described, and on the road were lying the bodies of two murdered
Sepoys. The ascents and descents were as usual; and from the summit
of these intersecting hills, the eye would carry itself upon range
after range of never ending cliffs and walls of mountains; the
dark aspect of the distant horizon carried with it a volume of
thoughts, wondering when the back would be once more turned on
such dreariness. The moving mass below would be seen winding its
serpentine length along the Pass, which from its narrowness, being
obstructed by huge masses of detached rock having fallen from the
heights, and impassable by other than taking a circuitous route,
were truly harassing to the men and cattle. I may as well here
mention the great trials and difficulties experienced in dragging
along the heavy portions of the baggage, more particularly the
celebrated Somnauth gates, which it will doubtless be remembered,
were taken by direction of the Governor General, from the tomb of
Sultan Mahomed at Ghuznee. These gates, it will doubtless also
be remembered, were the idolatrous trophy of the Hindoos in the
Guzerat Peninsula. The General directed a guard of not less than
the wing of a regiment to mount over these gates, which were placed
upon two platform carts, and drawn by six bullocks each. The other
castes of the native Sepoys would not go near them, and the Hindoos
were comparatively few, and insufficient to perform the duty, and
as these gates were to be taken to the provinces for the purpose of
being restored to that race, so great was the care taken of them
that they were placed next to the main body of the army on the
march, and nothing was permitted to go before them. The consequence
was, that oftentimes, owing to the bullocks growing stubborn, the
whole in the rear have been delayed; and the gates have had to be
dragged by fatigue parties of the Europeans--night has set in--the
enemy have taken advantage of our position, and have succeeded in
cutting off numbers who otherwise would have been safe in camp. The
badness of the roads and darkness of the night, together with the
incessant fatigue and consequent loss occasioned by the protection
of these idolatrous baubles, have caused much well-grounded
controversy, and involved much discredit on the authorities.
Many are the lives which have been lost by this--and for what? to
restore to a tribe of idolaters, an idol, that they might worship
with the greater vehemence, as it had been recaptured for them;
and all this, too, by the representative of a Christian people. I
need say nothing farther, except that, owing to the great question
raised relative to their restoration, in our Parliament in 1843 and
1844, and since the recall of Lord Ellenborough, they remain like
so much lumber stored in one of the stations in Bengal.
But to proceed to the march. A short distance from our camp, which
was Gundamuck, stands a small hill, where the remnant of the
44th Regiment, about 300, made their last stand, and fought most
desperately whilst their ammunition lasted, and were at length
annihilated: their skeletons strewed the hill sides and summit;
about 250 soldiers, and upwards of 30 officers, I believe, fell on
this hill, and a deplorable sight it presented. We soon reached the
camp, where Generals Pollock and McCaskill had halted; this place
had been formed into a _dépôt_ for grain and forage (only chopped
straw), on Pollock’s advance on Cabul; the Passes from Peshawur,
as he passed through, had been kept by our troops; thus in a great
measure securing our route. We now refreshed ourselves with a day’s
rest, and our cattle with a feast of forage, such as it was; and
also in comparative confidence, as we were now but a couple of
day’s stage from Jellalabad. The mails from Europe for the army
were despatched from Calcutta and met us at this place, so that all
in all it was quite a day of pleasure, receiving news from that
dear place Home, “which never was so sweetly felt as in such times
as these,”--conjunction of the Divisions, and recognition of old
comrades who had escaped the perils of the few past days, and such
like,--made the whole feel refreshed, and filled us with the utmost
cheerfulness.”
CAIRO, OR GRAND CAIRO.--Burnt to prevent its occupation by the
Crusaders, in 1220. Taken by the Turks from the Egyptian sultans,
and their empire subdued, 1517. Taken by the French under
Bonaparte, July 23rd, 1798. Taken by the British and Turks, when
6000 French capitulated, June 27th, 1801.
CALAIS.--Taken by Edward III, after a year’s siege, August 4th,
1347, and held by England 210 years. It was retaken by Mary,
January 7th, 1558, and the loss of Calais so deeply touched the
Queen’s heart, historians say it occasioned her death. Calais was
bombarded by the English, 1694.
