Sauerbach, is noted as the point where the first decisive encounter took
place between the French and German armies, August 6, 1870. After
storming Wissenbourg on August 4, 1870, the crown-prince of Prussia with
the 3d army (about 120,000) marched rapidly forward and surprised part
of the French army under Marshal MacMahon, including the corps of
Canrobert and Failly (about 47,000), and defeated it in a long,
desperate, and sanguinary engagement near this place. The battle lasted
from 7 A.M. till 4 P.M. The chief struggles occurred in the country
around Reichshoffen and in the village of Frœschweiller; the French are
said to have charged the German line eleven times, each time breaking
it, but always finding a fresh mass behind. The ridge on which Wörth
stands was not captured until the French were taken in flank by the
Bavarians and Würtembergers. Nearly all MacMahon’s staff were killed,
and the marshal himself unhorsed, fell fainting into a ditch, from which
he was rescued by a soldier. He then, on foot, directed the retreat
towards Saverne, to cover the passes of the Vosges. The victory is
attributed to the very great numerical superiority of the Germans (about
130,000) as well as to their excellent strategy. The French loss has
been estimated at 20,000 killed and wounded, and about 6000 prisoners, 2
eagles, 6 mitrailleures, 30 cannon, and much baggage. The Germans are
stated to have had above 8000 men put _hors de combat_. It was admitted
that MacMahon had acted as an able and brave commander.
=Wounded, The.= All the individuals belonging to an army who may have
been maimed, or otherwise hurt in battle.
=Wreath=, =Wreathed=. In heraldry, a wreath is a twisted garland of silk
of different colors, otherwise called a torce, on which it has, since
the 14th century, been usual to place the crest. The side-view of a
wreath exhibits six divisions, which are generally tinctured with the
living colors,--that is, the principal metal and color of the shield.
Every crest is now understood to be placed upon a wreath, except when it
is expressly stated to issue out of a _chapeau_ or _coronet_. A wreath,
when represented alone, shows its circular form. A Moor’s head is
sometimes encircled with a heraldic wreath. A wreath is always
understood to be the twisted garland of silk above explained, unless
otherwise specified; but wreaths of laurel, oak, ivy, etc., sometimes
occur, and savages used as supporters are often wreathed about the head
and middle with laurel. Ordinaries are occasionally wreathed, otherwise
called _tortille_, in which case they are represented as if composed of
two colors, twisted as in the heraldic wreath; as in the coat of
Carmichael, argent, a fess wreathed azure and gules.
=Wright-fuze.= See LABORATORY STORES.
=Wrong.= To guard against injustice and oppression in the army, the
Articles of War (see APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR) clearly point out the
mode of redress to every individual in the service, who considers
himself wronged by his superiors.
=Wrought Iron.= See ORDNANCE, METALS FOR.
=Würtemberg=, or =Wirtemberg, Kingdom of=. A state in the southwest of
Germany, which was erected into a kingdom in 1806. It was originally
part of Suabia, and was made a county for Ulric I., about 1265, and a
duchy in 1495. Würtemberg has been repeatedly traversed by hostile
armies, particularly since the revolution of France. Moreau made his
celebrated retreat October 23, 1796. This kingdom opposed Prussia in the
war of 1866, but made peace on August 31, following. On November 5,
1870, it joined the other German states in the formation of the German
empire.
=Wyandot Indians.= See HURON INDIANS.
=Wyoming.= A Territory of the United States, organized July 25, 1868,
from a region attached to Dakota, but formerly included in Idaho, and
still earlier known as part of Nebraska. Its average length from east to
west is 355 miles, and its breadth 276 miles. This Territory has been
overrun several times by hostile Indians, but under the strong hand of
the military the country is becoming rapidly settled.
