must have been predominant in the bosoms of the men during that
melancholy bivouac! Soldiers are, perhaps, less sensitive to
hardships and exposure than civilians; and probably comparatively
callous to the finer sentiments. But it is scarcely possible to
conceive that, out of 60,000 men, lying on the bare earth in an
enemy’s country, there would be many who would not be keenly
alive to the emotions their situations would naturally suggest.
Physically depressed by a day of extreme toil, poorly fed, and
drenched by the descending torrent, the past would be inevitably
present to their imaginations, and with the past the probable
future. Many men will march dauntlessly to the cannon’s mouth, and
show no signs of fear, but with cheerful voice, and light step,
dash through the enemy’s fire, and over the bodies of the dead. But
in the stillness of the night, when no excitement warms his blood,
the bravest will be despondent, and the strong man be moved with
emotions as keen as those which agitate the breasts of the tender
woman or the sympathetic child. Oceans rolled between them and all
they had learned to love and value. No hand so rough but had been
pressed by some other hand on the day of departure; no nature so
fierce and ungentle but had softened into a better manhood as the
cliffs of England receded from the view. And now they lay through
the long hours of that miserable night, striving vainly enough to
drown their remembrances in sleep, and gain renewed strength and
courage for the morrow--the morrow that might bring death, and
certainly imminent dangers. Before them lay an unknown land--a
future of deadly uncertainty. Battles were to be fought, shot and
steel to be encountered; and who could tell who were destined to
lie in the obscurity of death on that foreign soil, and who to bear
the tidings back to thousands of melancholy homes?
Thus was passed the night of the 14th of September, the anniversary
of the death of the great Duke of Wellington, who, two years
before, ended his career amid the universally expressed sorrow
of a great people. He was, we had fondly hoped, the last great
representative of the military glory of this country. A new era had
been, we believed, initiated, in which the arts of peace supersede
the operations of war. And now, but two years after the conqueror
of Waterloo had looked for the last time upon the world, an English
army had landed upon the shores of a hostile territory, and was
commencing a warfare of which no man could see the termination,
and which bade fair to involve every nation of Europe. The chosen
champion of England’s military glory was quiet in his tomb; but his
companions, pupils, and successors were prepared to emulate his
deeds, and strike as vigorously for the honor of their country, and
the maintenance of the freedom of Europe.”
CROPREADY, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the forces of Charles I of
England and the Parliament, June 6th, 1644. It was a drawn battle;
for both sides, in their respective accounts, claim the victory.
CRUSADES.--The holy wars, waged by the Christians, to wrest the
Sepulchre of Christ and Jerusalem, from the hands of the Saracens,
continued for many years, and no important results were derived
from them as regards territorial acquisition, but they had an
immense effect in civilizing the west countries of Europe. There
were three principal ones.
CUDDALORE.--_India._--Possessed by the English in 1681. Reduced
by the French, 1758. Recaptured two years afterwards by Sir Eyre
Coote. Taken again in 1781. Besieged by the British under General
Stuart in 1783.
CUIRASS.--A covering for protecting the body of cavalry from the
weapons of opponents. The French had a body of soldiers covered
with them.
CULLODEN, BATTLE OF.--Fought April 16th, 1746, between the
Pretender and the Duke of Cumberland. The Scots lost 2500 men,
while the English lost only 200. A writer thus describes the
battle:--
“Thus far the affairs of the rebel army seemed not unprosperous;
but here was an end of all their triumphs. The Duke of Cumberland,
at that time the favourite of the English army, had been recalled
from Flanders, and put himself at the head of the troops at
Edinburgh, which consisted of about 14,000 men. With these he
advanced to Aberdeen, where he was joined by several of the Scotch
nobility, attached to the house of Hanover; and having revived the
drooping spirits of his army, he resolved to find out the enemy,
who retreated at his approach. After having refreshed his troops at
Aberdeen for some time, he renewed his march, and in twelve days he
came up to the banks of the deep and rapid river Spey. This was the
place where the rebels might have disputed his passage, but they
lost every advantage in disputing with each other. They seemed now
totally void of all counsel and subordination, without conduct, and
without unanimity. After a variety of contests among each other,
they resolved to wait their pursuers upon the plains of Culloden, a
place about nine miles distant from Inverness, embosomed in hills,
except on that side which was open to the sea. There they drew up
in order of battle, to the number of 8000 men, in three divisions,
supplied with some pieces of artillery, ill manned and served.