CALVI, SIEGE OF.--Besieged by the British, June 12th, 1744, and
after a close investment of 59 days, surrendered on August 10th
following. The garrison then marched out with the honors of war,
and were conveyed to Toulon. It surrendered to the French in 1796.
CAMBRAY.--Taken by the Spaniards in 1595. It was invested by the
Austrians, August 8th, 1793, and the Republican General Declay
replied to the Imperial summons to surrender, that “he knew not how
to do _that_, but his soldiers knew how to fight.” The French here
were defeated by the Duke of York, April 23rd, 1794. It was then
seized by the British, by Sir Charles Colville, June 24th, 1815.
This was one of the fortresses occupied by the allied armies for
five years after the fall of Napoleon.
CAMDEN, BATTLES OF.--The first battle fought here was between
General Gates and Lord Cornwallis. The Americans were defeated
August 16th, 1780. The second battle was fought between the
revolted Americans and the British, the former commanded by General
Greene, and the latter by Lord Rawdon. The Americans were again
defeated, April 25th, 1781. Camden was evacuated and burnt by the
British, May 13th, 1781.
CAMPERDOWN, BATTLE OF.--This was a memorable engagement, off
Camperdown, between the British fleet, under Admiral Duncan, and
the Dutch fleet, commanded by Admiral De Winter. The Dutch lost 15
ships, which were either taken or sunk. It was fought October 11th,
1797. This victory obtained the brave and good Admiral a peerage.
CAMPO FORMIO, TREATY OF.--Concluded between France and Austria.
This memorable and humiliating treaty took place on the 17th
October, 1797. By this treaty Austria had to yield the low
countries and the Ionian Islands to France; and Milan &c., to the
Cisalpine Republic.
CANNAE, BATTLE OF.--This battle, one of the most celebrated in
ancient history, was fought between the Romans and Hannibal. The
forces of the Africans amounted to 50,000, while those of the
Romans were equal to 88,000, of whom 40,000 were slain. The victor
sent 3 bushels of gold rings as a present to the Carthagenian
ladies, which he had taken off the fingers of the Roman knights
slain in this memorable engagement. So contested was the fight
that neither side perceived an earthquake, which happened during
the battle. The place is now called “The Field of Blood.” Fought
21st May, B.C. 216.
CANNON.--They are said to have been used as early as 1338. First
used by the English at the siege of Calais, 1347. Used by the
English first in battle, that of Crecy, in 1346.
CAPE BRETON.--Discovered by the English 1584. Taken by the French
in 1632. Restored and again taken in 1745, and retaken in 1748.
Finally possessed by the English, when 5000 men were made prisoners
of war, and 11 ships destroyed, 1758. Ceded to England at the peace
of 1783.
CAPE ST. VINCENT.--_1st Battle._--Admiral Rooke, with 20 ships
of war, and the Turkish fleet under his convoy, was attacked by
Admiral Tourville with a force vastly superior to his own, off
Cape St. Vincent, when 12 English and Dutch men of war and 80
merchantmen were captured or destroyed by the French. It was fought
June 15th, 1693.
_2nd Battle._--This second battle was one of the most glorious
of the British navy. Sir John Jarvis, being in command of the
Mediterranean fleet of 15 sail, gave battle to the Spanish fleet
of 27 ships of the line, and signally defeated the enemy, nearly
double in strength, taking 4 ships and destroying several others.
Fought February 14th, 1797. For this victory Sir John Jarvis was
raised to the peerage under the title of Earl St. Vincent.
CAPTAIN.--This title, derived from the French _capitaine_,
literally signifies a head or chief officer,--the officer who
commands a company. In Turkey, the Captain-Bashaw is the High
Admiral.
CARLISLE.--The castle founded by William II, in 1092, was made
the prison of the unfortunate Queen of Scots, 1568. Taken by the
Parliamentary forces in 1645, and by the Pretender in 1745.
