his bloody head, and asked, “Cousin, how fares it with you?”
“Indifferently,” said he. “Thanks be to God, there are but few
of my ancestors who have died in their beds. I bid you revenge
my death, for my heart grows every moment more faint. Lift up my
banner, which is on the ground, from the death of the valiant
squire who bore it. Shout ‘Douglas!’ and tell neither friend nor
foe but what I am with you.” Having spoken thus he expired. His
orders were obeyed. They cast a mantle over his body, took his
banner from the dead hand of the squire, raised it, and shouted,
“Douglas!” The Scots came thronging up to the cry. They levelled
their lances, and pushed with such courage that the English were
soon driven beyond the spot where the Douglas lay. Again the shout
of “Douglas!” rose more vehement and loud. The Scots in a dense
mass renewed the onset, bore the enemy before them, and broke them
so completely that they never rallied again. Percy himself was made
prisoner. He and his pennon, too, had to go to Scotland.
Thus the dead Douglas won the field. The Scots laid the body of
their leader in a coffin, which they placed on a car, and began
their march home. They came without interruption to Melrose, and
there, in the fair abbey, the Douglas was laid. The banner, about
which his dying charge had been given at Otterburn, was hung above
the place of the warrior’s rest.”
OUDENARDE, BATTLE OF.--Fought, July 11th, 1708, between the Allies,
commanded by Marlborough, and Prince Eugene and the French. The
French were defeated, and completely routed, with great loss. The
result of this victory was, that the French King entered into a
negotiation for peace.
OULART, BATTLE OF.--Fought, May 27th, 1798, between a body of 3000
Irish insurgents and the King’s troop, a small number. In this
engagement the North Cork Militia were cut to pieces--the Lieut.
Colonel, one Sergeant and three Privates alone remaining.
OURIQUE, BATTLE OF.--Fought, July 25th, 1139. Alfonso, Count of
Portugal, encountered five Saracen Kings and an immense army of
Moors on the plains of Ourique. After a glorious victory, he was
hailed King by his soldiers on the spot. He afterwards entered
Lisbon in triumph, and overthrew the Moorish dominion in Portugal.
This was, perhaps, the greatest battle recorded in the History of
Portugal.
P.
PALESTRO, BATTLE OF.--Fought, 29th May, 1859, between the Austrians
and the French.
“On the 29th May, was fought the battle of Palestro. The Austrian
avant-garde, 1500 strong, occupied the villages of Palestro and
Vinzaglio. They were carried by the Allies at the point of the
bayonet, and two cannons, the first captured since the opening of
the war, were taken. The next morning the Austrians advanced to
retake Palestro. Having cannonaded the village, a body of Austrians
advanced to cut off the communication between the Piedmontese
troops and the river. Perceiving this, the Zouaves, who had arrived
during the night, threw themselves, in spite of a murderous fire,
on the Austrians, take eight guns and put the Austrians to flight.
During this engagement the King of Sardinia headed an attack on
a battery. The Emperor of the French, a few days afterwards,
complimenting him on his bravery, told him that if he wished to be
King of Italy, he must take rather more care of his august person.
This engagement inspired the Austrians with a great dread of the
Zouaves, whom they call the _quei terribili zuai_.”
PAMPELUNA, BATTLE OF.--Taken by the French on their invasion of
Spain; invested by the British; hence very bloody engagements, July
27th and 29th, 1813. It surrendered to the British same year.
PARMA, BATTLES OF.--The confederates, England, France and Spain,
fought against the Emperor of Austria, June 29th, 1734. Both sides
claimed the victory. A second battle, called the great battle of
Parma, in which the French, under Marshal McDonald, were defeated
by the celebrated Suwarrow, with the loss of 20,000 men and four
Generals, July 12th, 1799.
PATAY, BATTLE OF.--This battle was fought, June 10th, 1429. Joan
of Arc was present in this battle. The French signally defeated
the English; the consequence of which was that Charles VII of
France entered Rheims in triumph, and was crowned July 17th, same
year--Joan of Arc assisting in the ceremony in full armour and
holding the sword of state.
