armies of France and Austria. The French army was commanded by
Napoleon, and the Austrian by the Archduke Charles. Napoleon, by
one of his masterly movements, broke through the Imperial army, and
completely routed them.
EDGEHILL, BATTLE OF.--Fought, October 23rd, 1642, between the
Royalists and the Parliament army, the first engagement of
importance in the civil war. Charles I was present in this battle.
Prince Rupert commanded the Royalists and the Earl of Essex the
Parliamentarians. The Earl of Lindsay, one of Charles’ Generals,
who commanded the foot forces, was mortally wounded and taken
prisoner. The King’s army lost 5000 men, dead on the field of
battle, with vast numbers of wounded and prisoners; but the great
loss on the other side prevented them from making all they could of
the victory.
ENSIGN.--A flag or banner. The lowest commissioned officer in an
infantry regiment--he who carries the flag or colors--hence the
name; derived from the French.
ENGHIEN, BATTLE OF.--Fought, August 3rd, 1692, between the British,
under William III, and the French, under Marshal Luxembourg,
who were victorious. William had put himself at the head of the
confederate army in the Netherlands, and leagued himself with the
Protestant powers upon the continent against the ambition of Louis
XIV, and in the end he triumphed.
ENLISTMENT OF SOLDIERS AND SEAMAN.--None enlisted are to be sworn
in before a magistrate in less than twenty-four hours, and then
they are at liberty to withdraw, upon returning enlistment or
bounty money and 21s. costs. All enlistment is now voluntary.
ENNISKILLEN.--_Ireland._--It made an obstinate defence against the
army of Elizabeth; then against James II, 1689--1500 Enniskillens
met General McCarty with a force of 6000 men--defeated him, with a
loss of 3000 men, and took all the rest--losing only twenty men,
July 1689. The Enniskillen dragoons were raised here.
ESSLING, BATTLE OF.--Fought, May 22nd, 1809, between the armies
of France and Austria, commanded by Napoleon and the Archduke
Charles,--a dreadful conflict, which began on May 21st, and
continued on the 22nd. Napoleon was defeated with the loss of
30,000 men--but the Austrians lost 20,000. This was the most severe
check that Napoleon had ever yet experienced, which rendered his
army’s retreat very difficult.
EUPATORIA.--_Crimea._--Famous in the Crimean war. The following is
an account of its capture by the Allies:
“About 25,000 Turks, under Omer Pacha, the veterans for the most
part of the army of the Danube, had occupied the town, and strongly
entrenched themselves, assisted by a small force of English and
French, and supported by the presence of a naval squadron, under
the command of Captain Hastings, of the _Curaçoa_. For some days
previous to the 16th of February, large bodies of Russians had
been observed in the vicinity; and on the morning of that day,
a strong force of artillery, supported by bodies of cavalry and
infantry, estimated at about 40,000 men, opened a smart fire upon
the town, at a distance of 1200 yards, subsequently advancing
nearer. The small squadron, under Captain Hastings, was enabled
to do good service; the _Valorous_ pitching shells and shot among
the enemy on the left; and the _Viper_, an active little gun-boat,
smartly seconding her efforts on the left. The enemy’s infantry
approached to the right of the town, through the cemetery. As they
advanced from the burying-ground, they were met by a vigorous fire
of musketry from the entrenchments. The _Furious_ had detached a
rocket-party, which coming round among the windmills to the right
of the town, met the advancing Russians with a succession of
volleys. The enemy advanced to within twenty yards of the ditch,
and then fell into confusion. Selim Bey, the leader of the Egyptian
contingent, seizing the opportunity, threw forward his brigade in
a rapid charge with the bayonet upon the disordered columns, but
fell mortally wounded at the head of his men. Unable to stand the
terrific fire to which they were exposed, and yielding before the
vigorous charge of the Egyptians, the Russians gave way, and the
repulse was complete. The artillery limbered up their guns, and
with the cavalry, drew leisurely from the spot. The enemy’s loss
must have been immense, considering the short time the skirmish
lasted, as the ground was strewed with the bodies of the slain, who
were quickly despoiled by the ever ready Bashi-Bazouks, and left
stark naked in their blood. The loss to the defenders of the town
was 101 killed, and 286 wounded. The Turkish artillery suffered
greatly from the enemy’s fire, nineteen men being killed in one
battery. Thus did Omer Pacha initiate his campaign in the Crimea.”
EURYMEDON, BATTLE OF.--One of the most celebrated battles in
Grecian history, when Cimon destroyed the fleet of the Persians at
Cyprus, and the land forces also at the River Eurymedon, B.C. 470.