CARRICKFERGUS.--This town surrendered to the Duke of Schomberg,
August 28th, 1689. William III landed here June 14th, 1690, to
reduce the adherents of James II. This place is memorable for
the expedition of the French Admiral Thurot, when its castle
surrendered to his force of 1000 men, in 1760.
CARTHAGE.--Founded by Dido. Taken by the Roman General Scipio, and
burnt to the ground B.C. 146. The flames of the burning city raged
for 17 days, and thousands of the inhabitants perished in them
rather than survive the calamities of their country. Afterwards it
was rebuilt, but razed by the Saracens, and now no trace of the
city appears.
CARTHAGENA.--_In Columbia_.--Was taken by Sir Francis Drake in
1584. It was pillaged by the French of £1,200,000 in 1697. It was
bombarded by Admiral Vernon in 1740-1.
“When the forces were landed at Carthagena, the commanders erected
a battery, with which they made a breach in the principal fort,
while Vernon, who commanded the fleet, sent a number of ships into
the harbor to divide the fire of the enemy, and to co-operate with
the army on shore. The breach being deemed practicable, a body of
troops were commanded to storm; but the Spaniards deserted the
forts, which, if possessed of courage, they might have defended
with success. The troops, upon gaining this advantage, were
advanced a good deal nearer the city; but there they met a much
greater opposition than they had expected. It was found, or at
least asserted, that the fleet could not lie near enough to batter
the town, and that nothing remained but to attempt one of the forts
by scaling. The leaders of the fleet and the army began mutually
to accuse each other, each asserting the probability of what the
other denied. At length, Wentworth, stimulated by the admiral’s
reproach, resolved to try the dangerous experiment, and ordered
that fort St. Lazare should be attempted by scalade. Nothing could
be more unfortunate than this undertaking; the forces marching up
to the attack, the guides were slain, and they mistook their way.
Instead of attempting the weakest part of the fort, they advanced
to where it was the strongest, and where they were exposed to the
fire of the town. Colonel Grant, who commanded the grenadiers,
was killed in the beginning. Soon after it was found that their
scaling ladders were too short; the officers were perplexed for
want of orders, and the troops stood exposed to the whole fire
of the enemy, without knowing how to proceed. After bearing a
dreadful fire for some hours with great intrepidity, they at length
retreated, leaving 600 men dead on the spot. The terrors of the
climate soon began to be more dreadful than those of war; the
rainy season came on with such violence, that it was impossible
for the troops to continue encamped; and the mortality of the
season now began to attack them in all its frightful varieties. To
these calamities, sufficient to quell any enterprise, was added
the dissension between the land and sea commanders, who blamed
each other for every failure, and became frantic with mutual
recrimination. They only, therefore, at last, could be brought
to agree in one mortifying measure, which was to re-embark the
troops, and withdraw them as quickly as possible from the scene of
slaughter and contagion.”
CASTIGLIONE, BATTLE OF.--One of the most brilliant victories of
the French arms under Napoleon against the Austrians, commanded by
General Wurmsex. The battle lasted 5 days, from the 2nd to the 6th
July, 1796. The Austrians lost 70 field pieces, all their caissons,
and between 12,000 to 15,000 prisoners, and 6000 killed and wounded.
CASTILLON, BATTLE OF.--_In France._--Fought between the armies of
England (Henry VI) and those of France (Charles VII). The English
were signally defeated, July 7th, 1453,--Calais alone remaining in
their hands.
CASTLEBAR, BATTLE OF.--Fought between a body of French troops
and an insurgent Irish force, at Killala, on the one hand, and
the King’s royal forces on the other; the latter, after a short
contest, being obliged to retire, August 28th, 1798.
CATAMARANS.--Fire machines for destroying ships, invented and tried
on the Boulogne flotilla of Napoleon. Sir Sidney Smith attempted to
burn the flotilla, but failed, August 31st, 1805.
