sweeping battle without fear, but now they stood in still terror,
before the march of the conflagration, under whose burning
footsteps was heard the incessant crash of falling houses, and
palaces, and churches. The continuous roar of the raging hurricane,
mingled with that of the flames, was more terrible than the thunder
of artillery; and before this new foe, in the midst of this
battle of the elements, the awe-struck army stood powerless and
affrighted. When night descended again on the city, it presented
a spectacle, the like of which was never seen before, and which
baffles all description: the streets of fire, the heavens a canopy
of fire, and the entire body of the city a mass of fire, fed by a
hurricane that whirled the blazing fragments in a constant stream
through the air. Incessant explosions, from the blowing up of
stores of oil, and tar, and spirits, shook the very foundations of
the city, and sent volumes of smoke rolling furiously toward the
sky. Huge sheets of canvas, on fire, came floating, like messengers
of death, through the flames; the towers and domes of the churches
and palaces, glowed with red-hot heat over the wild sea below, then
tottering a moment on their bases, were hurled by the tempest into
the common ruin.
Thousands of wretches, before unseen, were driven by the heat from
the cellars and hovels, and streamed in an incessant throng through
the streets. Children were seen carrying their parents,--the
strong the weak,--while thousands more were staggering under loads
of plunder, they had snatched from the flames. This, too, would
frequently take fire in the falling shower, and the miserable
creatures would be compelled to drop it and flee for their lives.
Oh, it was a scene of woe and fear indescribable! A mighty and
close packed city of houses, and churches, and palaces, wrapt from
limit to limit in flames, which are fed by a whirling hurricane,
is a sight this world will seldom see. But this was all within the
city. To Napoleon, without, the spectacle was still more sublime
and terrific. When the flames had overcome all obstacles, and had
wrapped everything in their red mantle, that great city looked like
a sea of fire, swept by a tempest that drove it into vast billows.
Huge domes and towers, throwing off sparks like blazing firebrands,
now towered above these waves, and now disappeared in their
maddening flow, as they rushed and broke high over tops, and
scattered their spray of fire against the clouds. The heavens
themselves seemed to have caught the conflagration, and the angry
masses that swept it, rolled over a bosom of fire. Columns of flame
would rise and sink along the surface of the sea, and huge volumes
of black smoke suddenly shoot into the air, as if volcanoes were
working below.
The black form of the Kremlin alone towered above the chaos, now
wrapped in flame and smoke, and again emerged into view, standing
amid the scene of desolation and terror, like virtue in the midst
of a burning world, enveloped but unscathed by the devouring
elements. Napoleon stood and gazed upon this scene in silent awe.
Though nearly three miles distant, the windows and walls of his
apartment were so hot, that he could scarcely bear his hand against
them. Said he, years afterwards, “It was the spectacle of a sea
and billows of fire, a sky and clouds of flame; mountains of red
rolling flame, like immense waves of the sea, alternately bursting
forth, and elevating themselves to skies of fire, and then sinking
into the ocean of flame below. Oh! it was the most grand, the most
sublime, the most terrific sight the world ever beheld.”
MOSKWA, BATTLE OF.--Also called the battle of _Borodino_, which see.
MUSKET.--First used at the siege of Anasitti, 1414. Introduced
generally into the British army, and bows and arrows laid aside,
1521.
MUNCHENGRATZ AND GITSCHIN, BATTLES OF.--Fought, 28th June,
1866, between the Austrians and the Prussians. The _Times’_
correspondent, with the Prussian army, gives the following account
of these battles:
“The Prussian leader calculated that if he made a demonstration of
a careless march towards Munchengratz by the highroad and railway,
the Austrians, who might be on the Mushey Berg, would lie there
quiet till the heads of his columns had passed their position
in order that their artillery might take the marching troops in
reverse, and that he might himself in the meantime turn their
position. By the same bait he also hoped to hold his adversaries
on the Kaczowberg until their retreat was cut off. To effect this
double object, the seventh division was to move from Turnau by a
road on the south side of the Iser, whereby the village of Wschew
crosses the road from Podoll to Sobotka, at Zdiar. It was then
to take the Austrians on the Mushey Berg in rear--for this hill
slopes gently on its reverse side towards a rivulet which forms the
little lake of Zdiar. The division was afterwards to push on over
the hill and strike the road from Munchengratz to Furstenbruck,
between the village of Bossin and the former place. On the right
bank of the river General Herwarth was to advance from Huhnerwasser
on Munchengratz, cross the Iser, and occupy the town, throwing out
at the same time a division to his left, which by Mohelnitz should
take in reverse the defenders of the Kaczowberg. The divisions of
Horne and Manstein were to push down the main road from Podoll,
while strong reserves closed down to Podoll. A division of infantry
was to cross at Huberlow and attack the Kaczowberg in front, while
a division of cavalry kept the communications open between the
divisions on the right bank of the river. A strong division of
cavalry was also sent from Turnau to scour the country to Jicin in
the direction of Josephstadt.
