Part 20

So ended the war of 1855 with Russia; for this was really its last incident, General Mouravieff having already dismantled the fortifications of Kars, and withdrawn the bulk of his forces to Gumri. It was on the 28th of November that General Williams at last surrendered to him the stubborn Armenian fortress. The heroic garrison had long been macerated by the failure of rations and by disease. Even their ammunition was expended. In another assault on the day of their surrender they would have had no means of firing half-a-dozen rounds from their guns, and they were completely past the power of personal resistance as a body, being unable to wield their weapons, and hardly able to stand erect. They had borne literally the fiercest extremities of famine. They were now a corps of spectres, with scarcely the strength to speak. Yet these men had furnished indiscriminately the sentinels who had mounted guard over the little pile of half-rotten farina which was to be doled out in a biscuit a day for each; and the trusty sentries never touched the food which was the sole remaining common stock. Under such circumstances it was that General Williams rode out with a flag of truce, and told Prince Mouravieff that he would surrender Kars provided all the courtesies and honours of war were conceded to the garrison. General Kmety and some few attendants had tried a different expedient--they stole out and cut their way through the leaguer on the only serviceable horses left.

Mouravieff listened with attention to General Williams, who threatened, if his various stipulations were not granted, to burst every gun and destroy every military trophy still extant in Kars. The Russian chief replied with chivalrous warmth and visible emotion as he looked at the emaciated hero, that all was granted, and that he was proud as an enemy to testify that General Williams and those under him had immortalised themselves. Nothing, in short, could surpass the nobility of sentiment displayed (both then and in the subsequent treatment of the prisoners) by Prince Mouravieff and the Russian army.”

KERTCH.--An expedition undertaken against this place during the late Russian war was completely successful. “Notwithstanding the recall of the expedition to Kertch in the early part of the month, the Allied Generals were resolved to carry out the project of a descent upon that part of the coast; and, on the 22nd of May, another expedition departed: the English force under Sir George Brown, and the French under General D’Autemarre. The two Admirals, Sir Edmund Lyons and Bruat, accompanied the land forces. The troops engaged numbered 15,000, with five batteries of artillery. It was apprehended that a serious resistance would probably be made at Kertch, and that the fleets would have difficulty in forcing the straits into the Sea of Azov, if they were exposed to the fire of the powerful batteries of Kertch and Yenikale. In order, then, that the town might be attacked from the land side, Sir George Brown landed his force at Kamiesch Bournu, a few miles to the south of Kertch, and advanced overland. The enemy, however, had no intention of risking a contest, and evacuated the town, destroying the magazines, and blowing up the fortifications. When the troops entered Kertch, they found it deserted by nearly all the inhabitants; and the ships in the straits hurredly endeavouring to escape into the Sea of Azov. In this attempt they were frustrated by the activity of the allied fleets; and the Admirals, finding the depth of water more than they had anticipated, started in full pursuit, capturing and burning every vessel they could approach. Yenikale was, like Kertch, deserted by its garrison; and in a few hours the Allies were in undisturbed and bloodless possession of the two towns commanding the outlet of the Sea of Azov, and the fleets were in full chase of the Russian navy in those waters.”

KIEL, TREATY OF.--Between Great Britain, Sweden and Denmark, signed January 14th, 1814.

KILCULLEN, BATTLE OF.--Fought May 23rd, 1798, between a vast body of insurgent Irish and the British forces, commanded by General Dundas. The latter were defeated. General Dundas, however, subsequently beat the rebels near Kilcullen bridge, when 3000 were slain, and hundreds wounded and taken prisoners.

KILDARE.--The great rebellion commenced here in May 23rd, 1798. On that night Lieutenant Gifford, of Dublin, and a number of gentlemen were murdered. Quelled in the following year.

KILLALA.--A French force landed here, August 22nd, 1798. They were joined by the Irish insurgents, and the actions of Castlebar, Colooney and Ballyhannack followed. At the battle of Killala the insurgents were defeated with great slaughter, by the Royalist forces, September 23rd, 1798.