“The battle began about one o’clock in the afternoon; the cannon
of the King’s army did dreadful execution among the rebels, while
theirs was totally unserviceable. One of the great errors in
all the Pretender’s war-like measures, was his subjecting wild
and undisciplined troops to the forms of artful war, and thus
repressing their native ardour, from which alone he could hope
for success. After they had kept in their ranks and withstood the
English fire for some time, they at length became impatient for
closer engagement; and about 500 of them made an irruption upon the
left wing of the enemy with their accustomed ferocity. The first
line being disordered by this onset, two battalions advanced to
support it, and galled the enemy with a terrible close discharge.
At the same time the dragoons, under Hawley, and the Argyleshire
militia, pulling down a park wall feebly defended, fell among
them, sword in hand, with great slaughter. In less than thirty
minutes they were totally routed, and the field covered with their
wounded and slain, to the number of 3000 men. The French troops
on the left did not fire a shot, but stood inactive during the
engagement, and afterwards surrendered themselves prisoners of
war. An entire body of the clans marched off the field in order,
while the rest were routed with great slaughter, and their leaders
obliged with reluctance to retire. Civil war is in itself terrible,
but much more so when heightened by unnecessary cruelty. How guilty
soever an enemy may be, it is the duty of a brave soldier to
remember that he is only to fight an opposer, and not a suppliant.
The victory was in every respect decisive, and humanity to the
conquered would have rendered it glorious. But little mercy was
shown here; the conquerors were seen to refuse quarter to the
wounded, the unarmed, the defenceless; some were slain who were
only excited by curiosity to become spectators of the combat,
and soldiers were seen to anticipate the base employment of the
executioner. The Duke, immediately after the action, ordered
thirty-six deserters to be executed. The conquerors spread terror
wherever they came; and, after a short space, the whole country
round was one dreadful scene of plunder, slaughter, and desolation;
justice was forgotten, and vengeance assumed the name.”
CUNNERSDORF, BATTLE OF.--The King of Prussia with 50,000 men
attacked the Austrian and Russian army with 90,000 men (in their
camp). At first he gained considerable advantages, but pursuing too
far, the enemy rallied and gained a complete victory. The Russians
lost 200 pieces of cannon and 20,000 men in killed and wounded.
Fought August 12th, 1759.
CUSTOZZA, BATTLE OF.--Fought Sunday, 24th June, 1866 between the
Austrians and Italians. “The Italian army, divided into three
corps and a reserve, making up a force of from 80,000 to 90,000
combatants, after crossing the Mincio at Gotto, and on the other
points, on Saturday afternoon, June 23rd, 1866, and sending
reconnoitering parties towards Peschiera and Verona, encamped for
the night at some place beyond Roverbella, equidistant from the
two fortresses. On the ensuing morning an attempt was made upon
those high positions of Sona, Somma Campaigna, and Santa Ciustina,
which commands the fifteen miles railway line joining the two
strongholds, positions which played a conspicuous part in the
campaign of 1848. The object of the Italians was evidently to take
possession of the railway, so as to isolate Peschiera and secure
a basis of operations against Verona. The Austrians, however, who
were massed in great force at Verona, sallied forth from that place
at daybreak, and, anticipating the Italian movements, took up their
position upon those hills, which are now everywhere bristling with
bastions and redoubts, and may be looked upon as mere outworks of
the two citadels, extending from the gates of one to those of the
other. After a severe and bloody, or, as the Italians describe
it, “desperate struggle,” which lasted nearly the whole day--that
longest of summer days--the Imperial army was victorious along
the whole line. They stormed the summit of Montevente, where the
Italians held out the longest, and at the close of the engagement,
at five o’clock in the afternoon, they also carried the position
of Custozza, a spot fatal to Italian arms in their encounter
with Radetski, in July, 1848. The victors captured several guns,
and about 2000 prisoners, and behaved, as the Archduke Albert’s
bulletin assures us, and as we may readily believe, with even more
than their ordinary bravery and endurance. On the same evening the
Italian army was obliged to re-cross the Mincio.
The Italian accounts of the engagement present no points of
material difference. According to them, the first army corps was
sent forward to occupy some positions between Peschiera and Verona,
but being surrounded by superior numbers, it “failed to effect its
purpose,” and the description given of its losses in the contest
leaves us little doubt that it was all but annihilated. The second
and third corps, unable--it is not said for what reason--to advance
to its rescue, were still in the evening “almost intact.” It was
also stated from Brescia that the army had maintained its position;
but there is little doubt that it had to withdraw across the Mincio
later in the night. The Italians had several of their Generals
wounded, among others the King’s second son, Prince Amadeus, who
has arrived at Brescia.