About eight o’clock this morning, Prince Charles, with General Von
Voigts-Retz, his chief of the staff, and General Stuhltnahl, his
Quarter-master-General, came down to the bridge of Podoll, and
almost immediately the Jagers, who formed the advanced guard of
Horne’s division, crossed the bridge, but not before an opening
cannonade in the direction of Munchengratz told that Bittenfeld
was already engaged. On a hill upon the northern bank there was a
convenient spot from which to see the whole theatre of the combat,
and here the Prussian staff went to watch the course of the action.
Attention was called towards Munchengratz, where the progress of
Bittenfeld’s attack could be traced by the puffs of white smoke
which rose from the discharges of the artillery. The Prussian
cannonade was seen to be slowly advancing, and that of the Austrian
to be retiring, while a heavy cloud of black smoke rising close
beside the town showed that the Austrians had retired from the
right bank of the river and had burned the bridge. For a short
time the fight was stationary, but in about a quarter of an hour
a bright flash of flame and a much heavier smoke rising from the
Austrian line told that an ammunition waggon had exploded. Their
battery then ceased firing and rapidly retired, while a quick
advance of the Prussian cannonade showed that Bittenfeld’s pioneers
had quickly thrown their bridge, and that his corps was across the
Iser. But the Austrians did not go far, for in a short time they
were again in action in the direction of the Jung Bunzlau Road, and
one battery was drawing off towards Furstenbruck. It then seemed
that Bittenfeld had halted; the cannonade ceased in this direction.
The heads of the Prussian columns were some way past the hill, and
were pushing steadily towards Munchengratz, when the well-known
puff of smoke rising from the dark firs on the Mushey Berg plateau
showed that the Austrians had opened fire upon them. The battery
on the hill did not appear to be more than four guns, and at first
they fired slowly, nor did they do much execution. Their shells,
projected from so great a height, went straight into the ground,
and did not ricochet among the troops; but they were well aimed,
and in most cases burst at the proper moment, and every now and
then a man went down. A squadron of Uhlans was directed to pass
close along the foot of the Mushey Berg, so that the guns on the
plateau could not be depressed sufficiently to hurt them, and were
to gain a steep path which leads to the summit between the highest
point and Bossin, while an infantry brigade was to support the
movement; but before this plan could be carried into execution the
Seventh Division was heard engaged on the reverse side, and the
Austrian battery quickly limbered up and retired. The guns were
not intercepted by the Seventh Division; but here General Franscky
made 600 prisoners from the infantry which was on the hill to
support the battery. While the Seventh Division was still engaged
behind the Mushey Berg, four Austrian guns appeared on the summit
of the hill, between Bossin and Wessely, and opened fire against
the Prussian columns, who were now again advancing over the plain.
But Franscky was pushing towards them, and his artillery threatened
to enfilade them, so that they soon had to retire. The Seventh
Division then struck the road between Munchengratz and Bossin, and
attacked the latter village. Bittenfeld had already pushed towards
it from Munchengratz, and supported this attack. The first round
of Franscky’s artillery set fire to a house, which began to burn
fiercely, and the flames were soon communicated to the next, for
most of the cottages in this country are built of wood, which,
dried in the hot summer sun, readily takes fire. After a sharp
skirmish, the Austrians were driven from the village and retired in
the direction of Furstenbruck, and they left here 200 prisoners;
and General Herwarth von Bittenfeld had already captured 200.