=Wyoming Valley.= A beautiful fertile valley on the Susquehanna River,
in Pennsylvania. It is 21 miles long by 3 wide, and surrounded by
mountains 1000 feet high. It was purchased about 1765 by a Connecticut
company from the Delaware Indians; but the settlers were soon dispersed
by hostile savages. In 1769, forty families came from Connecticut, but
found a party of Pennsylvanians in possession, and for several years
there were continual contests of the settlers with the Indians, and with
each other. In 1776, the settlers armed for their own defense against
the English and their Indian allies; but in 1778 most of their troops
were called to join the army under Washington. On June 30, a force of
400 British provincials, or “Tories,” and 700 Seneca Indians, led by
Col. John Butler, entered the valley, and were opposed by 300 men, under
Col. Zebulon Butler. On July 3, the settlers were driven to the shelter
of Fort Forty (so called from the original number of families), with the
loss of two-thirds of their number, many soldiers and inhabitants being
murdered. On the 5th, the remnant of the troops surrendered, and they
and the inhabitants were either massacred or driven from the valley,
which was left a smoking solitude.
=Wyvern.= A fictitious monster of the Middle Ages, of frequent
occurrence in heraldry. It resembles a dragon, but has only two legs and
feet, which are like those of the eagle.
X.
=Xanthica.= A military festival observed by the Macedonians in the month
called Xanthicus (our April), instituted about 392 B.C.
=Xanthus.= The most famous city of Lycia, stood on the western bank of
the river of the same name, 60 stadia from its mouth. Twice in the
course of its history it sustained sieges, which terminated in the
self-destruction of the inhabitants with their property, first against
the Persians under Harpagus, and long afterward against the Romans under
Brutus. The city was never restored after its destruction by the latter.
=Xeres de la Frontera.= A town in the southwest of Spain, in the
province of Cadiz, 14 miles northeast from Cadiz. At the battle of
Xeres, July 19-26, 711, Roderic, the last Gothic sovereign of Spain, was
defeated and slain by the Saracens, commanded by Tarik and Muza.
=Ximena= (Southern Spain). The site of a battle between the Spanish army
under the command of Gen. Ballasteros, and the French corps commanded by
Gen. Regnier, September 10, 1811. The Spaniards defeated their
adversaries; the loss was great on both sides.
Y.
=Yager.= One belonging to a body of light infantry armed with rifles.
Written also _jager_.
=Yankton Indians.= See DAKOTA INDIANS.
=Yataghan.= A Turkish poniard having a Damascus blade, straight or
crooked. It has a double edge, and sharp point, with a ridge in the
middle of its whole length; the handle and scabbard are generally highly
ornamented and costly.
=Yeomanry.= A volunteer force of cavalry in Great Britain, numbering
about 14,000 men, and costing the country annually about £85,000. It was
originally formed during the wars of the French revolution, and then
comprised infantry as well as cavalry; but the whole of the infantry
corps, and many of the cavalry, were disbanded after the peace of 1814.
The organization of the corps is by counties, under the
lords-lieutenant. The men provide their own horses and uniform, in
consideration of which they receive annually a clothing and contingent
allowance of £2 a man, are exempt from taxation in respect to the horses
employed on yeomanry duty, and draw during the annual training 2_s._ a
day for forage, besides a subsistence allowance of 7_s._ a day. If
called out for permanent duty they receive cavalry pay, with forage
allowance. The yeomanry are available in aid of the civil power; and in
time of invasion, or apprehended invasion, the sovereign may embody them
for service in any part of Great Britain, under the provisions of the
Mutiny Act and Articles of War.
=Yeomen of the Guard.= A veteran company, consisting of 100 old soldiers
of stately presence, employed on grand occasions, in conjunction with
the gentlemen-at-arms, as the body-guard of the sovereign. These yeomen
were constituted a corps, in 1485, by King Henry VII., and they still
wear the costume of that period. Armed with partisans, and in the quaint
uniform, the men present a curious sight in the 19th century. The
officers of the corps are a captain (ordinarily a peer), a lieutenant,
and an ensign. There is also a “Clerk of the Cheque and Adjutant.” All
these appointments are held by old officers, and are considered as
important prizes. The whole charge is borne by the sovereign’s civil
list. The headquarters of the corps is at the Tower of London, where the
men are popularly known as “Beef-eaters.”