EVESHAM, BATTLE OF.--Fought, August 4th, 1265, between Prince
Edward, afterwards Edward I, and Simon de Montfort, Earl of
Leicester--in which the Barons were defeated, and Montfort slain.
This victory broke up the confederation of the Barons against the
King.
EXETER.--When held by the Danes King Alfred invested and took it
A.D. 894. Sweyn besieged it 1003. Again besieged by William the
Conqueror, 1067. Surrendered to King Stephen, 1136. Besieged by Sir
William Courtenay, 1469. Lastly assaulted by Perkin Warbeck 1497.
EXPEDITIONS OF THE BRITISH. PRINCIPAL ONES.
France near Port l’Orient October 1, 1746
Cherbourg August 7, 1758
St. Malo September, 1758
Ostend May, 1798
Zuyder Zee September, 1799
Egypt March, 1801
Copenhagen September, 1807
Walcheren July, 1809
Bergen-op-Zoom March, 1814
EYLAU, BATTLE OF.--Fought, February 8th, 1807, between the French
and Russians.--It was one of the most terrible and bloody in
Napoleon’s wars. Napoleon lost 15,000 men, and the Russians 20,000,
in slain alone. Both armies were dreadfully crippled by this
battle, and both had to retire.
F.
FALCZI, PEACE OF.--This celebrated peace was concluded between
Russia and Turkey, July 2nd, 1711,--the Russians giving up Azof
and all their possessions on the Black Sea to the Turks. In the
following year the war was renewed, and at last terminated in the
peace of Constantinople, April 16th, 1712.
FALKIRK, BATTLE OF.--First battle fought between Edward I of
England, and the Scots under William Wallace, July 22nd, 1298; and
the second between the King’s forces and Prince Charles Stuart, the
Pretender, January 18th, 1746. Both are described in the following
extracts:
“Edward had been in Scotland for about a month. He had advanced as
far as Kirkliston, ten miles west of Edinburgh. Symptoms of mutiny
began to appear among his hungry soldiers. He was compelled to
give orders for a retreat to Edinburgh, meaning to wait there till
his fleet, laden with provisions, should arrive at Leith, and then
to advance again.
Things stood thus, when two scoundrels, the Earl of Dunbar and
the Earl of Angus, came at daybreak into the camp of the English,
and gave information that Wallace lay in the forest of Falkirk,
intending to attack the English in their quarters that very night.
Edward was filled with joy at the tidings. “Thanks be to God,” he
cried, “who hath hitherto delivered me from every danger! They
shall not need to follow me, for I shall instantly go and meet
them.”
In an hour’s time he had his army in motion for the west. That
night they encamped on a moor near Linlithgow. Each man slept in
his armour, each war-horse was kept ready bridled beside its rider.
The king himself slept on the bare ground, like the meanest soldier
in his army. In the middle of the night the sleeping king received
a kick from his own charger, by which two of his ribs were broken.
As soon as morning dawned the march was resumed. The king, wounded
as he was, was among the first to mount.
Passing through the town of Linlithgow, they continued their march,
and gained a rising ground at some distance beyond. There they
halted, and the fighting Bishop of Durham said mass. While the
ceremony was performing the sun rose, and his rays, glancing upon
the array of spears, showed them the Scottish army taking their
ground on the slope of a small hill not far from Falkirk. Wallace
arranged his battle thus: His main force lay in his infantry, who
fought with long spears, and carried short daggers and axes for
close battle slung at the girdle. They were divided into four
circular masses, or _schiltrons_, as they were called in the
military language of the time. In these circles the spearmen stood
compactly together, with their long spears stretched out, and
forming a ring of steel. The spaces between circle and circle were
occupied by the archers, tall yeomen from the forests of Selkirk
and Ettrick. The cavalry, amounting to 1000 heavy armed horse,
were placed in the rear. Among them were most of the nobles who
had joined Wallace; but the jealousy which these proud barons felt
towards him, and their selfish fear of losing their estates, made
them less than half-hearted in the cause.
The English came on in three divisions, each division as strong as
the whole Scottish army. At the first clash of spears the entire
body of the Scottish cavalry, led by the traitor lords, turned
bridle, and rode off the field without a blow given or taken. While
the battle raged against the circles of spearmen, the English
horse charged the Scottish archers. The brave foresters stood
firm to meet the rush of 7000 of the finest cavalry ever present
on a stricken field. But what could they, lightly armed as they
were, do against mailed horse and steel-clad knights? They defended
themselves so bravely with their short daggers that the very enemy
admired them. But they died there to a man. After the battle the
conquerors remarked their tall and handsome forms as they lay dead
on the ground they had kept so well.
