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.
=New Mexico.= A Territory of the United States, bounded on the north by
Colorado, east by Texas, south by Texas and Mexico, and west by Arizona.
The country was explored by the Spaniards in 1537, and was taken
possession of by the viceroy of Mexico in the name of the king of Spain
towards the latter part of that century. About 1680, the natives, who
were an industrious people of Aztec race, provoked by the oppression of
their rulers, rose against them and succeeded in driving them from the
country. The Spaniards, however, soon regained their foothold, which
they succeeded in maintaining until 1822, when Mexico and its
dependencies threw off the yoke of Spain. In 1846, Gen. Kearney captured
Santa Fé, the capital of New Mexico, and soon after became master of the
whole Territory, which was ceded to the United States in 1848, and in
1850 organized as a Territory. In 1854 another portion of Mexican
territory gained by purchase was added to it, and subsequently the
Territory of Arizona was set off from it, and another portion added to
Colorado. During the civil war New Mexico was the theatre of some
desperate and hard-fought battles. On February 21, 1862, a Confederate
force of Texans about 2500 strong, under Gen. Sibley, defeated the Union
forces under Col. Canby at Valverde, about 10 miles from Fort Craig, and
captured their guns. The loss of his battery compelled Col. Canby to
fall back to Fort Craig, but the enemy was so crippled that he did not
attempt to follow, but proceeded to Albuquerque and Santa Fé, both of
which towns were evacuated by the Union troops. Soon afterwards a force
of 400 Texans going north to reinforce Gen. Sibley were captured by Col.
Canby. On March 26, 1862, an engagement took place at Apache Pass, in
which 100 Texans were captured, between 300 and 400 killed, and 50
wagons burned. Another engagement took place on the 28th, at Pigeon’s
Ranche, 25 miles north of Santa Fé, in which the Confederates lost more
prisoners. About the middle of April, Col. Canby concentrating his
forces attacked the Texans at Parillo, on the Rio Grande, and after a
short action defeated them with great slaughter, and compelled them to
fly to the mountains. From this point until they reached Fort Bliss,
Texas, their retreat was a succession of disasters. They left in New
Mexico more than one-half of their original number as killed, wounded,
or prisoners, and every place which they abandoned in their retreat was
immediately occupied by Union troops.
=New Model.= In the United States, all cannon made since 1861 are on the
new model. This is characterized by the absence of all ornament on the
exterior,--the outline is made up of gentle curves as far us
possible,--on the inside the bottom of the bore is a semi-ellipsoid.
=New Orleans.= Capital of the State of Louisiana, and commercial
metropolis of the Gulf States. It was founded in 1718 by Bienville, the
governor of the province of Louisiana under the French, who caused it to
be laid out, and levees built, under the direction of the engineer De la
Tour. On January 8, 1815, was fought the battle of New Orleans, a few
miles below the city, between Gen. Andrew Jackson at the head of the
American forces, and the British under Gen. Pakenham, ending in the
defeat of the latter with a loss in killed and wounded of nearly 3000
men. The American loss was but 13. In the late civil war, New Orleans
held out until 1862, when it surrendered to the Union forces. Gen.
Butler was placed in command, but on December 16, 1862, was relieved by
Gen. Banks.
=New Ross.= A town in Wexford Co., Southeast Ireland, where Gen.
Johnston totally defeated the insurgent Irish under Beauchamp D. Bagenal
Harvey, June 4, 1798.
=Newry.= A town in Down Co., Ireland, which was reduced to a ruinous
condition in the rebellion of 1641; it was surprised by Sir Con.
Magenis, but was retaken by Lord Conway. After the restoration the town
was rebuilt. It was burnt by the Duke of Berwick when flying from
Schomberg and the English army, and only the castle and a few houses
escaped, 1689.
=Newtown-Butler.= A town in Fermanagh Co., Ireland, where, on July 30,
1689, the Enniskilleners under Gustavus Hamilton thoroughly defeated the
adherents of James II. commanded by Gen. Maccarty, whom they captured
with his artillery, arms, and baggage.
=New Trial.= The privilege of a new trial does not seem to be denied.