=Yermuk= (Syria). Near here the emperor Heraclius was totally defeated
by the Saracens, after a fierce engagement, November, 636. Damascus was
taken, and his army was expelled from Syria.
=Yesawul.= In India, a state messenger; a servant of parade, who carries
a gold or silver staff; an aide-de-camp.
=York.= The capital of Yorkshire, England, is situated at the junction
of the rivers Ouse and Foss. Before the invasion of the Romans it formed
one of the chief cities of the Brigantes, the most powerful of British
tribes; and it is supposed that on their subjugation by Agricola, he
founded here about the year 79 the Roman city of Eboracum, which became
the great “Colonia” of the Romans in Britain, the seat of imperial
government, and the “Altera Roma.” On the departure of the Roman
cohorts, about 409, it became a prey to the wars which prevailed between
the Picts and the Britons, and between the latter and the Saxons; and
also to the invasions of the Danes; but under these vicissitudes it
still maintained its distinction as one of the chief cities of the
kingdom. William the Conqueror was long unable to overcome this
stronghold of the north. One Norman garrison, numbering 3000 men, was
put to the sword in 1069; but William exacted a terrible vengeance in
the following year, when he laid waste the whole country between York
and Durham. During the insurrections consequent upon the dissolution of
the monasteries by Henry VIII., York was seized by the insurgents of the
“Pilgrimage of Grace”; and in its immediate neighborhood, Fairfax, in
1644, conquered Prince Rupert on Marston Moor; after which battle York
was taken (July 16) for the Parliament.
=York= (Upper Canada, founded in 1794; since 1834 named Toronto). In the
war between America and Great Britain, the U. S. forces made several
attacks upon the province of Upper Canada, and succeeded in taking York,
the seat of the government, April 27, 1813; but it was soon afterwards
retaken by the British.
=York and Lancaster, Wars of.= See ROSES, WARS OF THE.
=Yorkshire.= The largest county of England, is situated in its northern
part. The history of the county in early times may be mainly read in
that of its chief city. In the troublous times which preceded the
Conquest, many battles were fought against the invading Danes, and
generally with success. At Stamford Brig, a few miles from York, Harold,
the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings, defeated the united Danish and
Norwegian armies, three weeks before he fell before the Normans on the
fatal field of Hastings. Among the more notable events of later history,
may be named the battle of Wakefield, where the Duke of York was
defeated by Queen Margaret in 1460; the battle of Towton Field, near
Tadcaster, fought on Palm-Sunday in 1461, the most sanguinary conflict
of the bitter war between the rival Roses; and that of Marston Moor,
which gave the final blow to the falling fortunes of Charles I. Since
that time, with slight exceptions, its history has been one of peace and
prosperity.
=Yorktown.= Capital of York Co., Va., situated on the right bank of the
York River, 70 miles from Richmond. This locality was the theatre of one
of the most important events in American history,--the surrender of Lord
Cornwallis to Gen. Washington, which occurred on October 19, 1781.
Yorktown was besieged during the civil war in April, 1862, but before
the Federals opened fire on the town, the Confederates evacuated it.
=Youngsters.= A familiar term to signify the junior officers of a troop
or company.
=Ypres=, or =Yperen=. A fortified town of Belgium, province of West
Flanders, 30 miles south-southwest from Bruges. Ypres in the 9th
century, when only a strong castle, was destroyed by the Normans. It was
rebuilt in 901; and was first walled in 1388. Louis XIV., in 1688, made
it one of the strongest fortresses of the Low Countries. In the great
European wars, it seldom escaped a siege or bombardment.
=Yucatan.= The most eastern department of Mexico, Central America. It is
in the form of a peninsula, jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico. It was
discovered in 1517, and conquered by Spain in 1541, and retained until
1821, when it became a department of Mexico. This department declared
itself independent of Mexico in 1846, but it subsequently annexed itself
to Mexico.
=Yumas.= A tribe of North American Indians, located on the Colorado
River, near the village of Yuma. In 1781 they massacred a number of
white settlers, and again in 1853 they rose and committed depredations.