With the occupation of the village of Bossin ended the combat of
Munchengratz, in which, by a series of strategic movements, with
little fighting, and slight loss--for the Prussian killed, wounded,
and missing do not number 100--Prince Frederick Charles has gained
about twelve miles of country, and has taken 1000 prisoners, has
turned the strong position of the Kaczowberg, and has effected his
secure junction with the corps of General Bittenfeld.
The corps of General von Schmitt marched yesterday from the
neighbourhood of Podoll to Sobotka, and there, striking the road
from Munchengratz to Gitschin, General von Schmitt changed the
direction of his march to the left, and advanced towards Gitschin.
He moved with his two divisions at some distance apart--that of
General von Werder, or the Third Division, as it is named in the
muster-roll of the army, led the way. Von Werder’s advanced guard
consisted of the 2nd battalion of Jagers, and the 3rd battalion of
the 42nd Regiment. In rear of these followed the three battalions
of the regiment of the late King of Prussia, the two remaining
battalions of the 42nd, and one battalion of the 14th Regiment,
with one six-pounder and two four-pounder field-batteries.
A strong Austrian force held the wood behind the first ravine,
with its sharpshooters hidden behind the trunks of the fir-trees,
with the view of compensating for the inferiority of their rifle
to the Prussian needle-gun. Behind each marksman two soldiers
were placed, whose only duty was to load their rifles and hand
them to the picked men to whom the firing was intrusted. The
Austrian artillery was placed behind the wood, so that it could
bring a cross fire on the opening in the front through which the
_chaussée_ passes, and strike heavily on the Sobotka bank of the
ravine and the open country beyond. As the Prussian advanced guard
approached the ravine, the Austrian batteries opened fire upon
them, and the marksmen from behind the trees also soon commenced
a biting fire. The Jagers and the men of the 42nd quickly spread
out as skirmishers, and, regardless of the withering fire to which
they themselves were exposed, showered bullets from their quickly
loaded arms against the defenders of the wood, while some of
their artillery quickly brought into action tried to silence the
Austrian guns. But the fight was unequal, the sharpshooters behind
the trees could rarely be seen, and the fire of the Prussians did
not tell much upon their concealed enemies, nor were their guns in
sufficient force to engage successfully the more numerous Austrian
pieces. The Jagers from among the trees were aiming well; the men
of the 42nd were falling fast, and it seemed that the defenders
would be able to hold the wood. But the rest of the Prussian
division was coming up; more artillery was already in action; and
the Austrian gunners began to fire with less effect. The regiment
of the King of Prussia soon arrived. The Prussian soldiers, unable
to make much impression with their fire on the riflemen in the
trees, were already anxious to come to close quarters, and then
General von Werder sent his men forward to take the woods with the
bayonet. They were carried, but not without loss, for the Austrians
retired from tree to tree, and only when pressed beyond the last
skirt of the wood retired under cover of their guns and reserves
to take up a position on the further brow of the next ravine. The
musketry fire recommenced. The opponents stood on either bank
of the hollow, and poured volley after volley into each other’s
ranks, while the artillery, from positions on the flanks of both
lines, sent their shells truly among their adversaries’ infantry.
But here the needle-gun had more success, for the Austrians stood
up clear against the sky, and soon the white uniforms began to go
down quickly. No troops so ill-armed could have stood before the
murderous fire which the Prussians directed against the opposite
line. The Austrians did all that men could do; but, after losing
fearfully, were obliged to fall back and take up their third
position in the village of Lochow.
It was now about seven o’clock in the evening; the combat
had already lasted almost two hours, but here it was renewed
more fiercely than ever. The Prussians, encouraged by their
success--brave soldiers and bravely led--eagerly came to the
attack. With hearts as big and with officers as devoted, the
Austrians stood with a desperate calmness to receive them.
On both sides the fighting was hard; but at any distance the
Austrian rifle had no chance against the needle-gun; and at close
quarters the boyish soldiers of the Kaiser could not cope with the
broad-shouldered men of Pomerania, who form the _corps d’armée_,
one division of which was here engaged. Yet for three-quarters of
an hour the little village of Lochow was held, and the continuous
rattle of the rifles and the heavy cannonade of the guns remaining
almost stationary told the determination of the assault and the
stoutness of the defence. But the Austrians were slowly forced from
house to house and from orchard to orchard, and had to retreat to
their last vantage ground on the top of the Gitschin bank of the
fourth ravine.