There is every probability, also, that the Italians were, on this
occasion, outnumbered by their enemies: for the Austrians have
from 200,000 to 250,000 men in Venetia, and as they had in their
hands the most formidable of all engines of modern warfare--the
railway, they had probably massed three-fourths, at least, of their
troops in Verona, ready for the long-expected Italian inroad. The
Archduke’s bulletins, in fact, never speak of garrisons, but tell
us that the “imperial army” was in the field.
The Italians, we are assured, behaved with great heroism, and,
no doubt although they lost the day, they came off without loss
of honour. An advance across the Mincio, right into the heart of
the Quadrilateral, is an enterprise which no other European army
would, under such circumstances, have ventured upon, but a frenzy
to do something seems to have possessed the whole Italian nation,
and the men in command could think of nothing better than dashing
their heads against those formidable stone walls. There may be
bravery in so desperate an attempt to take the bull by the horns,
but we believe it would be impossible for the king or La Marmora
to say what results they expected from their ill-conceived and
worse-executed attempt. It was a battle in which they staked the
very existence of their army, while their enemies, in the worst
event, ran no other risk than that of a safe and leisurely retreat
behind the shelter of their bastions. The least that may be said
of it is, that like the Balaklava charge, “_C’était beau mais ce
n’était pas la guerre_.” Ever since 1848 and 1849 the Austrians
have strained every nerve to strengthen these four citadels, and
have extended their outworks, so that the line between Peschiera
and Verona, especially, is a vast intrenched camp.”
CYZICUM, BATTLE OF.--Fought during the Peloponnesian war. Plutarch
states that Mindarus was slain in this battle. The Athenians gained
a complete victory over the Lacedæmonian fleet. Fought B.C. 410.
D.
DAMASCUS.--Taken by the Saracens, 633. Again by the Turks in 1006,
and was destroyed by Tamerlane in 1400.
DANTZIC.--It surrendered to the French, after a siege of four
months, May 5th, 1807; and, by the treaty of Tilsit, was restored
to its former independence under the protection of Russia and
Saxony. It was besieged by the Allies in 1812, and surrendered to
them January 6th, 1814. By the treaty of Paris it reverted to its
former status.
DARDANELLES, PASSAGE OF THE.--This was achieved by the British
fleet under Sir John Duckworth, February 19th, 1807; but the
admiral was obliged to repass them--which he did with great loss
and immense damage to the fleet, March 2nd following. The castles
of Sestos and Abydos hurled down rocks, each of many tons weight,
upon the decks of the British ships.
DARTMOUTH.--Burnt by the French, in the reign of Richard I and
Henry IV. Prince Maurice took it in 1643, but it was retaken by
General Fairfax, by storm, A.D. 1646.
DELHI.--Once the great capital of the Mogul empire. In 1738, when
Nadir Shah invaded Hindostan, he entered Delhi, and 100,000 of the
inhabitants were put to the sword. In 1803, the Mahrattas aided by
the French, got possession of the place; but they were afterwards
defeated by General Lake. This city has been the scene of much
commotion in the course of its history.
The following is a short account of the storming of Delhi, in the
last great mutiny:
“Until the latter end of August, the British troops before Delhi
are rather to be considered as an army of observation, than as a
besieging force. Their inferiority in numbers and artillery was
barely counter-balanced by their superior discipline, courage
and physical strength. These advantages enabled them, indeed, to
maintain their ground, but not to assume the offensive.
Toward the close of August, however, a re-inforcement of European
and Sikh troops, under Brigadier Nicholson, arrived from the
Punjab, and, on the 25th of that month, the rebels were defeated at
Nujuffghur, with great slaughter, and the loss of thirteen guns. A
few days later a heavy siege-train was received from Ferozepore,
and breaching batteries were constructed on the north side of
the city. The siege may be said to have commenced on the 7th
September, and by the evening of the 13th, the engineers reported
two practicable breaches--one near the Cashmere, the other near the
Water bastion. Arrangements were, therefore, at once made for an
assault, to take place at daybreak on the following morning.
The first column, commanded by Brigadier Nicholson, advanced under
a tremendous fire, and, applying their scaling-ladders, carried the
Cashmere bastion, and established themselves in the main-guard.
Almost simultaneously, the second column, under Brigadier Jones,
stormed the Water bastion, and effected a junction with their
comrades inside the walls.
A third column, under Colonel Campbell, awaited the blowing open of
the Cashmere gate to join the assault. They had not long to wait.
