Angus, and the forces of Lenox, who fought to get possession of
the person of James V, then a minor. Lenox was slain by Sir James
Hamilton, 1525.
LIPPSTADT, BATTLE OF.--One of the most bloody battles ever fought
in the world. Called also _Lutzen_, which see.
LISLE, SIEGE OF.--Besieged by the Duke of Marlborough and the
Allies, and taken after three months, in 1708. Restored at the
treaty of Utrecht, 1713--this siege is accounted one of the most
famous in modern times. It also sustained a severe bombardment by
the Austrians in the revolutionary war, but they were obliged to
raise the siege, October 7th, 1792.
LISSA, BATTLE OF.--This battle, fought December 5th, 1757, closed
the campaign, in which the King of Prussia vanquished Prince
Charles of Lorraine; 6000 Austrians were slain. Laid in ashes by
the Russians in 1707.
LODI, BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE OF.--One of the earliest of Napoleon’s
victories. Fought in Italy, May 10th, 1796. Napoleon commanded
the French army, which was opposed to the Austrians, under
General Beaulieu, and obtained a splendid victory after a bloody
engagement, in which several thousands of the Imperialists were
slain, and many thousands made prisoners. Napoleon nearly lost his
life at this battle, and was wounded in the hip with a bayonet. One
of his great Marshals in this battle, a sergeant, saved him, and
was commissioned on the spot.
LONDONDERRY, SIEGE OF.--Memorable for a siege during the reign of
James II, of England. James’ army, under the French General Rosene,
retired with the loss of 8000 men, after having practised almost
unparalleled cruelties upon the inhabitants of the surrounding
villages, April 20th, 1689.
LONGBEARDS OR LONGOBARDS.--Hence Lombardy. The Longobards or
Longbeards, who had overrun and taken possession of the great plain
of the basin of the Po, retained to some extent their separate
independence even under the empire of Germany. They had their own
laws and customs, and were in the habit of crowning the emperor,
or whoever else was acknowledged, as king of Lombardy. Hence, too,
Napoleon wore the iron crown of their kings. This famed symbol of
kingship was deposited in the Cathedral of Monza; it is a broad
circle of gold, set with large rubies, emeralds, and sapphires,
and was secured in an ornamented cross placed over an altar,
closely shut up within folding doors of gilt brass. The crown is
kept in an octagonal aperture in the centre of the cross. It is
composed of six equal pieces of beaten gold, joined together by
close hinges, and the jewels and embossed gold ornaments are set
in a ground of blue and gold enamel, interesting as exhibiting
an exact resemblance to the workmanship of the enamelled part of
a gold ornament now in the Ashmolean Museum, which once belonged
to King Alfred. But for those who have an appetite for relics,
the most important part of this crown is a narrow iron rim, which
is attached to the inside of it all round. The rim is about
three-eighths of an inch broad, and a tenth of an inch thick, made
out of one of the nails used in the Crucifixion. The crown is
said to have been presented to Constantine by his mother; and the
sacred iron rim, from which it has its name, was to protect him
in battle. And, although this iron has now been exposed more than
fifteen hundred years, there is not a speck of rust upon it.
LONG ISLAND, BATTLE OF.--Between the British troops under Sir
William Howe and the revolted Americans, who suffered a severe
defeat, after a well fought action, losing 2000 men in killed and
wounded and 1000 prisoners. The Americans were pursued to New
York, but were saved by a thick fog, which enabled them to escape.
Fought, August 27th, 1776.
L’ORIENT, BATTLE OF.--Lord Bridport achieved a memorable victory
over the French fleet, June 23rd, 1795. The British squadron
actually engaged consisted of 10 ships of the line--the enemy’s, of
12 ships of the line, 11 frigates, and some smaller vessels. After
an action of three hours the French got into port, leaving three
sail of the line in the possession of the British. The loss of the
French was severe.