CATAPULTÆ.--Engines used by the ancient Romans for throwing stones.
Invented by Dionysius, the King of Syracuse, B.C. 399.
CATEAU, PEACE OF.--Concluded between Henry II of France and Philip
II of Spain, in 1599. A battle was fought here between the allies,
under the Prince of Cobourg, and the French. The latter were
defeated with a loss of 5000 in killed and 5 pieces of cannon,
March 28th, 1794.
CAWNPORE.--_In India._--Famous in the Great Indian mutiny, which is
thus described:
“At Cawnpore, a terrible disaster befell the British arms. Sir Hugh
Wheeler, a veteran officer of approved bravery, had entrenched
himself in the barracks with a force of less than 300 fighting
men, and upwards of 500 women and children, the wives and families
of officers and civilians, and of the Queen’s 32d regiment, then
besieged at Lucknow. The insurgents were commanded by Nena Sahib,
or, rather, Dhandoo Pant, Rajah of Bhitoor, the adopted son of
the late Peishwah Bajee Raho. This man, under the mask of kindly
feeling toward the English, nurtured a deadly hatred against
the government, which had refused to acknowledge his claims as
the Peishwah’s successor. He had long been addicted to the most
revolting sensuality, and had lost all control over his passions.
Wearied and enraged by the desperate resistance of this handful of
brave men, he offered them a safe passage to Allahabad, if they
would give up their guns and treasure. The place, indeed, was no
longer tenable; and the survivors, diminished in number, were
exhausted by constant vigils and want of food. In an evil moment,
then, they accepted the terms of their perfidious enemy, marched
down to the river, and embarked on board the boats which had been
prepared for them. Suddenly a masked battery opened fire upon them,
and crowds of horse and foot soldiers lined either bank. Many were
shot dead, still more were drowned, and about 150 taken prisoners;
four only escaped by swimming. The men were instantly put to death
in cold blood; the women and children were spared for a few days
longer.
“General Havelock, taking the command at Allahabad of the 78th
Highlanders, the Queen’s 64th, the 1st Madras Fusiliers, and the
Ferozepore regiment of Sikhs, had set out in the hope of arriving
at Cawnpore in time to release Sir Hugh Wheeler and his devoted
comrades. After marching 126 miles, fighting four actions, and
capturing a number of guns of heavy calibre, in eight days, and in
the worst season of an Indian climate, he was yet too late to avert
the terrible catastrophe. The day before he entered Cawnpore, Nena
Sahib foully murdered the women and children, who alone survived of
the Cawnpore garrison, and caused them to be flung, the dead and
the dying, into a well of the courtyard of the assembly rooms.”
Another account says:--
“General Havelock arrived before Cawnpore on the 18th July, and so
eager was he to rescue the garrison (for he was not yet aware of
what had happened), that he attacked the Sepoy position without
delay. Ordering a charge, his gallant band rushed to the onset.
Not a word was uttered until when within 100 yards of the rebels,
_three deafening cheers_,--cheers such as Englishmen only can give,
rang out. Then came the crash; a murderous volley of musketry and
the crash of bayonets soon drove the mutineers back, and Cawnpore
was taken; 1000 British troops and 300 Sikhs had put to flight
5000 of the flower of the native soldiery, with a native chief in
command.
“When Havelock’s soldiers entered the assembly rooms, the blood
came up over their shoes. There they found clotted locks of hair,
leaves of religious books, and fragments of clothing in sickening
array, while into the well outside the bodies had been rudely
thrown. The horrors of that scene will never be fully known. A
terrible retribution fell on the mutineers. General Neil compelled
the Brahmins to wipe out, on their bended knees, the sanguinary
traces of the outrages before he ordered them to execution, and
when the 78th Highlanders found the mutilated remains of one of
General Wheeler’s daughters, they divided the locks of hair among
them, pledging each other in solemn covenant, that for every hair
thus appropriated, a mutineer’s life and that alone could be the
atonement. The eldest daughter of Sir Hugh Wheeler is said to have
behaved in a most heroic manner; one of the natives testified that
she shot five _Sepoys_ with a revolver, and then threw herself into
the well.”