The four circles of the Scottish spearmen remained yet entire,
standing up like a wall, with their spears, point over point, so
thick and close together that no living man could pierce through.
But the cloth-yard arrows from the great bows of England fell
thick and deadly among them. The columns of archers advanced near
and discharged their shafts in perfect security, the Scots having
neither cavalry to scatter them by a charge, nor archers to reply
to them. Drawing their arrows to the head, they shot with all their
force into the circles, and quickly breached the living walls.
Through the gaps made by the archers the English cavalry charged,
and having once broken in made a dreadful slaughter. The battle was
lost. One duty alone remained to the Scottish leader, and that was
to save the remainder of his army from destruction by a retreat.
Well and soldierly he did it. Retiring slowly, and himself with his
best knights defending the rear, he was able to draw off the broken
remains of his circles, and to gain the shelter of Torwood forest.”
_Second Battle._--“Being joined by Lord Drummond, Prince Charles
invested the castle of Stirling, commanded by General Blakeney;
but the rebel forces, being unused to sieges, consumed much time
to no purpose. It was during this attempt that General Hawley, who
commanded a considerable body of forces near Edinburgh, undertook
to raise the siege, and advanced towards the rebel army as far
as Falkirk. After two days spent in mutually examining each
other’s strength, the rebels being ardent to engage, were led on,
in full spirits, to attack the King’s army. The Pretender, who
was in the front line, gave the signal to engage, and the first
fire put Hawley’s forces into confusion. The horse retreated
with precipitation, and fell upon their own infantry; while the
rebels, following up the blow, the greatest part of the royal army
fled with the utmost precipitation. They retired in confusion to
Edinburgh, leaving the conquerors in possession of their tents,
their artillery, and the field of battle.”
FEROZESHAH, BATTLE OF.--_India._--Between the Sikhs and British.
The British attacked the entrenchments of the Sikhs, and carried
by storm the first line of works, December 21st, 1845. Night coming
on the operations were suspended till day-break next day, and
their second line was carried and their guns captured; the Sikhs
advanced to recapture the guns but were repulsed with great loss,
and retreated towards the Sutlej, December 22nd, and re-crossed the
river unmolested, December 27th.
FERROL, BRITISH EXPEDITION TO.--Upwards of 10,000 British landed,
August, 1800, near Ferrol, commanded by Sir James Pulteney.
Despairing of success, though they had gained the heights, they
re-embarked and returned to England, by order of the General, and
in opposition to the wishes and advice of his officers.
FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD.--Henry VIII embarked at Windsor to
meet Francis I of France, at Ardres, May 31st, 1520. So much
magnificence was displayed on the occasion, that the field received
that name, by which it is now always known in history.
FIRE SHIPS.--Used first in the 16th century. The first use of them,
in the English navy, was by Lord Effingham, in the engagement of
the Armada, July, 1588.
FLAG.--Acquired its present form in the 6th century, in Spain;
introduced, it is said, by the Saracens.
FLAT BUSH, BATTLE OF.--_Long Island, America._--Fought August 27th,
1776, between the British forces and American colonists, when the
latter, after a desperate engagement, were compelled to retire,
with the loss of 2000 men killed, and 1000 prisoners.
FLEURIS, BATTLE OF.--Fought, June, 17th, 1794, between the Allies,
under the Prince of Cobourg, and the French revolutionary army,
commanded by Marshal Jourdan. The Allies had 100,000 men, and
having met the enemy on the plains of Fleuris, were signally
defeated. Between 8000 and 10,000 were killed, wounded and taken
prisoners, and Jourdan was able to form a junction with the
French armies of the Moselle--the Ardennes and the north. In this
memorable battle, the French made use of a balloon to reconnoitre
the enemy’s army--an experiment which it is said very materially
tended to their gaining the victory.
FLODDEN.--Fought on the 9th September, 1513, between the English
and Scots. Underneath is a graphic account of the most disastrous
battle that ever befell the Scottish arms.
“On the 22nd of August, 1513, James IV of Scotland, at the head of
a gallant army, crossed the Tweed, for the purpose of revenging
some injuries which he conceived himself to have received at the
hands of the King of England, who was then pursuing hostilities
in France. Immediately on his crossing that river, he laid siege
to the castles of Etel and Ford, and spent much precious time in
endeavouring to reduce those fortresses.