The provisions therefore are borrowed from common law, and are not held,
in either civil or military tribunals, to preclude the accused from
having a second trial on his own motion. Officers who sat on the first
trial should not be detailed for the new trial; they have formed and
expressed opinions. New, or second trial, can only be authorized where
the sentence adjudged upon the first trial has been disapproved. After a
sentence has been duly approved and has taken effect, the granting of a
new trial is beyond the power of a military commander, or the President.
=New York.= One of the Middle States of the United States, and one of
the thirteen of the original confederation. The earliest explorations of
New York by Europeans were in 1609, by Hendrik Hudson, who took
possession of the country on the river which bears his name for the
Dutch, and by Champlain, a Frenchman, who explored Lake Champlain from
Canada. The English, however, claimed the right of prior discovery,
which led to frequent conflicts. The first white settlements were made
in the State in 1713, and the early settlers suffered greatly from
Indian depredations. In 1690, Schenectady was taken and burned by the
savages, and many of the inhabitants massacred. The massacre of the
garrison at Fort William Henry by the Indians in 1757 will long be
remembered in the annals of New York. The State took an active part in
the war of independence, and was the theatre of many important military
events. The defeat of Washington at Long Island and at White Plains in
the autumn of 1776, the surrender of Burgoyne in October, 1777, and the
taking of Stony Point by Wayne in July, 1779, are the most important
actions that took place here during the Revolutionary contest. The
sanguinary naval battle of Lake Champlain in the war of 1812, in which
McDonough defeated the British after a hard-fought action, and several
other minor engagements, took place within the limits of New York in the
last struggle with Great Britain. During the civil war New York took an
active and prominent part in aiding the government in the suppression of
the rebellion; her quotas of troops were promptly filled, $40,000,000
being paid in bounties to her volunteers.
=New York.= The chief commercial city of the United States, and the most
populous, is situated at the southern extremity of Manhattan Island, at
the junction of the Hudson River and the extension of Long Island Sound,
known as the East River, about 18 miles from the Atlantic. It was
founded in 1613 by Dutch traders, who built two trading forts and four
houses on Manhattan Island, and called the settlement New Amsterdam. It
was taken by the English in 1664, and its name changed to New York in
honor of the Duke of York, brother of Charles II. Nine years later it
was recaptured by the Dutch, and its name changed to New Orange in honor
of the prince of that title; but in February, 1674, the English obtained
possession of it by treaty, and restored the name which they had
formerly given it. During the Revolutionary war New York was occupied by
the English troops after the battle of Long Island, and was evacuated by
them November 25, 1783. In the civil war the city was among the first in
manifesting its loyal disposition, and furnished over 116,000 men in
support of the Union cause.
=New Zealand.= A group of islands lying in the South Pacific Ocean,
discovered by Tasman in 1642. The right of Great Britain to New Zealand
was recognized in 1814. An insurrection of the natives (Maoris) took
place in March, 1860; several indecisive actions took place between the
natives and the militia, March 14-28, 1860; war broke out at Taranaki,
and the British were repulsed with loss on June 30; Gen. Pratt defeated
the Maoris at Mahoetahi, and destroyed their fortified places November
6. The Maoris were defeated December 29, 1860, January 23, February 24,
March 16-18, 1861; the natives surrendered March 19, 1861. The Maoris
again resorted to war in May, 1863; Gen. Cameron defeated them at
Rangariri November 20; and forced the Maori king to capitulate December
9, 1863. The British were repulsed at Galepa (the gate pah) with loss of
officers and men, April 29, 1864. The Maoris were again severely
defeated January 25 and February 25, 1864. The Maoris continued in a
state of insurrection, but were finally overcome in 1865.
=Nez Percés Indians= (“pierced noses”). A tribe of aborigines of the
Sahaptin family, who were located on a reservation in Northern Idaho. In
1877 they broke into open hostilities against the whites, and after a
sanguinary struggle under their chief Joseph they were at length
captured by Gen. Miles and transported to Indian Territory. Some few
escaped to the British possessions, where they still remain.
=Niagara.= Chief town of Lincoln County, in the Canadian province of
Ontario, on Lake Ontario. It was burnt down in December, 1813, by the
American general McClure on his retreat; it was afterwards rebuilt.
=Niagara, Battle of.= See LUNDY’S LANE.