LOSSES IN GREAT BATTLES.--The _Military Gazette_ of Vienna makes
the following comparisons of the forces engaged in the battle
of Solferino and in former great battles:--“At that battle there
were more than 300,000 soldiers in the field, and the losses must
have amounted to at least from 30,000 to 37,000. At the battle
of Leipsic, which lasted for three days, the 330,000 allies had
against them 260,000 French; the latter lost 30,000 prisoners
and 45,000 killed and wounded, and the former 48,000 killed and
wounded. After Leipsic, the most sanguinary battle was that of
Moscow, on the 7th of September, 1812. The Russians had 130,000 men
and 600 pieces of cannon, the French 134,000 men and 587 cannon;
the former lost 58,000 and the latter 50,000; the losses were,
therefore, 40 per cent. At Bautzen, on the 21st of May, 1813, there
were 110,000 Russians and Prussians opposed to 150,000 French; the
latter lost 20,000 men and the allies 15,000, and not a single
cannon. At Wagram, on the 5th and 6th of July, 1809, we had 137,000
men, and Napoleon 170,000; we lost 20,000 men and the enemy 22,000.
At Esling we were 70,000 against 85,000; we had 20,000 killed and
wounded, the enemy 13,000 killed; but he left in our hands 33,000
prisoners, and was obliged to send 30,000 to Vienna to have their
wounds attended to, so that out of the 160,000 men engaged about
one-half were put _hors de combat_. At Austerlitz there were 70,000
French, as many Russians, and 13,000 Austrians; the losses were
21,000 Russians, with 160 pieces of cannon, 5,800 Austrians, and
10,000 French. At Jena there were 142,000 French against 150,000
Prussians. At Waterloo there were 170,000 men, of whom 70,000 were
French, who lost 25,000 men and 250 cannon, whilst the Allies lost
31,000 men.”
The following statistics of Mr. Haussener will complete the account
of the losses in Great Battles:
“The wars which have been waged from 1815 to 1864, have caused
the death of 2,762,000 men, of whom 2,148,000 were Europeans, and
614,000 from other quarters of the globe, which gives an average
of 43,800 per annum. The figures do not include the deaths caused
by epidemics resulting from war. The most sanguinary hostilities
of that period are these:--The Eastern war of 1856, in which
508,600 men fell in the following proportions: 256,000 Russians,
98,900 Turks, 107,000 French, 45,000 English, and 2600 Italians.
The Caucusus (1829-60) 330,000 men lost their lives. The revolt in
India (1857-59) cost 196,000 lives. The Russo-Turkish war (1820-29)
193,000. The Polish insurrection (1831) 190,000. The whole of
the French campaigns in Africa (1830-59) 147,000. The Hungarian
insurrection 142,000. The Italian war 129,870, of whom 96,874
died on the field or from their wounds; and 33,000 from various
diseases. The total number of lives lost in Europe during the
wars from 1793 to 1815 amounted to 5,530,000, which gives for the
twenty-three years an average of 240,434 deaths per year.”
LUCKNOW, SIEGE OF.--Memorable in the Great Indian Mutiny. The
following account of the gallant defence of a few Europeans at
the Gateway, Lucknow, where General Neill fell, September 26th
and 27th, 1857, is abridged from the Account of Dr. A. C. Home,
contained in “The Mutinies of Oude:”--
“There were present, including Dr. Home, nine sound men, two
wounded officers, Captain Beecher and Lieutenant Swanson, and
three wounded men: total, fourteen. Private McManus kept outside
the doorway, sheltering himself behind a pillar, and killed so
many of the assailants that at length he had only to raise his
piece to cause all the enemy to leave their loopholes. The bodies
of the dead Sepoys round the door were, in fact, a defence. Ryan
and McManus actually rushed out and brought in a wounded officer
who lay in a dhoolie in the adjoining street, returning in safety,
although the ground was torn by musket balls about them. The
conduct of Hallowell also was splendid. He always managed to
kill an enemy at a most critical moment, and at length shot the
leader. Finally the Sepoys pushed a screen on wheels before them,
to protect themselves from the Minié rifle, and set the building
on fire, when the gallant little band retreated in good order
to a shed at a short distance, and defended themselves afresh.
Their cowardly assailants took this opportunity to massacre all
the wounded in dhoolies near to the house first defended. This
small company of heroes kept the foe at bay during the night. At
daybreak, however, they heard firing, when Ryan suddenly jumped
up and shouted, ‘Oh, boys! Them’s our own chaps!’ In about three
minutes Captain Moorsom appeared at the entrance-hole of the shed,
and they were brought off in safety.”