PAVIA, BATTLE OF.--Fought, February 24th, 1525, between the French
and Imperialists, when the former were defeated and their King,
Francis I, after fighting with heroic bravery and killing seven
men with his own hand, was obliged to surrender himself a prisoner
of war. He wrote to his mother a letter acquainting her with the
melancholy news in these expressive words--“_Tout est perdu,
Madame, hors l’honneur._”
PEAFFENDORF, BATTLE OF.--Fought, August 15th, 1760, between the
Imperialists and Prussians; the Austrians were totally defeated by
the King of Prussia, who, by this victory, prevented the Austrian
army from forming a junction with the Russians.
PHALANX.--This word originally signified a battalion or squadron.
The Greek Phalanx consisted of 8000 men, in a square battalion,
with shields joined and spears crossing each other. The celebrated
Phalanx of Epaminondas, or the Theban Phalanx, was wedge shaped,
and by it he achieved his two great victories. The modern square
is based on the Grecian Phalanx, which was itself, as well as the
Roman Orb, taken from the Theban. The renowned Macedonian Phalanx
of Alexander the Great’s father, Philip, was instituted B.C. 360.
This consisted of 16,000 picked men divided into four equal parts
of 4000 each. They performed their evolutions upon the enomoty
or single file, whether it were required to extend or deepen the
line, and there was an interval between every two sections for the
convenience of manœuvring.
PHARSALIA, BATTLE OF.--Fought, May 12th, 48 B.C., between Julius
Cæsar and Pompey.
“The battle commenced about daybreak, and before noon the army of
Pompey was utterly defeated. Pompey himself, early in the battle,
seemed entirely to have lost his presence of mind, and fled in
despair to his tent, there to await the result. Cæsar, determined
to make the most of his advantage, notwithstanding the weariness
of his troops, did not permit the pursuit to slacken till the army
of Pompey was entirely scattered. A considerable body of them had
taken refuge in an adjacent mountain. By cutting off all hope
of succor, Cæsar induced them to surrender. He received their
submission with the greatest gentleness, and forbade his soldiers
from offering violence to their vanquished countrymen. This was
the most complete victory Cæsar ever obtained. His loss did not
exceed 200, while that of Pompey was 10,000, and 24,000 surrendered
themselves prisoners of war. On passing over the battle field, so
thickly strewn with Romans, Cæsar is said to have been affected
even to tears, while he exclaimed to one near him, “They would have
it so.”
PHILIPPI, BATTLE OF.--Fought, October, 42 B.C., between Octavius
Cæsar and Marc Antony, on the one side, and Brutus and Cassius on
the other.
“In the meantime, Brutus and Cassius, the principal conspirators
against Cæsar, having retired into Greece, persuaded the Roman
students at Athens to declare for the cause of freedom. In Syria
and Macedonia they succeeded in raising large armies, and soon
found themselves in a condition to support a contest on which the
empire of the world depended. While at Sardis, Brutus and Cassius
are said to have had a serious misunderstanding, the effect of
a jealousy which had been industriously raised between them.
But no bad consequences arose from it, for immediately joining
their armies, they hastened to oppose Antony and Octavius, who
were rapidly advancing to meet them. Once more the empire of the
world was about to be decided by a single battle. It was a time
of fearful suspense. Should the arms of Brutus be successful, the
Roman people might again form a free republic. On the other hand,
should Octavius triumph, they had to fear a worse tyranny than ever
had been exercised by Julius Cæsar. Brutus and Cassius took their
station each on a little hill near the city of Philippi. Behind
them was the sea, by which they might obtain supplies, and between
them and the plain on which the Triumviri had encamped their army,
was an impassable morass. In this favorable position, it was their
policy to delay a battle as long as possible. On the contrary, the
Triumviri, not being able to obtain supplies by sea, and conscious
that their army could not long be sustained by the resources of the
surrounding country, were eager immediately to engage. A road was
constructed by them through the morass which separated the armies.
The tall reeds of the morass having concealed the soldiers while
making the road, Brutus and Cassius were in some measure taken by
surprise when the enemy advanced over it, and the impatience of
their own soldiers prevented a longer delay.