KILLIECRANKIE, BATTLE OF.--Fought July 17th, 1689, between the forces of William III and the adherents of James II. “General Mackay, the officer sent against Claverhouse, had about 3000 foot and some companies of horse under his command. But they were mostly all raw recruits, and entire strangers to the Highland way of fighting. At the head of the wild and gloomy pass of Killiecrankie, Mackay found himself in front of the rebels. He drew up his men, three deep, along the side of the narrow valley into which the pass opens. The Highlanders occupied the hill on the north side of the valley. At this time, the bayonet screwed into the muzzle of the musket, so that troops could not fire with bayonets fixed. The Highlanders, in dense masses broke down from the hill. Firing their guns once, they dropped them, and then with target on the left arm, and flashing broadsword they rushed, wildly yelling, on the enemy. Mackay’s troops fired a volley, which did little harm to the loose array of their leaping, bounding foes, and before they could screw in their bayonets, the Highlanders were among them. An empty musket without a bayonet could do little against the sweeping broadsword. A panic seized Mackay’s raw levies, and they broke and fled, pursued and cut down by the savage Highlanders.

Claverhouse never knew that he had won a victory. He fell at the beginning of the action, pierced by a musket ball which entered beneath his arm. When one in a pack of hungry wolves is killed, the rest turn upon him and eat him up. Claverhouse’s own men, true to their savage instinct of plunder, stripped his body, and left it naked upon the field, where it was with difficulty distinguished from the other bodies of the fallen!”

KOLIN, OR KOLLIN, BATTLE OF.--In this engagement the famous Austrian General Daun, gained a celebrated victory over Frederick the Great of Prussia, June 18th, 1757. Next year he obliged the Prussians to raise the siege of Olmutz and to retreat to Moravia.

KONIAH, BATTLE OF.--Fought on the Plains of Koniah, formerly Jornium, between the army of the Sultan of Turkey and the Pacha of Egypt, in which, after a most bloody action which continued all the day, the Turkish army was defeated, and the Grand Vizier himself wounded and taken prisoner, December 31st, 1833.

KOWNO, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the French and Russian armies, in which the French were defeated with great slaughter, and the loss of upwards of 6000 prisoners, 21 pieces of cannon; many thousands on both sides were slain. Fought, December 14th, 1812.

KRASNOI, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the French under Davoust, and the Russian army commanded by Kutusoff. In this bloody battle Davoust was entirely overthrown, and his army dispersed, thousands upon thousands being left dead on the field, November 16th, 1812.

KUNNERSDORF, BATTLE OF.--One of the most bloody battles on record, and fought between the Prussian and Russian armies. The King of Prussia, after a great slaughter of the enemy for upwards of six hours, had gained many advantages and had nearly accomplished victory; but too eager in pursuing the retreating enemy, the latter rallied, and in the end the Prussians were defeated with the loss of 20,000 men and 200 pieces of cannon, August 12th, 1759.

L.

LACOLLE MILL, BATTLE OF.--Operations were commenced early in the spring of 1814. An American army, commanded by General Wilkinson, and amounting to upwards of 3000 men, entered Lower Canada on the western shore of Lake Champlain. They attacked and completely invested Lacolle Mill, which was defended by Major Handcock, of the 13th regiment, and about 180 men. They were vigorously repulsed from this little fortress and driven back to the United States.

LA HOGUE, BATTLE OF.--Between the English and Dutch combined fleets under Admirals Russel and Rooke, and the French under Tourville. The Allies gained a complete victory, burning thirteen ships of the French, and destroying eight more, and forcing the rest to fly, and so preventing the threatened invasion of England, May 19th, 1692.

LA ROTHIÈRE, BATTLE OF.--Between the French, commanded by Napoleon, and the Prussian and Russian armies, which were defeated after a desperate engagement with the loss of some thousands slain, and 3000 prisoners and 30 pieces of cannon, February 1st, 1814. This was about one of the last victories of Napoleon.

LA VENDÉE, WAR OF.--Many battles in this war were fought between the French Royalists of La Vendée and the Republican armies in 1793-4. The war terminated January 10th, 1800.

LAKES CHAMPLAIN, ERIE, AND ONTARIO.--These lakes were the scene of many engagements between the English and American colonists in the War of Independence, and also in the war of 1812-15, the chief of which was the capture of the British fleet by the Americans after a severe action, September 11th, 1813.