Lieutenants Salkeld and Home, of the engineers, accompanied by
three sergeants carrying the powder-bags, walked up to the gateway
in broad daylight, and, while exposed to a heavy fire of musketry,
coolly fastened the bags to the iron spikes of the gate. In the
performance of this heroic exploit, Lieutenant Salkeld was severely
wounded, and two of the sergeants killed upon the spot; but the
train was lighted, and the gate blown open with a tremendous crash.
As the smoke cleared away, the storming party sprang through the
ruins with a British cheer; and the three columns uniting, made
themselves master of the whole line of works, from the Water
bastion to the Cabul gate; and before nightfall were in possession
of Skinner’s house, the Church, the College, and the adjacent
grounds. This brilliant success, however, was not achieved without
great loss of life.
Of the European soldiery, eight officers and 162 rank and file were
killed, with 52 officers and 510 rank and file wounded; of the
Sepoys, 413 were placed _hors de combat_, of whom 103 were slain
outright. The total number of casualties thus amounted to 1145,
or one-third of the entire assaulting force. Among the mortally
wounded was Brigadier Nicholson, whose death was justly deplored as
a national calamity.
Simultaneously with these main attacks, a diversion was made by
a fourth column, consisting of Sikhs, Ghoorkas, and Cashmerians,
on the suburbs of Kishengunge and Pahareepore. But, in spite of
their most strenuous efforts, these troops failed to overcome the
desperate resistance offered by the enemy, and, in the end, were
compelled to retreat, though not ingloriously.
The day following the assault was consumed in shelling the palace,
and in battering the magazine. A breach was effected, and, at
daylight on the 16th, a storming party dashed forward with such
impetuosity that the rebel artillerymen dropped their lighted
port-fires and fled, leaving undischarged six guns of large calibre
commanding the breach and loaded with grape. On the 17th, the
British troops became masters of the Bank, formerly the palace of
the Begum Sumroo, and shortly afterwards, of the Jumma Musjid, or
principal mosque. Heavy guns were now brought to play upon the
palace and the bridge of boats, and, by the evening of the 20th,
the rebels entirely evacuated the city and its suburbs. Then was
seen the extent of the damage sustained by the former capital
of the Mogul dynasty. Whole streets had been laid in ruins;
dead bodies tainted the air in all directions; the inhabitants,
reduced to beggary, were crouching, terror-stricken, in obscure
lurking-places. But the British soldier is merciful in victory, as
he is irresistible in battle. To armed rebels, no mercy was shown;
but women and children, and the defenceless citizens, were spared
and protected.
The venerable descendant of Timour--venerable only by reason of his
gray hairs and extreme old age--had fled, with his principal Begum,
two sons, and a grandson, to the tomb of his ancestor, Hoomavoon,
son of the mighty Baber. He was discovered and seized by captain
Hodson, of the 2nd European Fusiliers. His own life, and that of
his queen, were respected--but the princes were led out and shot,
and their dead bodies publicly exposed at the kotwalee, or mayor’s
court.
General Wilson, whose health failed him in the hour of victory,
now resigned the command to Brigadier Penny, C.B., a veteran
of approved gallantry. Colonel Burn, whose father so gallantly
defended Delhi against Jeswunt Rao Holkar, in 1803, was
appointed military commandant within the city, and measures were
successfully taken to re-establish order, and to afford protection
to well-disposed and peaceful citizens. Two movable columns,
consisting each of 1600 infantry, 500 cavalry, three troops of
horse artillery, and eighteen guns, were told off, and ordered
to follow up the retreating enemy without delay. One of these,
commanded by Colonel Greathed, of the 84th, came up with a rebel
force strongly posted near Bolundshuhur, and, after a spirited
engagement, utterly discomfited them with the loss of two guns, a
vast quantity of ammunition, and 100 men.”
DEMERARA AND ESSEQUIBO.--Founded by the Dutch but taken by the
British, under Major General White, April 22nd, 1796. Restored in
1802. Again surrendered to the British, under General Grinfield and
Commodore Hood, September 20th, 1803. They are now British colonies.
DENNEWITZ, BATTLE OF.--In this battle a remarkable victory was
obtained by Marshal Bernadotte, Prince of Denmark--who afterward
became Charles XIV of Sweden--over Marshal Ney, September 6th,
1813. The loss of the French exceeded 16,000 men and two eagles,
while the loss of the opposite army was inconsiderable.