A battle therefore ensued. Antony led his forces against that part
of the army commanded by Cassius, and in a short time put his
cavalry to flight. Cassius did all that the courage of a single man
could do to rally his troops, but in vain. Supposing the battle to
be entirely lost, and determined not to fall into the hands of the
enemy, he returned into his tent and killed himself. Brutus still
kept possession of the camp, and did all in his power to encourage
his men. Still he determined for the present to avoid seeking
another battle. His design was to starve the enemy, whom he know to
be in great want of provisions. After a respite of twenty days, he
was, however, forced to give in to the impatience of his men, and
try the fate of a battle. In the engagement that followed, wherever
Brutus commanded in person, he had the advantage. But the troops
of Cassius being seized with a panic, communicated their terror to
the rest, and soon the whole army gave way. In the midst of his
bravest officers Brutus fought with undaunted courage. The son of
Cato, and the brother of Cassius, fell fighting at his side. At
last, however, yielding to the necessity of the case, Brutus fled.
Octavius and Antony, secure of the victory, thought only of getting
Brutus into their power. He was on the point of being overtaken,
when Lucilius, his friend, determined to save his life by the
sacrifice of his own. Giving himself up to a band of Thracians,
he told them he was Brutus, and requested to be conducted into the
presence of their General. Antony seeing the Thracians approach,
and being informed of the prisoner’s capture, prepared himself
for an interview with his enemy. But Lucilius, advancing with a
cheerful air, said, “It is not Brutus that is taken. Fortune has
not yet had the power to commit so great an outrage upon virtue.
As for my life, it is well lost in preserving his honor. Take
it, for I have deceived you.” Antony, struck with such fidelity,
pardoned him, and gave him his friendship. Meanwhile Brutus, with a
few friends had escaped over a rivulet, and night coming on, they
concealed themselves under a rock. An officer whom Brutus had sent
out to ascertain the extent of their defeat, did not return, and
he rightly judged that he had fallen into the hands of the enemy.
Before the first battle, Brutus had told Cassius that if he was
defeated, he would not fall alive into the power of Octavius, and
he now prepared to end his misfortunes with his life. After calling
to mind with great tenderness many of his friends, who had fallen
in the battle, he bade farewell to all present, one by one, saying
aloud, that he was happy in never having been betrayed by any one
whom he had trusted as a friend. Soon after, falling upon his
sword, he expired in the forty-third year of his age.”
PIGEON HILL.--Famous as the scene of a skirmish between the British
Regulars and Volunteers and the Fenian bandits, who attempted to
invade Canada during the past summer. The following gives honor to
whom honor is due, and is written by a gentleman who can be relied
on:
“If any evidence were required, more than we possess, of the
essentially weak and contemptible character of the Fenian
organization, the circumstances attending the operations of
Her Majesty’s forces and our own volunteers on Saturday, June
9th, in the neighborhood of Pigeon Hill, would furnish it. As
one who accompanied that expedition, and had an opportunity of
observing all that passed, I shall be happy to furnish you with
a few details. I arrived at St. Armand’s Station between 11 and
12 o’clock, just at the moment that two waggons from Pigeon Hill
arrived, bringing five Fenian prisoners, who had been taken that
morning by different parties, whose names I need not mention, as I
cannot give all with accuracy. I must confess that my astonishment
was great when I saw them. Three were little scamps--such as one
sees about the streets of all great cities, as news-boys, &c.
One was a tolerably stout, resolute looking-fellow, the other a
mild-looking young man, much better dressed, who, I am sorry
to say, stated himself to have been born in Yorkshire, though
hailing from Montpelier, Vt. Shortly after they were lodged in
the guard-house, another prisoner, an able-bodied hard-looking
customer, about 28 or 30 years of age, was brought in. He had a
tremendous black eye, which he told me he received in a brawl
with his own companions the night previous. Leaving these in the
custody of the St. Armand volunteers, the column of attack started
for Pigeon Hill about 2 P.M. The Granby and Waterloo volunteers,
commanded by Captain Millar, formed the advance guard, being
followed by two 12-pounder Armstrong guns of Captain Balfour’s
battery, with their complements of artillerymen, commanded by
Captain Phipps, R.A. These were followed by two companies of the
Rifle Brigade, under Major Nixon, who, I understand, commanded
the whole column, and two companies of the 25th regiment--another
company of that regiment forming the rear guard. Between the main
body and the rear guard, the supply waggon and a farmer’s waggon,
carrying the Surgeon’s apparatus and medical comforts, were placed.
The officers and men were in the highest spirits, only fearing lest
the redoubtable Fenians should seek shelter too promptly in Uncle
Sam’s dominions, the line being only half a mile from their camp.