The following is an account of Havelock’s relief of Lucknow:
“It was thus the 19th of September before General Havelock was in
a position to cross the Ganges for a third time, and to advance
with an efficient force to relieve the long-beleaguered garrison
at Lucknow. On that day the army of relief crossed the river by a
bridge of boats, and encamped on the other side. General Havelock’s
force consisted of about 2000 European infantry, the Sikh regiment
of Ferozepore, three batteries of field artillery, and a handful
of volunteer cavalry. The rebels mustered above 40,000 strong, but
their numerical superiority only served to enhance the prowess of
their conquerors. The first engagement took place on the 21st of
September, at the village of Mungarwar, and resulted in the total
defeat of the mutineers. Five field-pieces and guns in position
were taken, two of the former being captured by the volunteer
cavalry, led on to the charge by General Outram in person.
From this point the army pushed on by forced marches, without
encountering any organized opposition, until it arrived before the
city of Lucknow. Skirting the suburbs of that once stately capital,
General Havelock forced his way through every obstacle, and, by the
evening of the 25th, had relieved the heroic garrison. The relief
was opportune. Two mines had already been driven under the chief
works, and, in a few hours more, would have been loaded and sprung.
The besieged would thus have been placed at the mercy of those
who knew no mercy. The city, however, had still to be subdued.
From several advantageous positions the enemy continued to fire
upon the fort, and were only finally dislodged after a series of
determined assaults. In these operations the loss of the British
was very severe. General Neill, the brave and energetic saviour of
Benares, and the inexorable avenger of the massacre at Cawnpore,
was among the slain. With him fell major Cooper, in command of the
artillery, and many other gallant spirits. Even now much remained
to be done. Taking courage from their overwhelming numbers, the
enemy soon closed again around the army of deliverance, and cut
off their communications with Cawnpore. Encumbered with not less
than 1000 women and children, and sick and wounded men, it would
have been hazardous if not impossible to have attempted a march
across a difficult country. Under these circumstances Sir James
Outram, who had assumed the chief command, determined on remaining
at Lucknow, and awaiting the arrival of re-inforcements. Sir Colin
Campbell, the Commander-in-Chief, left Cawnpore with a strong
force, on the 9th of November, to relieve Lucknow. He succeeded,
by a well-conceived stratagem on the 12th, in bringing away the
garrison with the women and children, and marched for Cawnpore. On
the third day after leaving Lucknow, General Havelock died from the
effects of dysentery, brought on by excessive fatigue and anxiety.
In December, Cawnpore was attacked by 25,000 rebels with fifty
guns, and Sir Colin Campbell was summoned from the neighbourhood
of Lucknow for its defence. He arrived in season to save the
place, after a severe action with the enemy. Sir Colin remained at
Cawnpore, collecting a large force for the final siege of Lucknow.
During the time which was thus occupied, several actions of minor
importance took place; but it was not till the 17th of March that
Lucknow was recovered, after a short but active siege. After
its fall, the kingdom of Oude, of which it was the capital, was
speedily restored to obedience and comparative tranquillity.”
LUNEVILLE, PEACE OF.--Between the French Republic and the Emperor
of Germany, concluded February 9th, 1801.
LUTZEN, BATTLE OF.--Between the French, commanded by Napoleon, and
the combined armies of Russia and Prussia, commanded by General
Wittgenstein, May 2nd, 1813. This bloody battle opened the campaign
of that year, and though each side claimed the victory, it was
manifestly on the side of France. Marshal Duroc was mortally
wounded in this battle.
LUTZENGEN OR LUTZEN, BATTLE OF.--Gustavus Adolphus, King of
Sweden, fought this battle against the Emperor. In this sanguinary
engagement Gustavus was basely killed in the victory, November 6th,
1632. This Gustavus was the most illustrious hero of his times,
and the chief support of the German Protestants, and an ally to
Charles I of England.
LUXEMBURG.--Considered the strongest fortress in the world, taken
by the French in 1543; then by the Spaniards in 1544; again by
the French in 1684--restored to Spain in 1697. Again taken by the
French, in 1701, and given to the Dutch, and ceded to the Emperor
at the peace of 1713. During last century it also sustained a long
and memorable siege, June 17th, 1795. The garrison surrendered to
the French, and were liberated on parole.
M.