CAVALRY.--Of the ancients the Romans had the best cavalry. To each
legion there was attached 300 cavalry in ten turmae. The Persians
were famous for their horse troops--they had 10,000 horse at the
battle of Marathon, B.C. 490, and 10,000 Persian cavalry at the
battle of Issus, B.C. 333. Horse soldiers were early introduced
into the British army. During the wars of Napoleon the strength
amounted to 31,000 men. The British cavalry is divided into the
household troops, dragoons, hussars and lancers. Since 1840 the
number has continued, with little variation, to the present day, at
about 10,000.
CEDAR RAPIDS, CANADA.--Occupied by the Americans as a small fort in
1776. Taken by a detachment of the British army, and 500 Indians,
under the celebrated Indian chief Brant, _without firing a gun_.
The Americans sent to its support were captured after a severe
engagement.
CENTURION.--From the Latin _Centum_ a hundred. An officer who
commanded 100 men in the Roman army. There were 6000 men in a
legion, and hence sixty centurions. He was distinguished from the
others by a branch of vine which he carried in his hand.
CEYLON.--Discovered by the Portuguese, A.D. 1505. Columbo, its
capital, taken by the Dutch, in 1603, recovered in 1621; again
taken 1656. Seized by the British 1795. Ceded to Great Britain by
the Peace of Amiens in 1802. The British troops were treacherously
massacred or imprisoned by the Adigar of Candy, June 26th, 1803.
The complete sovereignty of the whole island taken by England in
1815.
CHÆRONEA, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the Athenians and Bœotians,
B.C. 447. Another battle, and the great one of history, was fought
here between the confederate army of Greece of 30,000, and that of
the Macedonians, under Philip, amounting to 32,000, August 2nd,
338 B.C. Yet another battle was fought here between Archelaus,
Lieutenant of Mithridates and Sylla, B.C. 86, when Archelaus was
defeated and 110,000 Cappadocians slain.
CHAMBLY.--An important military post on the River Richelieu,
Canada. It was often attacked by the Iroquois Indians. In 1775 it
was captured by the Americans, but retaken in 1776. It is now a
small military station.
CHARLEROI, BATTLES OF.--Great battles in several wars have been
fought near this town; the chief in 1690 and 1794. (_See Fleurus._)
Besieged by Prince of Orange in 1672, and again invested by the
same Prince, with 60,000 men, in 1677, but he was obliged to
retire. Near to the place is Ligny--(which see)--memorable at the
battle of Waterloo.
CHARLESTOWN.--_Massachusetts._--Burnt by the British forces under
General Gage, January 17th, 1775. English fleet here repulsed with
great loss, June 28th, 1776. Taken by the British, May 7th, 1779.
CHARLESTON.--_South Carolina_.--Besieged by the British troops
in March 1780, and surrendered in May 13th following, with 6000
prisoners. Evacuated by the British, April 14th, 1783. Famous
during the wars of Secession. The South Carolina Convention
assembled here, March 26th, 1861. A battle was fought here, and
the rebels or Confederates defeated, August 19th, 1861, and after
experiencing all the vicissitudes of war, it was evacuated February
17th, 1865, and next day surrendered to General Gilmore.
CHATEAUGUAY.--_Canada._--To effect a junction with the army of
General Wilkinson, on October 26th, 1813, General Hampton, with
3500 men pushed forward from Lake Champlain towards Montreal.
At the junction of the Ontario and Chateauguay Rivers, he there
met 400 Canadians under Colonel de Salaberry, who most bravely
disputed his advance. By skilful management and great bravery on
the part of the Canadian officers, Viger and Doucet, the Americans
were compelled to retreat towards Plattsburg. Their loss was
considerable, while that of the Canadians was only two men killed
and sixteen wounded. Gen. Hampton returned to Plattsburg, his army
having dwindled away by sickness and desertion.