The day was very fine, a bright sun, tempered by a cool breeze,
having dried up the roads, and made marching pleasant. And I may
here remark a circumstance creditable to the pluck and training of
our volunteers, that, although several soldiers of the line and
rifles were knocked up, and obliged to fall out, the volunteers,
though forming the advance guard and obliged to keep in advance of
the powerful artillery horses, had not a man who manifested the
least fatigue. At Holt’s Corner a short halt took place, and a
prisoner was brought up from the south road, leading to Highgate,
by a farmer I understood, of the name of Reynolds, who with his son
and hired man, had just captured him while reconnoitering. He was
mounted upon a handsome horse, and had rather a gentlemanly and
refined appearance. He was speedily dismounted, being succeeded
in his saddle by Captain Hallowes of the 25th Regiment, and
conducted to the rear in charge of a guard from that regiment.
Another prisoner was met squatted in a single waggon between the
feet of two farmers of Stanbridge who had captured him--a very
low and unintellectual type of humanity. Just before the column
reached Pigeon Hill there was a cry, “Incline to the right,” and
that splendid body of horsemen, the Guides, under Captain D. L.
Macdougall, dashed past in single file, and took their place in
front. They had no opportunity that day, more is the pity, to
“flesh their maiden swords” upon any considerable body of the
Fenians. But they rode round by the Cook’s Corner road, and thus,
at a later period of the day, cut off the retreat of some who
would have escaped, and took two of the scoundrels prisoners. If
the Fenians had a good sight of them, they must have felt inclined
to keep out of their way. In turning to the right at the tavern
at Pigeon Hill, the whole column descended the hill on the road
leading directly to the line--the artillery taking the lead. The
guns were placed in position on a high point overlooking the whole
valley, and about half-a-mile within the line. One company of the
25th remained with the guns, and the remainder of the infantry,
in two lines, with the rifles thrown out in front as skirmishers,
descended into the valley in the direction of the woods, which
were about three-fourths of a mile distant. The last red coat
disappeared among the trees, and we remained in anxious expectation
awaiting the result. Meantime the farmer’s family before whose
door the guns were placed, and who had suffered sore annoyance
for several days from the constant demand of the ragamuffins for
food, gladly brought to their deliverers such simple refreshment
as could be hastily prepared. Presently a single rifle shot was
heard, echoing loudly through the woods--two more followed, then a
dropping fire of twenty-five or thirty shots and all was silent.
At the first report the whole party sprang to their feet, the
gunners placed themselves by their pieces, and the officers of
artillery prepared to point them upon any body of the enemy that
might break cover. And much were all disappointed when the firing
ceased.
Presently the red coats emerged from the woods, marched across a
small clearing and disappeared in the woods beyond. After waiting
some time longer and the sun beginning to approach the horizon, the
horses were put to the guns and waggons and preparations were made
for returning to St. Armand. One company of the 25th regained their
comrades on the hill. The rest of the force made their way by the
Cook’s Corner road back to Pigeon Hill, with the exception of one
company of the Rifles, which was detached towards Frelighsburg. The
rest of the force reached St. Armand’s Station between 9 and 10
o’clock at night.
The result of this expedition was unsatisfactory, though all
concerned did their duty with the utmost alacrity and zeal. But
when there was really no enemy to fight, no great victory could be
achieved.
It was generally supposed that 2 Fenians only were killed and 16
captured, but I have been since informed that 4 bodies were found
in the woods on Sunday.
Thus ended most ingloriously to those concerned in it this base
attempt to desecrate, by unlawful invasion, the soil of Canada,
_and to detach from their allegiance to their rightful Sovereign a
contented, happy and loyal people_. I may add, in conclusion, that
the inhabitants were most active in searching for and arresting
straggling Fenians and bringing them into head-quarters.”
PINKEY, BATTLE OF.--Fought, September 10th, 1547, between the
English, under the Earl of Hertford Protector, and the Scots, when
the latter were totally defeated. Few victories have been achieved
with less loss to the victors; the English loss was no more than
200, whilst the Scots lost the enormous number of 20,000.
PISTOL.--The smallest sort of fire arms. First used by the English
cavalry, A.D. 1544.