MAESTRICHT.--Taken by the Prince of Parma in 1579; reduced by the
Prince of Orange, in 1632. Louis XIV took it in 1675. William,
Prince of Orange, invested it in 1676; restored to the Dutch
in 1678; besieged by the French, in 1748. In 1793, attacked by
the French, who took it the following year; but in 1814, it was
delivered up to the allied forces.
MAGENTA, BATTLE OF.--Fought June 4th, 1859, between the French and
Austrians. The French gained a splendid victory, the Allies losing
12,000, the Austrians 15,000. The latter rapidly retreated and
evacuated Milan. The battle of Magenta was begun by the Austrians,
who, although in full retreat towards Pavia, were ordered to
change their front, and attack the advanced guard of the Allies,
who had crossed the Ticino at Buffalora. Suddenly 25,000 Austrians
attacked a battalion of Zouaves, together with two battalions of
grenadiers; a close and deadly fire was now exchanged. Then the
Austrians charged with the bayonet. At 12 o’clock the French were
retiring, having lost General Leclere, a colonel, a lieutenant
colonel, and 12 officers, when reinforcements appearing on their
left, they rallied and forced the Austrians to withdraw. The bold
assault of General McMahon decided the victory; and for his brave
conduct and efficient generalship, Napoleon conferred on him the
rank of Marshal, with the title of Duke of Magenta. General Guyalai
brought into the action 120,000 men; he left 20,000 of them wounded
or dead on the battle-field: 7000 were taken prisoners; 5 flags,
4000 knapsacks, 12,000 muskets and 4 guns, fell into the hands of
the French. During the battle of Magenta the bridge and the village
of Magenta were taken and retaken seven times. It was only at
half-past eight at night that the Austrians withdrew. Their retreat
was slow and orderly.
MAIDA, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the French, commanded by General
Regnier, and the British, under Major General Sir John Stuart. The
French were nearly double the number of the British, yet the latter
gained a most glorious victory on the “Plains of Maida,” a village
of Calabria. The loss of the French was very great, July 4th, 1806.
The British commander, from this victory, has historically received
the name of the “Hero of the Plains of Maida.”
MAJOR.--This officer holds the rank between a Lieutenant Colonel
and a Captain. A Major General is one who commands a division, next
above rank to a Brigadier General.
MALAKOFF AND REDAN, ATTACK ON THE.--In the celebrated Crimean war.
The following is a good description of the attack:
“General Pelissier divided his attacking force into three columns,
numbering altogether about 25,000 men. The first, under General
Mayran, was to assault the extreme left of the Russian line;
the second, in the centre, led by General Brunet, was to turn
the Malakoff on its proper left; while the third, under General
d’Autemarre, was to operate upon its right. The Imperial Guard
was held in reserve, and two batteries of artillery occupied the
Mamelon. The signal for advance was to be three rockets fired from
the Lancaster battery, which General Pelissier had chosen as his
position of observation. By an unfortunate mistake, General Mayran
mistook the flaming fuse of a bomb-shell for the rocket, and eager
for the fray, led his division rapidly forward. It was now apparent
that the enemy had full notice of our intended attack. Not only the
batteries were fully armed, but the steamers were anchored so as to
be able to pour their broadsides upon the French columns. Generals
Saurin and De Failly, obedient to the commands of their General,
dashed forward, followed at an impetuous pace by their troops.
Then the Russians opened fire from their batteries and steamers,
and a hurricane of shot and shell arrested the career of the brave
French; and their leader, General Mayran, paid the penalty of his
mistake, falling mortally wounded at their head. General Pelissier
had now arrived upon the scene of action, and perceiving the error,
at once ordered up reinforcements to the threatened division,
which, strengthened by the addition of the voltigeurs of the
Guard, some regiments of the line, and a battalion of grenadiers,
was enabled to maintain its position under the orders of General
De Failly, who succeeded to the command, though prevented by the
deadly fire of the enemy from advancing further. The centre column,
under General Brunet, had little better success than the other
division. In fact, the unlucky mistake of Mayran, in precipitating
the attack, had disordered the entire plan of advance, and aroused
the Russians, and enabled them to concentrate their strength for
defence. General Brunet himself was struck in the chest by a
musket-ball; and his division was forced to retire to the trenches
with great loss. General D’Autemarre, who commanded the left
attack, no sooner saw the preconcerted signal, than he gave the
word to advance, and the 5th Foot Chasseurs and the first battalion
of the 19th regiment of the line, deploying to the left, along
the crest of the ravine which there enters the town, carried the
entrenchment which connects it with the Malakoff, and succeeded in
entering the fortification. The sappers who accompanied the advance
immediately planted ladders, the remainder of the regiments hurried
forward, and the eagles of the French army waved aloft, encouraging
the repulsed troops of the other divisions to renewed exertions.