Since the latter date they have generally been peaceable. They numbered
in 1876 about 900.
=Yvres.= Now Ivry-la-Bataille (which see).
Z.
=Zabern, Rhein=, or =Rhein-Zabern=. A town on the Erlenbach, in Rhenish
Bavaria. It is noted for the two battles fought here and at the village
of Jokgrin, about 2 miles farther south, between the Austrians and the
French, June 29 and August 20, 1793.
=Zagaie.= A long dart or lance in use among some African tribes,
particularly the Moors, while fighting on horseback. It is armed with a
sharp stone and thrown like a javelin. The savages of New Holland are
still armed with it.
=Zaikany.= A village of Austria, in Transylvania, 38 miles from Deva. It
was here that Trajan won his third victory over Decebalus, a part of
whose treasure was discovered, as it is supposed, in 1543.
=Zaim.= High caste among the Turks, who are bound to maintain a
proportion of militia according to their revenue, viz., one horseman for
every 5000 aspres.
=Zama Regia.= A strongly-fortified city in the interior of Numidia, on
the borders of the Carthaginian territory. It was the ordinary residence
of King Juba and was the scene of one of the most important battles in
the history of the world, that in which Hannibal was defeated by Scipio,
and the second Punic war was ended, 202 B.C.
=Zamora.= A very ancient town of Spain, of the province of that name, on
the right bank of the Douro, 132 miles northwest of Madrid. Zamora was
of great importance in the Moorish times, and is said to have been
inclosed by seven lines of walls, with a moat between each. Sir J. Moore
urged the Junta of Salamanca to repair the defenses of Zamora, and
receive there his stores; but his retreat had commenced before they had
done deliberating. The French afterwards got possession of it, and
although no resistance was made, the town was sacked, neither age nor
sex was spared, and the principal persons were executed. It was again
plundered by the French, and has never recovered these visitations.
=Zamosc=, or =Zamosz=. A town of Russia in Europe, in the kingdom of
Poland, in the province of Lublin. This place is strongly fortified, and
has long been considered a military station of importance. In 1656 it
was unsuccessfully besieged by the Swedes; in 1715 it was surprised by
the Saxons; and in the civil contests of 1771 the Poles were defeated in
its vicinity by the Russians. In 1812 it was one of the few towns in
which the French left a garrison after their retreat from Russia.
=Zanzibar=, or =Zanguebar=. An island in the Indian Ocean, near the east
coast of Africa, belonging to the sultan of Zanzibar. In 1784 the island
was taken by the imaum of Muscat, in whose family the government
remained until 1858.
=Zaym.= In the East Indies, a feudal chief, or military tenant.
=Zeithun.= A town and district in the highlands of Cilicia, inhabited by
a community of Armenian Christians, virtually independent of the Turkish
government, and forming in fact an Asiatic republic. The Zeithumlus can
muster an army from 7000 to 8000 men to defend the mountains against the
Turkish pashas; and they are in alliance with a neighboring Turcoman
chief, also independent of the Turks, who brings 10,000 men into the
field. It was not till after the Crimean war that the massacres in the
East called special attention to the existence of Zeithun. An attempt by
the Turks to settle Circassians near Zeithun, gave Aziz Pasha of Marash
an opportunity of attacking the Christians, and the atrocities committed
remind one of the worst excesses of Cawnpore. The inhabitants defended
themselves, however, with the greatest gallantry, twice defeating in the
field large Turkish forces; and the struggle was at length terminated by
the interference of the French and English governments at
Constantinople, and the recall of the pasha.
=Zela=, or =Ziela=. A city in the south of Pontus, not far south of
Amasia, and four days’ journey east of Tavium. It stood on an artificial
hill, and was strongly fortified. At Zela the Roman general Valerius
Triarius was defeated by Mithridates; but the city is more famous for
another great battle,--that in which Julius Cæsar defeated Pharnaces,
and of which he wrote this dispatch to Rome: _Veni: Vidi: Vici_.