LANDEN, BATTLE OF.--Between the Allies and French, in which William III of England commanded. Owing chiefly to the cowardice of the Dutch horse, this sanguinary engagement ended in the defeat of the Allies, July 19, 1693. The Duke of Berwick, illegitimate son of James II, who was fighting on the side of France, was taken prisoner in this battle by Brigadier Churchill, afterwards the great Duke of Marlborough.

LANGSIDE, BATTLE OF.--Fought, May 13th, 1568, between the forces of Queen Mary of Scotland and the Regent. “Many powerful Barons called their vassals to their banners, and hastened to support the Queen. In a few days her camp at Hamilton contained 6000 men. The Regent had with difficulty mustered 4000, but he determined to bring the Queen’s army to battle at once. She broke up her camp at Hamilton, and marched towards Dumbarton. The village of Langside lay on her line of march, and her troops must pass through a narrow lane leading up the face of the hill on which the village stood. Moray posted his hag-butters, or matchlock-men, among the cottages, and lined with them the garden-hedges on both sides of the lane. The Queen took her station on an eminence half a mile distant, from which she had the battle full in sight. She saw her troops press up the hill, and endeavour to force the passage of the lane. She saw them reel under the close and deadly fire of the hagbut-men who lined the hedges. She saw them come on again stoutly, and meet the shock of Moray’s spearmen. She saw the mass of combatants swaying to and fro in doubtful conflict. And then she saw her troops swept down the hill, broken and scattered, the Regent’s men fiercely pursuing and spearing the wretched fugitives.”

LAON, BATTLE OF.--_In France._--Between the Allies, chiefly the Prussian army, and the French. This battle or rather succession of actions, was fought under the walls of the town, and ended, after a sanguinary and obstinate contest in the defeat of the latter with great loss, March 9th, 1814.

LARGS, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the ancient inhabitants of Scotland and the Northmen. A bloody battle, fought 30th September, 1263. The following description is from the pen of an eminent Scottish modern writer:

“It was about the middle of August when the fleet of Haco, which counted 160 ships, rounded the Mull of Cantyre and entered the Frith of Clyde. Time is everything in war. Haco should have landed immediately. Every day was bringing the storms of Autumn nearer, and every day was giving time to the King of Scotland to increase his forces. Haco was a veteran who had been King of Norway forty-six winters. Alexander was a young man who had lived fewer than half the years that Haco had reigned. But the youth fairly outwitted the veteran. He sent an embassy of barefooted friars on board of Haco’s ship to propose terms of peace. The barefooted envoys came and went between the two kings, and the time was spun out in negociations till the weather began to break; the fleet was running short of provisions, and the Scots in formidable numbers were assembling on the shore.

“It was now the last day of September. At night there came on a storm so sudden and so wild that the Norwegians believed it to have been raised by the spells of the Scotch witches. The ships were torn from their anchors and ran ashore, or dashed against each other in the pitchy darkness. Haco ordered the attendance of his priests, took to his boat, and landed on the island of Cumbrae, where, amid the howling of the storm, he had mass performed. In stranger circumstances, surely, mass was never said or sung. Unluckily for Haco, the strong-winged tempest heeded it not. It continued with unabated fury all night and all the next day. The fleet drove up the channel, scattering the sea with wreck, and the shore with stranded vessels. The heights above the coast were covered by a multitude of armed peasants, who watched their opportunity and rushed down to attack the stranded ships.

“When the second morning broke, and the violence of the tempest had somewhat abated, Haco, by means of his boats, landed with a large force to protect his stranded vessels from the armed peasantry, and if possible to tow them off. While the Norwegians were engaged in the operation of floating off their ships, the sun rose, and his level rays caught the surrounding hills. Through the grey sheet of morning mist which covered the landscape, flashes as of fire were seen. It was the sun’s rays glancing upon the polished armour of the Scottish army. They advanced rapidly, and the Norwegians could soon discern their pennons and banners waving above their wood of spears, and the knights and leaders, blazing in complete steel, marshalling the line. They were commanded by King Alexander in person.