While the French were thus straining every nerve against tremendous
odds, and with fearful loss, to perform their parts in the
achievements of the day, the English were none the less eager
to win their laurels before the Great Redan. Sir George Brown,
just returned from the Kertch expedition, was intrusted with the
direction of the assaulting party, composed of detachments of the
Light, Second, and Fourth Divisions. The plan of attack was, that
the force should be divided into three columns; the Light Division
to storm the right of the Redan at the re-entering angle; the
Fourth Division was to attack the left flank of the fortification
at a similar position; while the Second was to storm the apex
of the Redan, as soon as the other divisions had established
themselves in the work. Colonel Yea, of the 7th Fusiliers, led the
storming party of the Light Division, composed of the 7th, 23rd,
33rd, and 34th. Colonel Shirley held the 19th, 77th, and 85th in
reserve. The troops advanced in good order from the trenches,
preceded by a covering party of Rifles, and dashed forward to the
attack. They had, however, several hundred yards of broken ground
to cross; and the enemy, well prepared for their reception, poured
from every embrasure such a storm of shot and shell as effectually
broke their ranks. Colonel Yea and the regimental officers
gallantly endeavoured to animate their men to the assault, and led
them fearlessly forward against the belching fire of the batteries.
As the brave old colonel was cheering on his men, a shower of grape
swept along, and he rolled in the agonies of death, struck at once
in the head and stomach. His brave companions fell around him dead
or wounded; and the regiments, unable to face such a sheet of
fire, fell back disordered to the trenches, leaving nearly a third
of their number on the field.
On the left attack, Sir John Campbell, with the Fourth Division,
exhibited extraordinary courage, and led his men forward to the
attack with tremendous energy. Here again was the tragedy of the
Light Division repeated. The men were mowed down as they left the
trenches, and Sir John, like Colonel Yea, fell cheering on his
men. The loss was terrific. The Second Division, to whom had been
reserved the duty of attacking the apex of the Redan, seeing the
failure of the flank assaults, desisted from the attempt, and
withdrew to the trenches, though having suffered considerably from
the enemy’s fire.
The only success of the day was that achieved by the Third Division
under General Eyre, who had been ordered by Lord Raglan to attack
the Cemetery Batteries, at the head of the ravine leading to the
Dockyard Creek. The brigade consisted of the 9th, 18th, 28th, and
44th regiments. Four volunteers from each regiment, under Major
Fielden, of the 44th regiment, were selected to feel the way,
and cover the advance. The 18th Royal Irish formed the storming
party. They possessed themselves of the Cemetery with but little
difficulty; and then four companies of the 18th dashed forward, so
eager were they for the fray, and actually entered the town, and
established themselves in the Russian houses. They were followed by
the 9th, under Colonel Borton. The enemy’s batteries now opened a
fierce fire on the daring handful of men; and although they could
not drive them from their position, effectually prevented their
retreat, from four o’clock in the morning until eight at night.
During that time they suffered terribly from thirst, and some of
the brave fellows actually crawled from the houses, reached the
English lines, and returned with cans of water to their comrades.
In this way a letter was convoyed asking for reinforcements; but
General Eyre had already retired from the spot, and the two gallant
regiments were left unsupported, to bear the brunt of the enemy’s
fire until nightfall, when the remnant of them withdrew from their
dangerous post, and rejoined the main body.
The failure of the English attack enabled the Russians to draw
from the Redan reinforcements to repel the French under General
D’Autemarre, who were so nearly redeeming the fortunes of the
day at the Malakoff. Unable to contend against the forces now
brought against them, the French were compelled to retire from
the commanding position they had obtained. General Pelissier sent
reinforcements; but it was impossible a single division, exposed
to an appalling flank fire and an immensely superior force in
front, could long sustain such an unequal contest. They fought
bravely; but on that fatal day bravery availed but little, and
they, too, added to the numbers of the defeated.