PLAINS OF ABRAHAM.--_See Quebec._
PLASSY, BATTLE OF.--Fought, June 23rd, 1757, between the British,
under Lord Clive, and the native Hindoos, under Surajah Dowlah. The
Hindoo army consisted of 70,000 men, whilst the British did not
exceed 3000, yet the Surajah was signally defeated. This battle
laid the foundation of the British power in India.
PLATÆA, BATTLE OF.--Fought, September 22nd, B.C. 479, between
Mardonius, General of the Persians, and the Lacedæmonians and
Athenians under Pausanias. The Persian army consisted of 300,000
men, 3000 of which only remained alive after the battle. The
Grecians lost only 91 Spartans, 52 Athenians, and 16 Tegeans.
Pausanias received one-tenth of all the immense plunder for his
uncommon valour, and the rest were rewarded each according to his
respective merit.
PLATTSBURG, EXPEDITION TO.--The British squadron against
Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain, was designed under General Sir
George Prevost, but it was abandoned, after a severe defeat of the
naval squadron of England on the Lake, September 11th, 1814.
PODULTZ, BATTLE OF.--Fought, June 28th, 1866, between the Austrians
and the Prussians. The Prussians everywhere were victorious. The
needle gun of their army was decidedly superior to any other weapon
used. The following is the _Times_ account:
“On the northern side of Gitschin and on the Turnau road the
Austrians had taken up a position to cover the town against the
Prussians, advancing from the direction of Turnau. As the Prussians
advanced they saw the village of Podultz close to the road, and on
their right, standing at the top of the gentle ascent by which the
road rises to the top of the lower spur, on the other side of the
road and about 300 yards from it, nearer to the advancing division
by 200 yards than Podultz, the village of Diletz, lying in the
plain, while high on their right they could see the chimneys of
Brada above the thick fir wood which, lying on the hill side, in
front of that village, runs down nearly to Podultz, and traced by
the different colours of the foliage the ground occupied by its
orchards. The three villages and the fir wood were held by Austrian
and Saxon troops, supported by seven battalions of artillery,
which were placed both on the spur and on the Brada Hill, while
behind the spur were hidden three of Austria’s finest cavalry
regiments--the Hussars of Radetzky, of Lichtenstein, and of the
Austrian Regiment the King of Prussia. As soon as the Prussians
came within range the Austrian batteries opened upon them; the
Prussian guns replied, and, under cover of their artillery, the
columns advanced to the attack of the position. The 8th and 48th
Regiments advanced against the village of Diletz, which was
garrisoned by the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Saxon battalions, and where,
as the prisoners report, the King of Saxony himself took part
in the fight. The 12th and 18th Regiments advanced against the
village of Podultz. Both attacking columns were exposed to a very
hot fire, but after a severe struggle both villages were carried,
though that of Podultz, set on fire by a shell, was burning when
the Prussians occupied it. General Edelsheim, who commanded the
Austrian cavalry, with a desperate valour, attacked the burning
village, but the horses would not face the flames, and the Prussian
infantry, from behind the blazing houses, fired on the disordered
squadrons and killed many troopers. After taking Podultz, the 12th
and 18th Regiments pushed past Brada, leaving it to their right,
and made for the Lochow Road, in order to cut off the retreat of
the Austrians, who were retiring from Lochow on Gitschin. The
Austrian cavalry charged the advancing Prussians, but the latter
received them without forming square, and the horsemen recoiled,
broken by their steady fire. The Austrian troops in Brada, and the
Saxons and Austrians in Diletz were quite separated by the capture
of the village of Podultz, and the former were almost entirely
taken; the latter were cut off from retreat in large numbers, for
Von Werder was pressing towards Gitschin, the roads were crowded,
and the little river formed on the right of the broken allies
a wide extent of marshy ground, which it was almost impossible
to cross. The loss of the Saxons between Diletz and Gitschin was
tremendous; they fell thickly, and the ground was covered with
corpses. The Prussians suffered much, but they fought most bravely,
and, with only four regiments, and half as many guns as their
opponents, carried a very strong position held by a much superior
force; for the Prussians had in the field but 16,000 men, and the
allied strength is estimated at 30,000. Under a crushing fire they
advanced to the attack of Podultz and Diletz, and the vacancies
in the muster-roll show how fearfully they suffered; but every
man who fell on the Prussian side was trebly avenged, and a long
broad track of fallen enemies marks the line of march of the four
regiments who so well fought and won Diletz.