=Nicæa= (anc. _Nicæensis_, _Nicensis_). Formerly one of the most
celebrated cities of Asia, stood on the eastern side of Lake Ascania
(now _Iznik_), in Bithynia. At the battle of Nice, 194, the emperor
Severus defeated his rival, Niger, who was again defeated at Issus, and
soon after taken prisoner and put to death. Under the later emperors of
the East, Nicæa long served as a bulwark of Constantinople against the
Arabs and Turks; it was taken by the Seljuks in 1078, and became the
capital of the sultan Soliman; it was retaken by the first Crusaders in
1097. After the taking of Constantinople by the Venetians and the
Franks, and the foundation of the Latin empire there in 1204, the Greek
emperor, Theodorus Lascaris, made Nicæa the capital of a separate
kingdom, in which his followers maintained themselves with various
success against the Latins of Constantinople on the one side, and the
Seljuks of Iconium on the other, and in 1261 regained Constantinople. At
length, in 1330, Nicæa was finally taken by Orchan, the son of the
founder of the Ottoman empire, Othman.
=Nicæa.= A fortress of the Epicnemidian Locrians on the sea, near the
pass of Thermopylæ, which it commanded. From its important position it
is often mentioned in the wars of Greece with Macedonia and with the
Romans. In the former its betrayal to Philip by the Thracian dynast
Phalæcus led to the termination of the Sacred war, 346 B.C.; and after
various changes it is found at the time of the wars with Rome in the
hands of the Ætolians.
=Nicaragua, Republic of.= Formerly a State in the Central American
Confederation, from which it withdrew in 1852. The inhabitants of the
country are Indians and _mestizoes_, with a scattering of a few whites
and negroes. It has been the scene of many revolutions for the last
thirty-five years.
=Nice= (It. _Nizza_, anc. _Nicæa_). Chief town since 1860 of the
department of the Maritime Alps, France, on both sides of the river
Paglione, 100 miles south-southwest from Turin. It was the seat of a
colony from Massilia, now Marseilles, and formed part of the Roman
empire. It first became important as a stronghold of the Christian
religion, which was preached there by Nazarius at an early period. In
the Middle Ages it was subject to Genoa, and suffered from the frequent
wars, being taken and retaken by the Imperialists and French. It was
taken by the Austrians under Melas, 1800; seized and annexed to France,
1792; restored to Sardinia in 1814; again annexed to France in virtue of
the treaty of March 24, 1860. The French troops entered April 1, and
definite possession was taken June 14 following. Garibaldi protested
vehemently against this annexation. The town of Nice is remarkable as
the birthplace of Masséna, one of the most famous of Napoleon’s
generals.
=Nicomedia= (now ruins at _Izmid_, or _Iznikmid_). A celebrated city in
Asia Minor, capital of Bithynia, built by King Nicomedes I., 264 B.C.,
at the northeast corner of the Sinus Astacenus (now _Gulf of Izmid_).
Like its neighbor and rival Nicæa, it occupied an important place in the
wars against the Turks; it is memorable in history as the scene of
Hannibal’s death. It surrendered to the Seljukian Turks, 1078, and to
Orchan and the Ottoman Turks in 1338.
=Nicopolis=, or =Nikopoli=. A town of Turkey in Europe, in Bulgaria,
situated on the Danube. The Hungarians under Sigismund were defeated
here in 1396 by the Turks.
=Nicosia=, or =Lefkosia=. The capital of Cyprus, stands near the centre
of the island, on the right bank of the Pedia. In 1570 it was stormed by
the Turks, who on that occasion put to the sword about 20,000 of the
inhabitants.
=Niemen=, or =Memel=. A large river of Lithuania, which rises a few
miles south of Minsk. Napoleon I. and Alexander of Russia held an
interview on the waters of this river in 1807.
=Nieuport.= A fortified town of Belgium, in the province of West
Flanders, 11 miles southwest from Ostend. This place has often been
besieged and taken and retaken by the French and English.
=Nigher= (_Ind._). Any fortified city measuring at least 8 coss, or 8
English miles, in length and breadth.