And here both sides re-engaged in the fight with the utmost fury.
The defenders felt that this was their last standing-point, and on
its maintenance depended the possession of Gitschin; the assailants
knew that success here would almost certainly bring them to the
object of all their exertions. The Prussian line soon formed on the
top of the opposite bank to that held by the Austrians, and then
began to fire rapidly against the brow where the Austrians stood.
The latter returned the fire, but from necessity more slowly; still
their guns smote the Prussian troops heavily, and the shells,
bursting in front of the assailants’ line, caused many casualties.
But the Pomeranians were highly excited, and it is said that a
heavy mass of the Prussians dashed down the road and rushed up the
opposite slope with their rifles at the charge. There a fierce
struggle ensued. The strong men of Pomerania pressed hard against
their lighter opponents, and pushed them beyond the brow of the
slope on to the level plain; yet the lithe and active Austrians
fought hard, and strove to drive their bayonets into the faces of
their taller antagonists; but strength and weight told, for their
more powerful adversaries urged them back foot by foot till a gap
was clearly opened in the defenders’ line. The musketry bullets
had also told sharply on the Austrians, and they were obliged to
retire. They drew off across the plain towards Gitschin, but not
in rout. Slowly and sullenly they drew back, suffering awful loss
in the open plain where the needle-gun had a fair range; but they
fought for every yard of ground, ever turning to send among the
advancing Prussians shots which were often truly aimed, but which
formed no sufficient return for the showers of bullets which were
rained upon themselves. For long the plain was the scene of the
advancing combat, and it was not till near midnight that General
von Werder occupied Gitschin. In the town the Austrians did not
stand; they held some houses at the entrance for a short time,
but these were carried, and then they retired rapidly towards the
south. In their haste they left their hospitals; and here, as
well as in Lochow, Von Werder’s division took a large number of
prisoners.”
MUTINY:--A memorable mutiny in the British fleet,
for an advance of wages April 15th, 1797;
Of the Nore June, 1797;
Of Admiral Mitchell’s fleet at Bantry Bay December, 1801;
Great Indian mutiny, begun March 27th, 1857.
MYCALE, BATTLE OF.--Fought, September 22nd, 479 B.C., between the
Greeks and Persians. The Persians consisted of about 100,000 men.
They were completely defeated, many thousands of them killed, their
camp burned, and the Greeks triumphantly embarked their troops, and
sailed to Samos with an immense booty.
N.
NAAS, BATTLE OF.--A desperate engagement between a body of the
King’s forces, consisting of the ancient Britons and the Armagh
militia. The insurgent Irish, who had just begun the Great
Rebellion of 1798, were 3000 strong, and were defeated with the
loss of 300 killed and some hundreds wounded. Fought, May 24th,
1798.
NARVA, BATTLE OF.--This was the celebrated battle in which Peter
the Great of Russia was totally defeated by the renowned Charles
XII of Sweden. Fought, November 30th, 1700. The Russians amounted
to 70,000 men, while the Swedes had only 20,000. The enemy lost
30,000 in killed, whilst as many surrendered to the conqueror.
NASEBY, BATTLE OF.--Between Charles I of England and the
Parliamentary army, under Fairfax and Cromwell. The main body of
the Royal army was commanded by Lord Astley. Prince Rupert led the
right wing, Sir Marmaduke Langdale the left, and the King himself
headed the body of reserve. The forces of the Parliament gained the
victory, the Royalists being obliged to abandon the field, losing
all their cannon and baggage and 5000 men made prisoners. Fought,
June 14th, 1645.
NAVY OF ENGLAND.--What the British Navy has done, and the number of
vessels captured by it, is shown in the following table:--
--------------------------------------------------------
In the French War, ending 1802.
------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------
FORCE. | French.| Dutch. |Spanish.| Other | Total.
| | | |Nations.|
------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------
Of the Line | 45 | 25 | 11 | 2 | 83
Fifties | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3
Frigates | 133 | 31 | 20 | 7 | 191
Sloops, &c. | 161 | 32 | 55 | 16 | 264
+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------
Total | 341 | 89 | 86 | 25 | 541
------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------
------------------------------------------------------------------
In the French War, ending 1814.