=Zenta=, or =Szenta=. A town of Hungary, on the right bank of the
Theiss, 120 miles south-southeast from Pesth. Near here Prince Eugène
defeated the Turks, September 11, 1697 (1696). This victory led to the
peace of Carlowitz, ratified January, 1699.
=Zierikzee.= A town of Holland, in the province of Zealand, situated on
the southeast of the island of Schouwen. It suffered severely in the
contests between Flanders and Holland for the possession of Zealand. In
1303, the Flemings besieged it with a large army, but were compelled by
Count William of Holland to retire, on August 10, 1304. In the long war
of independence, after an obstinate defense, the Spaniards took
Zierikzee in July, 1576.
=Zigzags.= In fortification, are trenches or paths, with several
windings, so cut that the besieged are prevented from enfilading the
besieger in his approaches.
=Ziyamut.= In the East Indies, a fief bestowed for military services.
=Zizarme.= A sort of ancient pike or lance.
=Znaym=, or =Znaim=. A town of Austria, situated on the Thaya, 34 miles
southwest from Brunn. A conflict took place here in 1809, between the
Austrians and the French.
=Zoarque.= A soldier who had charge of an elephant among the ancients.
=Zone of Defense.= A term used in fortification, signifying the belt of
ground in front of the general _contour_ of the works within effective
range of the defenders.
=Zone of Operations.= The strip of territory which contains the lines of
operations--or lines on which an army advances--between the base and the
ulterior object. See STRATEGY.
=Zorndorf.= A village of Prussia, province of Brandenburg, 4 miles north
of Kustrin, and was the scene of the bloodiest of the many desperate
conflicts of the Seven Years’ War. The Russians having for the second
time been ordered by the czarina Elizabeth to invade Prussia, advanced
towards Berlin, committing frightful devastations, while Frederick the
Great, with the bulk of his forces, was engaged with the Austrians in
Silesia and Saxony. The Russians, under Fermor, were 50,000 strong, and
easily drove before them Dohna’s little Prussian army of 15,000; but
Frederick hastened northwards with such reinforcements as raised the
army to 30,000; and after taking care, by the breaking down of bridges,
etc., to cut off their retreat, engaged the invaders. The battle was
commenced at eight on the morning of August 25, 1758, and lasted till
evening, consisted mainly in a succession of furious charges,
accompanied with a tremendous artillery-fire, and was not decided till
Seidlitz, by an able movement, turned the Russian flank. The next
morning Fermor drew off his forces, diminished by 20,000 men, 103
cannon, and 27 standards; having inflicted on the Prussians a loss of
13,000 men, 26 cannon, and a few standards.
=Zouaves= (Arab. _Zwawa_). A body of troops in the French army, which
derives its name from a tribe of Kabyles, inhabiting the mountains of
Jurjura, in the Algerian province of Constantine. Long previous to the
invasion of Algiers by the French, these Kabyles had been employed as
hired mercenaries in the service of the rulers of Tripoli, Tunis, and
Algiers; and after the conquest of the last-named country in 1830, the
French, in the hope of establishing a friendly feeling between the
natives and their conquerors, took the late dey’s mercenaries into their
service, giving them a new organization. Accordingly, Gen. Clausel
created, in 1830, two battalions of zouaves, in which each company
consisted of French and Kabyles in certain proportions, officers,
subalterns, and soldiers being selected from either race; the zouaves,
though retaining their Moorish dress, were armed and disciplined after
the European fashion; and the battalions were recruited by voluntary
enlistment. Afterwards the native element was eliminated, and since 1840
they may be considered as French troops in a Moorish dress. They now
number about 15,000, and are divided into four regiments. They are
recruited from the veterans of the ordinary infantry regiments who are
distinguished for their fine “physique” and tried courage and
hardihood. Their uniform is very picturesque. There is one regiment of
zouaves incorporated in the Guards. The name was also given to several
regiments of volunteers in the Union army during the American civil war
(1861-65), who were clad in zouave uniform.
=Zullichau= (Prussia). Here the Russians under Soltikow severely
defeated the Prussians under Wedel, July 23, 1759.