Whilst such was the course pursued by the King, the Earl of Surrey
concentrating the strength of the northern counties, soon raised
an army of 26,000 men; and marching through Durham, received there
the sacred banner of St. Cuthbert. He was soon after joined by
Lord Dacre, Sir William Bulmer, Sir Marmaduke Constable, and other
northern Barons; and on proceeding to Alnwick, was met by his son,
Lord Thomas Howard, Lord Admiral of England, with a reinforcement
of 5000 men. On advancing with this united force, Surrey dispatched
Rouge Croix Herald to carry his challenge to the King of Scots,
which was couched in the usual stately terms of feudal defiance.
It reproached him with having broken his faith and league, which
had been solemnly pledged to the King of England, in thus invading
his dominions--and offered him battle on the succeeding Friday, if
he would be content to remain so long in England and accept it.
Lord Thomas Howard added a message, informing the King, that, as
High Admiral, and one who had borne a personal share in the action
against Andrew Barton, he was now ready to justify the death of
that pirate, for which purpose he would lead the vanguard, where
his enemies, from whom he expected as little mercy as he meant to
grant them, would be sure to find him. To this challenge, James
instantly replied, that “he desired nothing more earnestly than the
encounter, and he would abide the battle on the day appointed.”
As to the rude accusation of broken honour which had been brought
against him, he desired his herald to carry a broad denial of the
statement. “Our bond and promise,” he observed, “was to remain true
to our royal brother, so long as he maintained his faith with us.
This he was the first to break; we have desired redress, and have
been denied it; we have warned him of our intended hostility--a
courtesy which he has refused to us; and this is our just quarrel,
which, with the grace of God, we shall defend.” These mutual
messages passed on the 4th of September; and on the day appointed,
Surrey advanced against the enemy. By this time, the distress
for provisions, the incessant rains, and the obstinacy of the
King in waiting upon his pleasures, and his observation of the
punctilios of chivalry, the hours which might have been spent in
active warfare, had created dissatisfaction in the soldiers, many
of whom deserted, with the booty they had already collected; so
that in a short time the army was much diminished in numbers. To
accept the challenge of his adversary, and permit him to appoint
a day for the encounter, was contrary to the advice of his best
councillors; and he might have recollected, that in circumstances
almost similar, two great masters in war, Douglas and Randolph, had
treated a parallel proposal of Edward III with a sarcastic refusal.
He had the sagacity, however, to change his first encampment for
a stronger position on the hill of Flodden, one of the last and
lowest eminences which detach themselves from the range of the
Cheviots; a ground skillfully chosen, inaccessible on both flanks,
and defended in front by the river Till, a deep sluggish stream,
which ran between the armies.
On advancing and reconnoitering the spot, Surrey, who despaired
of being able to attack the Scots without exposing himself to the
probability of defeat, again sent a herald to request the King to
descend from the eminence into the plain. He complained, somewhat
unreasonably, that James had “putte himself into a ground more
like a fortress or a camp, than any indifferent field for battle
to be taxed;” but James would not even admit the messenger into
his presence. So far all had succeeded and nothing was required on
the part of the King but patience. He had chosen an impregnable
position, had fulfilled his agreement by abiding the attack
of the enemy; and such was the distress of Surrey’s army in a
wasted country, that to keep it longer together was impossible.
He attempted, therefore, a decisive measure, which would have
appeared desperate, unless he had reckoned upon the carelessness
and inexperience of his opponent. Passing the Till on the 8th of
September, he proceeded on its east side to Barmoor wood, two
miles distant from the Scottish position, where he encamped for
the night. His march was concealed from the enemy by an eminence
on the east of Ford; but the manœuvre being executed without
observation or interruption, evinces a shameful negligence in the
Scottish commanders. Early on the morning of the 9th, he marched
from Barmoor wood in a north-westerly direction; and then turning
suddenly to the eastward, crossed the Till with his vanguard and
artillery at Twisel bridge, not far from the confluence of the
Till and the Tweed--whilst the rear division, under Surrey in
person, passed the river at a ford. Whilst these movements were
taking place the Scottish King remained unaccountably passive. His
veteran officers remonstrated. They showed him, that if he advanced
against Surrey, when the enemy were defiling over the bridge with
their vanguard separated from the rear, there was every chance of
destroying them in detail, and gaining an easy victory. The Earl of
Angus, whose age and experience gave great weight to his advice,
implored him either to assault the English, or to change his
position by a retreat, ere it was too late; but his prudent counsel
was only received by a cruel taunt. “Angus,” said the King, “if you
are afraid, you may go home;” a reproach which the spirit of the
old Baron could not brook. “My age,” said he, “renders my body of
no service, and my counsel is despised; but I leave my two sons and
the vassals of Douglas in the field; may the result be glorious,
and Angus’s foreboding unfounded!”