CHATILLON, CONGRESS OF.--Held by the four powers allied against
France, February 5th, 1814, but the negociation for peace was
broken off, March 19th following.
CHAUMONT, TREATY OF.--Between Great Britain, Austria, Russia and
Prussia, March 1st, 1814. It was followed by the treaty of Paris,
by which Napoleon abdicated, April 11th following.
CHERBOURG.--Famous for an engagement between the English and French
fleets. French defeated; 21 of their ships burnt or destroyed
by Admirals Rooke and Russel, May 19th, 1692. The fort, etc.,
destroyed by the British, who landed August, 1758. The works begun
by Louis XVI, and completed by Napoleon, are proof against any
armament in the world.
CHESAPEAKE, BATTLE OF THE.--Fought at the mouth of the river of
this name, between the British Admiral Greaves and the French
Admiral De Grasse, in the interest of the revolted States of
America, 1781. The Chesapeake and Delaware, blockaded by the
British in 1812. The American frigate of this name surrendered to
the Shannon, British frigate, after a very severe action, June 2nd,
1813.
CHILLIANWALLAH, BATTLE OF.--_In India._--This memorable and
sanguinary battle, between the Sikh forces and the British, was
fought January 13th, 1849. Lord Gough commanded. The Sikhs were
completely routed, but the British also suffered severely: 26
officers were killed and 66 wounded, and 731 rank and file were
killed and 1446 wounded. The loss of the Sikhs was 3000 killed and
4000 wounded. This battle was followed by the attack on the Sikh
camp and the army under Sheere Shing, in its position at Goojerat
(which see) February 21st, 1849.
CHIPPEWA.--On the 5th July, 1814, General Ball with 2400 men gave
battle here to 4000 Americans. The British fought bravely, but were
obliged to retire to Lundy’s Lane, or Bridgewater, near the Falls
of Niagara.
CHRYSLER’S FARM.--_Williamsburg, Canada._--On the 11th November,
1813, the Americans, under General Wilkinson, in their passage down
the St. Lawrence to attack Montreal, being harassed by the Canadian
forces, resolved to land and disperse them. They were 2000 strong
and the Canadians 1000. After two hours of very hard fighting, in
an open field, the Americans were compelled to retire, with the
loss of one general, and 350 killed and wounded. Canadian loss 200.
Medals were granted to the victors of this battle by the British
Government.
CHINA.--“The opening of the China trade to all British subjects,
by the abolition of the East India Company’s monopoly in 1833,
gave rise to a series of disputes with the native rulers, which
at length led to open hostilities. These disputes, relating at
first mainly to the legal rights and immunities to be enjoyed by
the commercial superintendents appointed by the British cabinet,
came eventually to be merged in the greater question touching the
traffic in opium, which had all along been in some measure declared
contraband by the Imperial Government. It was not, however,
peremptorily prohibited till 1836; and even afterwards, through
the connivance of the inferior authorities, an active smuggling
trade continued to be carried on till 1839, when the Imperial
Commissioner Lin, determined on its forcible suppression, seized
the persons of the British merchants at Canton, and of Captain
Elliot, the superintendent. That functionary was then compelled, by
threats of personal violence to himself and his fellow-prisoners,
to issue an order for the surrender of all the opium on board the
vessels in the vicinity of Canton, which, to the value of above
£2,000,000 sterling, was accordingly given up to the Chinese, who
destroyed it,--the superintendent at the same time pledging the
faith of the English government for compensation to the merchants.
After various fruitless attempts to obtain satisfaction for this
outrage, or even an accommodation by which the regular trade might
be resumed, the cabinet of London resolved on hostilities. These,
which were vigorously prosecuted, gave the Chinese a salutary
lesson as to their inferiority to Europeans in military science
and discipline; and they ended in a peace, signed August 29th,
1842, by which the Emperor agreed to pay $21,000,000 by way of
compensation, to open five of his principal ports to our commerce,
and to surrender the island of Hong-Kong to the British crown for
ever.”