DETTINGEN, BATTLE OF.--Between the British, Hanoverian, and Hessian
army, commanded by George II of England in person and the Earl of
Stair, on the one side, and the French army, commanded by Marshal
Noailles and the Duke of Grammont, on the other side. The English
army amounted to 52,000 men, the French to 60,000 strong. The
French having passed a defile which they should have guarded, the
British and Allies bravely sustained the impetuous charge of the
French cavalry, so that they were obliged to give way, and recross
the Mayne, with the loss of 5000 men. Fought June 16th, 1743.
DIEPPE.--_In France._--This town was bombarded by an English
fleet, under Admiral Russell, and laid in ashes, July 1694. Again
bombarded by the British, September 14th, 1803.
DIZIER ST.--_In Champagne._--One of the most memorable sieges in
modern history. This town sustained a siege for six weeks against
the army of Charles V, Emperor of Germany, A.D. 1544. A battle was
fought here between the armies of the Allies on the one side, and
the French, commanded by Napoleon in person, on the other, in
which he was defeated with great loss, January 27th, 1814.
DONNINGTON, BATTLE OF.--_In Lincolnshire, England._--Fought
between the Royalists, commanded by Colonel Cavendish, and the
forces of the Parliament--the latter defeated, 1643. The battle
of Donnington, in Gloucestershire, was fought in 1645, when the
Royalists, under Lord Aston, were defeated by Colonel Morgan. This
victory led to the surrender of the King’s garrison at Oxford.
DRAGOON.--Name supposed to have been derived from dragon. The first
regiment of dragoons in England was raised A.D. 1681.
DRESDEN, BATTLE OF.--Between the allied army, under the Prince of
Schwarzenberg, and the French army, commanded by Napoleon, August
26th and 27th, 1813. The Allies were 200,000 strong. They attacked
the position of Napoleon, and the event had nearly proved fatal to
them, but for an error of General Vandamme. They were defeated with
dreadful loss, and were obliged to retreat into Bohemia. Vandamme
pursuing them too far, his division was cut to pieces, and he
and all his staff made prisoners. In this battle, General Moreau
received his mortal wound, while in conversation with the Emperor
of Russia.
DROGHEDA.--_In Ireland._--Cromwell took this city by storm, and put
the governor and all the garrison to the sword, August 14th, 1649.
More than 3000 men, mostly English, perished, one individual--a
lieutenant--alone escaping. Cromwell also murdered every man,
woman, and child of the citizens that were Irish!
DRUM.--A martial instrument--the invention of which is ascribed to
Bacchus. Being an oriental invention, it was introduced into Europe
by the Moors, A.D. 713.
DUMBLANE OR DUNBLANE, BATTLE OF.--Called also the Battle of
Sheriffmuir.--Fought between the Royalist army, and the Scotch
rebels, November 12th, 1715. The Duke of Argyle, who commanded the
Royalists, had in his army 4000 veteran troops; the Earl of Mar,
who commanded the rebels, 8000, but all newly raised. The loss was
equal on both sides, and each claimed the victory. The Highland
foot behaved most gallantly.
DUNBAR, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the Scottish and English army,
in which John Baliol was defeated by the Earl of Warrenne, and
Scotland subdued by Edward I, April 27th, 1296. Another battle was
fought here between the Scots and the English, under Cromwell, who
obtained a great victory, September 3rd, 1650.
DUNDALK.--Edward Bruce, being defeated in his unfortunate invasion
of Ireland, was beheaded here, in 1318, and with him 6200 Scots
invaders, lost their lives. The walls and fortifications were
destroyed in 1641.
DUNGAN HILL, BATTLE OF.--_In Ireland._--Fought between the English
and Irish armies. The former commanded by Colonel Jones, who
signally defeated the insurgent Irish, of whom 6000 were slain,
while the loss of the English was inconsiderable. Fought July 10th,
1647.
DUNKIRK.--Taken by the English and French from the Spaniards, June
24th, 1658. Sold by Charles II, for £500,000, to Louis XIV, in
1662. The English attempted to besiege this place, but the Duke of
York, who commanded, was defeated by Hoche, and forced to retire
with loss, September 7th, 1793.
DUNSINANE, BATTLE OF.--Celebrated by Shakespeare. Fought between
Macbeth, the thane of Glamis, and Seward, earl of Northumberland.
Macbeth was signally defeated, fled, and was pursued, when he was
slain, 1057.
DURHAM, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the English and Scottish armies,
October 17th, 1316. See _Nevill’s Cross_.
E.
EBRO.--Scene of a signal defeat of the Spaniards, by the French,
November 23rd, 1808. Scene also of several movements of the allied
forces during the Peninsular War.