“They attacked with fury, and drove back the advanced body of the Norwegians. It seemed as if the whole force of the enemy was about to be swept into the sea before the fierce onset of the Scots. But the Norsemen, who fought entirely on foot, threw themselves into a circle with their long spears pointing out to the foe, like a huge hedgehog with prickles of steel. All day long the battle raged around this ring of spears. The storm had renewed its violence, so that it was impossible to send help on shore. Again and again the Scottish horse repeated their furious charge. The circle of steel was slowly forced back along the shore, but it could not be broken. A Scottish knight, Sir Piers de Curry, rode round and round it brandishing his spear and challenging any Norse captain to single combat. He wore a helmet inlaid with gold and set with precious stones; his mail was gold-embossed; his sword-belt studded with jewels. A leader of the Northmen accepted his challenge, and stepped out from the circle of spears. The Scottish knight spurred his horse and rushed down upon him with levelled lance. The Norseman with his great sword parried the spear-thrust, and as the knight passed him in his career, smote him with his whole strength upon the thigh. The sword cut sheer into the saddle through steel and bone, so that the limb was separated from the body, and the proud knight fell dead beneath his horse.

“A re-inforcement from the ships at length succeeded in landing through the surf; and with the aid of these fresh troops the Norwegians bore back the Scots from the shore. Night fell upon the weary combatants, and under cover of the darkness the Norwegians got on board their ships.”

LAYBACH, CONGRESS OF.--Attended by the Sovereigns of Russia, Prussia, and Austria, and resulting in two circulars, stating that Naples should be occupied with the Austrian troops, May 6th, 1821.

LEGHORN.--Entered by the French revolutionary army, July 27th, 1796, but the immense amount of British property in the city had been previously removed. Evacuated by the French in 1799, and retaken the next year. The Austrian took the city May 12th, 1849.

LEGION.--A Roman body of soldiers, about 6000 men. The 10th legion was a favourite one with Cæsar. Ancient Britain was generally protected by three legions.

LEIPSIC, BATTLE OF.--This battle fought, October 16th, 17th, and 18th, 1813, between the allied army of Russia, Prussia, and Austria on the one side, and Napoleon on the other, was one of the greatest, bloodiest, and most decisive of modern times. The French numbered 160,000 men, and the Allies 260,000 strong. This great battle was lost by the French, chiefly owing to the seventeen German battalions, then Saxon allies, turning upon them in the heat of the action; 80,000 perished on the field, of whom more than 40,000 were French, who also lost sixty-five pieces of cannon and many standards. This victory of the allied army was followed by that of the capture of Leipsic, and the rear guard of the French army next day. The King of Saxony and his family were also made prisoners.

LEPANTO, BATTLE OF.--The great naval battle between the combined fleets of Spain, Venice, and Pius V, and the whole maritime force of the Turks. Don John of Austria commanded the allied fleet, which consisted of 206 galleys and 30,000 men. The Turks had 200 galleys. After a dreadful engagement they lost 150 galleys, and 30,000 men in killed and prisoners. Fought, October 7th, 1571.

LEUCTRA, BATTLE OF.--One of the most famous in ancient history, fought July 8th, 371 B.C. In this battle 4000 Spartans, with their King, were slain, and not more than 300 Thebans. After this battle the Spartans lost their position in Greece, which they had held for 500 years.

LEWES, BATTLE OF.--Between Henry III of England and Montfort, Earl of Leicester. Fought, May 14th, 1264. The Royal army was overthrown, and the King, his brother and son Prince Edward, were taken prisoners.

LEXINGTON, BATTLE OF.--The first battle fought between Great Britain and her revolted colonies of America; gained by the British, who destroyed the stores of the colonists, but they lost in battle 273 men killed and wounded. Fought, April 19th, 1775.

LEYDEN, SIEGE OF.--A memorable siege sustained against the armies of Spain; 6000 of the inhabitants died during the siege, of famine and pestilence, A.D. 1574. A University was afterwards founded in commemoration of this event.

LIEUTENANT.--An officer who supplies the place of a superior in his absence. In military affairs the second commissioned officer in a company of infantry, cavalry or artillery. In ships of war, a lieutenant is next in rank to the captain.