------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+---------+-------
FORCE. | French.|Spanish.| Danish.|Russian.|American.| Total.
| | | | | |
------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+---------+-------
Of the Line | 70 | 27 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 124
Fifties | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9
Frigates | 77 | 36 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 148
Sloops, &c. | 188 | 64 | 16 | 7 | 13 | 288
+--------+--------+--------+--------+---------+-------
Total | 342 | 127 | 64 | 17 | 19 | 569
------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+---------+-------
NAVARINO, BATTLE OF.--Fought on the 20th October, 1827. “The
atrocities which marked the warfare between the Greeks and Turks
were so shocking to humanity, that the Sovereigns of Europe felt
themselves bound to interfere, and a treaty for the pacification
of Greece was signed in London, on the 6th of July, 1827, by the
representatives of England, France, and Russia. In consequence
of this, the allied fleets in the Mediterranean prepared to
force the combatants to consent to an armistice, and blockaded
the Turkish fleet in the harbour of Navarino. Ibrahim Pacha, the
Turkish commander in the Morea, paying but little attention to the
remonstrances of the allied Admirals, the united fleets sailed into
harbour, on the 20th of October, under the command of Sir Edward
Codrington, to intimidate him into submission. A shot fired by
a Turkish vessel was the signal for a general engagement, which
lasted four hours. It terminated in the almost utter annihilation
of the Turkish fleet, with comparatively little loss to the allied
squadrons. The independence of Greece was virtually achieved by
this brilliant victory, and was further secured by the arrival
of a small military force from France; the Turkish government,
however, refused submission, and war was commenced against Russia.
The events of this war, though not properly belonging to English
history, demand a brief notice; in the first campaign the Turks
made an obstinate resistance, and gained some advantages over their
opponents; but in the following year (1829), the Russian arms were
everywhere successful; the passages of the Balkan were forced;
Adrianople, the second city in the empire, was captured, and the
Sultan forced to consent to terms of peace, dictated almost at the
gates of Constantinople. The demands of Russia were, however, less
exhorbitant than might have been expected under the circumstances,
but there is reason to believe that this moderation was inspired by
a dread of provoking the jealousy and resentment of England.”
NEVILL’S CROSS, BATTLE OF.--Fought October 17th, 1346, between the
Scots and English. More than 15,000 of the Scots were slain.
“Philippa, Edward’s Queen, took upon her the conduct of the field,
and prepared to repulse the enemy in person: accordingly, having
made Lord Percy general under her, she met the Scots at a place
called Nevill’s Cross, near Durham, and offered them battle. The
Scots King was no less impatient to engage; he imagined that he
might obtain an easy victory against undisciplined troops, and
headed by a woman. But he was miserably deceived. His army was
quickly routed and driven from the field. 15,000 of his men were
cut to pieces; and he himself, with many of his nobles and knights,
were taken prisoners, and carried in triumph to London, A.D. 1346.”
Another historian says:--
“Some years after his return home, King David burst into England
at the head of an army. Edward was absent in France, and David
thought to avail himself of the opportunity. It turned out a dear
business to him. Marching southward as far as Durham, he laid waste
the country with fire and sword. At a place called Nevill’s Cross,
an English army came up. A Scottish knight, seeing their archers
gathering in a vast cloud, and knowing well the bitter shower which
that cloud would discharge, said to the King, “Give me but 100
horse, and I will disperse them all.” The conceited and headstrong
King gave no heed. The archers commenced their deadly practice
without interruption. Three hours of the arrow sleet, three hours
of furious charging by the English horse, and the Scots were a rout
of fugitives. Their King was taken prisoner and convoyed to London.
Mounted on a tall black horse that he might be seen by all the
people, the son of Robert the Bruce was conducted to the Tower.”
NEWARK, BATTLE OF.--This battle was fought March 21st, 1644,
between the army of the Parliament and the Royal forces, under
Prince Rupert. He was defeated, and here afterwards Charles I put
himself into the hands of the Scotch army.
NEWBURY, BATTLES OF.--The first battle, fought September 20th,
1643, was between the Parliamentary army and that of Charles I.
It lasted till midnight, and among the slain was Lucius Carey,
Viscount Falkland. A second battle was fought here next year,
October 10th, and the result, as the first, was equally dubious,
both sides claiming victory.
NEW ORLEANS, BATTLE OF.--(See _Orleans_.)