to within twenty yards of the ditch, and then fell into confusion. Selim Bey, the leader of the Egyptian contingent, seizing the opportunity, threw forward his brigade in a rapid charge with the bayonet upon the disordered columns, but fell mortally wounded at the head of his men. Unable to stand the terrific fire to which they were exposed, and yielding before the vigorous charge of the Egyptians, the Russians gave way, and the repulse was complete. The artillery limbered up their guns, and with the cavalry, drew leisurely from the spot. The enemy’s loss must have been immense, considering the short time the skirmish lasted, as the ground was strewed with the bodies of the slain, who were quickly despoiled by the ever ready Bashi-Bazouks, and left stark naked in their blood. The loss to the defenders of the town was 101 killed, and 286 wounded. The Turkish artillery suffered greatly from the enemy’s fire, nineteen men being killed in one battery. Thus did Omer Pacha initiate his campaign in the Crimea.”

EURYMEDON, BATTLE OF.--One of the most celebrated battles in Grecian history, when Cimon destroyed the fleet of the Persians at Cyprus, and the land forces also at the River Eurymedon, B.C. 470.

EVESHAM, BATTLE OF.--Fought, August 4th, 1265, between Prince Edward, afterwards Edward I, and Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester--in which the Barons were defeated, and Montfort slain. This victory broke up the confederation of the Barons against the King.

EXETER.--When held by the Danes King Alfred invested and took it A.D. 894. Sweyn besieged it 1003. Again besieged by William the Conqueror, 1067. Surrendered to King Stephen, 1136. Besieged by Sir William Courtenay, 1469. Lastly assaulted by Perkin Warbeck 1497.

EXPEDITIONS OF THE BRITISH. PRINCIPAL ONES.

France near Port l’Orient October 1, 1746 Cherbourg August 7, 1758 St. Malo September, 1758 Ostend May, 1798 Zuyder Zee September, 1799 Egypt March, 1801 Copenhagen September, 1807 Walcheren July, 1809 Bergen-op-Zoom March, 1814

EYLAU, BATTLE OF.--Fought, February 8th, 1807, between the French and Russians.--It was one of the most terrible and bloody in Napoleon’s wars. Napoleon lost 15,000 men, and the Russians 20,000, in slain alone. Both armies were dreadfully crippled by this battle, and both had to retire.

F.

FALCZI, PEACE OF.--This celebrated peace was concluded between Russia and Turkey, July 2nd, 1711,--the Russians giving up Azof and all their possessions on the Black Sea to the Turks. In the following year the war was renewed, and at last terminated in the peace of Constantinople, April 16th, 1712.

FALKIRK, BATTLE OF.--First battle fought between Edward I of England, and the Scots under William Wallace, July 22nd, 1298; and the second between the King’s forces and Prince Charles Stuart, the Pretender, January 18th, 1746. Both are described in the following extracts:

“Edward had been in Scotland for about a month. He had advanced as far as Kirkliston, ten miles west of Edinburgh. Symptoms of mutiny began to appear among his hungry soldiers. He was compelled to give orders for a retreat to Edinburgh, meaning to wait there till his fleet, laden with provisions, should arrive at Leith, and then to advance again.

Things stood thus, when two scoundrels, the Earl of Dunbar and the Earl of Angus, came at daybreak into the camp of the English, and gave information that Wallace lay in the forest of Falkirk, intending to attack the English in their quarters that very night. Edward was filled with joy at the tidings. “Thanks be to God,” he cried, “who hath hitherto delivered me from every danger! They shall not need to follow me, for I shall instantly go and meet them.”

In an hour’s time he had his army in motion for the west. That night they encamped on a moor near Linlithgow. Each man slept in his armour, each war-horse was kept ready bridled beside its rider. The king himself slept on the bare ground, like the meanest soldier in his army. In the middle of the night the sleeping king received a kick from his own charger, by which two of his ribs were broken. As soon as morning dawned the march was resumed. The king, wounded as he was, was among the first to mount.

Passing through the town of Linlithgow, they continued their march, and gained a rising ground at some distance beyond. There they halted, and the fighting Bishop of Durham said mass. While the ceremony was performing the sun rose, and his rays, glancing upon the array of spears, showed them the Scottish army taking their ground on the slope of a small hill not far from Falkirk. Wallace arranged his battle thus: His main force lay in his infantry, who fought with long spears, and carried short daggers and axes for close battle slung at the girdle. They were divided into four circular masses, or _schiltrons_, as they were called in the military language of the time. In these circles the spearmen stood compactly together, with their long spears stretched out, and forming a ring of steel. The spaces between circle and circle were occupied by the archers, tall yeomen from the forests of Selkirk and Ettrick. The cavalry, amounting to 1000 heavy armed horse, were placed in the rear. Among them were most of the nobles who had joined Wallace; but the jealousy which these proud barons felt towards him, and their selfish fear of losing their estates, made them less than half-hearted in the cause.