=Night-firing.= When a fixed object is to be fired at by night, the
piece should be directed during the day, and two narrow and well-dressed
strips of wood (to prevent injury to the strips from the recoil, they
should be nailed at such a distance from the carriage that the space can
be filled up with a strip that can be removed before firing) laid on the
inside of the wheels, and two others outside of the trail of a siege
carriage, and nailed or screwed to the platform. In case of a barbette
carriage, the traverse wheels should be chocked in the proper position.
To preserve the elevation, measure the height of the elevating-screw
above its box, or take the measure between a point on the gun and
another on the stock; cut a stick to this length and adjust the gun on
it at each fire. _Direction_ of fire may be secured at night with
mortars by nailing or screwing two boards to the platform outside of the
cheeks, and the _elevation_ by drawing a line across one of the
trunnions, or by inserting a wedge-shaped block of the proper
inclination below the mortar and the front transom or step. Night-firing
with guns should be limited to a small number of rounds, as it consumes
ammunition to little advantage.
=Night-signaling.= An important branch of signaling. It may be effected
in various ways. In ordinary service two torches are used,--one on the
ground and the other attached to a staff, which is used precisely as the
flag for day signals. Lanterns held in the hands can also be used. For
long distances and when stations cannot be seen on account of
intervening obstacles, such as woods, signal-rockets, candle-bombs, and
other pyrotechnic devices are used.
=Nihilists.= The name given to a political party in Russia. Beyond the
extinction of imperialism it is difficult to give their creed.
=Nijni-Novgorod=, or =Nijnei-Novgorod= (Lower Novgorod). A fortified
town and the capital of the government of the same name in Russia. It is
an ancient town, and was founded in 1221 by Prince Yury Vsevolodovitch
as a stronghold against the invasions of the Bulgarians and the Mordva.
It was devastated on several occasions by the Tartars; and in 1612,
during the civil dissensions in Russia, when it was on the point of
falling a prey to Poland, Minin, the famous butcher of Nijni-Novgorod,
collected an armed force here, which, under Prince Pojarsky, drove the
invaders from the capital.
=Nikolsburg=, or =Mikulov=. A town of Austria, in the south of Moravia,
27 miles south of Brunn. Here were signed, July 26, 1866, the
preliminaries of a peace between Austria and Prussia.
=Nile, The.= A river of Northeastern Africa, and one of the most
powerful, most interesting, and most celebrated rivers on our globe.
Near Rosetta, at the mouth of the Nile, a naval battle took place,
August 1, 1798, between the Toulon and British fleets, the latter
commanded by Lord (then Sir Horatio) Nelson. Nine of the French
line-of-battle ships were taken, two were burnt, and two escaped. The
French ship L’Orient with Admiral Brueys and 1000 men on board, blew up,
and only 70 or 80 escaped. This engagement is also called the battle of
Aboukir.
=Nimeguen=, or =Nymwegen=. The _Noviomagum_ of the Romans, called by
Tacitus _Batavorum oppidum_, and in the Middle Ages _Numaga_, is the
principal city of the district of the same name, or the Betuwe, in
Holland, province of Guelderland. Nimeguen is celebrated for the great
peace congress of the European powers which was held here, and, August
10, 1678, concluded a treaty between Spain and France on September 17,
between France and the United Netherlands, and between the German empire
and France, and the same empire and Sweden, February 5, 1679. The French
were successful against the British under the Duke of York before
Nimeguen, October 28, 1794; but were defeated by them November 8.
=Nimes=, or =Nismes= (anc. _Nemausus_). A city of France, and the chief
town of the department of the Gard, 30 miles northeast from Montpellier.
Previously to the Roman invasion, it (supposed to have been founded by a
colony from Massilia) was the chief city of the Volcæ Arecomici. It
surrendered to the rule of the Visigoths between 465 and 535, and
afterwards to that of the Franks; subsequently, it became a possession
of Aragon; but was finally restored to France in 1259 by the treaty of
Corbeil. In 1791 and 1815, bloody religious and political reactions took
place here. The treaty termed the Pacification of Nimes (July 14, 1629)
gave religious toleration for a time to the Huguenots.
=Nimrûd=, or =Nimroud=. The Arab name of the great mound on the east
bank of the Tigris, near Mosul, supposed to represent the Assyrian city
of Calah, which was destroyed at the final conquest of Assyria by the
Medes and Babylonians.