LIGNY, BATTLE OF.--Fought, June 16th, 1815, just before the celebrated battle of Waterloo, between the Prussians under Blucher, and the French commanded by Napoleon. The French gained the victory.

LINCELLES, BATTLE OF.--Between the allied English and Dutch armies and the French, in which the French were defeated August 18th, 1793. In this battle, General Lake commanded the 3rd battalion of Foot Guards, who so much distinguished themselves. Colonel Bosville, of the Coldstreams, was killed; the French lost 11 cannon.

LINCOLN, BATTLE OF.--A battle was fought at Lincoln between the armies of the Princess Maud and King Stephen of England. Stephen was defeated and captured, February 2nd, 1141. Another battle was fought here between the Dauphin of France and Henry III of England. This was a bloody engagement, in which the French and their English adherents were completely defeated, and Louis withdrew his pretensions to the English crown, May 19th, 1217.

LINLITHGOW-BRIDGE, BATTLE OF.--Between the forces of the Earl of Angus, and the forces of Lenox, who fought to get possession of the person of James V, then a minor. Lenox was slain by Sir James Hamilton, 1525.

LIPPSTADT, BATTLE OF.--One of the most bloody battles ever fought in the world. Called also _Lutzen_, which see.

LISLE, SIEGE OF.--Besieged by the Duke of Marlborough and the Allies, and taken after three months, in 1708. Restored at the treaty of Utrecht, 1713--this siege is accounted one of the most famous in modern times. It also sustained a severe bombardment by the Austrians in the revolutionary war, but they were obliged to raise the siege, October 7th, 1792.

LISSA, BATTLE OF.--This battle, fought December 5th, 1757, closed the campaign, in which the King of Prussia vanquished Prince Charles of Lorraine; 6000 Austrians were slain. Laid in ashes by the Russians in 1707.

LODI, BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE OF.--One of the earliest of Napoleon’s victories. Fought in Italy, May 10th, 1796. Napoleon commanded the French army, which was opposed to the Austrians, under General Beaulieu, and obtained a splendid victory after a bloody engagement, in which several thousands of the Imperialists were slain, and many thousands made prisoners. Napoleon nearly lost his life at this battle, and was wounded in the hip with a bayonet. One of his great Marshals in this battle, a sergeant, saved him, and was commissioned on the spot.

LONDONDERRY, SIEGE OF.--Memorable for a siege during the reign of James II, of England. James’ army, under the French General Rosene, retired with the loss of 8000 men, after having practised almost unparalleled cruelties upon the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, April 20th, 1689.

LONGBEARDS OR LONGOBARDS.--Hence Lombardy. The Longobards or Longbeards, who had overrun and taken possession of the great plain of the basin of the Po, retained to some extent their separate independence even under the empire of Germany. They had their own laws and customs, and were in the habit of crowning the emperor, or whoever else was acknowledged, as king of Lombardy. Hence, too, Napoleon wore the iron crown of their kings. This famed symbol of kingship was deposited in the Cathedral of Monza; it is a broad circle of gold, set with large rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, and was secured in an ornamented cross placed over an altar, closely shut up within folding doors of gilt brass. The crown is kept in an octagonal aperture in the centre of the cross. It is composed of six equal pieces of beaten gold, joined together by close hinges, and the jewels and embossed gold ornaments are set in a ground of blue and gold enamel, interesting as exhibiting an exact resemblance to the workmanship of the enamelled part of a gold ornament now in the Ashmolean Museum, which once belonged to King Alfred. But for those who have an appetite for relics, the most important part of this crown is a narrow iron rim, which is attached to the inside of it all round. The rim is about three-eighths of an inch broad, and a tenth of an inch thick, made out of one of the nails used in the Crucifixion. The crown is said to have been presented to Constantine by his mother; and the sacred iron rim, from which it has its name, was to protect him in battle. And, although this iron has now been exposed more than fifteen hundred years, there is not a speck of rust upon it.

LONG ISLAND, BATTLE OF.--Between the British troops under Sir William Howe and the revolted Americans, who suffered a severe defeat, after a well fought action, losing 2000 men in killed and wounded and 1000 prisoners. The Americans were pursued to New York, but were saved by a thick fog, which enabled them to escape. Fought, August 27th, 1776.