Duke of Cumberland, and the French, under Marshal Saxe. The village of
Lawfeldt was thrice carried by the French and thrice recaptured, but
about noon the British centre was driven in, and defeat was imminent,
when a cavalry charge, headed by Sir John Ligonier, saved the day, and
enabled the Duke to retire in good order. The allies lost 5,620 killed
and wounded, the French about 10,000.
Le Bourget (Franco-German War).
A determined sortie by the French from Paris, October 27, 1870, in which
they carried the village of Le Bourget. They held their ground there
until October 30, when they were driven out by the Prussian Guard Corps,
leaving 1,200 prisoners in the hands of the Germans, who lost 34
officers and 344 men.
Leck, The (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought April 5, 1632, between 26,000 Swedes and German Protestants,
under Gustavus Adolphus, and 20,000 Imperialists, under Count Tilly.
Gustavus had prepared a bridge to cross the river, and immediately after
daybreak his engineers commenced to fix it, the Swedish artillery
meanwhile keeping the Imperialists in check. In the artillery duel Tilly
was mortally wounded, and his troops retired, leaving the Swedes to
effect the passage unmolested.
L’Ecluse (Hundred Years’ War).
Fought 1340, when the English fleet surprised the French in a narrow
channel, and totally routed them, with a loss of 90 ships and 30,000
men.
Leghorn.
Fought off Leghorn March 31, 1653, when six English ships, under
Commodore Appleton, were destroyed by a Dutch fleet of 16 sail, under
Admiral Van Gelen. Only a sloop escaped the destruction. Van Gelen was
mortally wounded during the action.
Legnano (Wars of the Lombard League).
Fought May 29, 1176, between the Lombard League, aided by Venice and the
Pope, and the Imperialists, under Frederick Barbarossa. Frederick was
utterly routed, and fled from Italy in disguise.
Leipsic (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought September 7, 1631, between 20,000 Swedes and an equal force of
Saxons, under Gustavus Adolphus and John George, Elector of Saxony, and
44,000 Imperialists, under Tilly. The Imperialist right totally routed
the Saxons, who fled from the field, headed by the Elector. Meanwhile,
the Swedes had completely defeated the left of the Imperialists, under
Pappenheim, and repulsed the centre under Tilly, and on the return of
the right from pursuing the Saxons, they were attacked by the Swedish
left, and driven from the field, only four regiments holding their
ground in a wood until nightfall. The Imperialists lost 8,000 killed and
wounded and 5,000 prisoners; the allies 2,700, of whom only 700 were
Swedes. Gustavus captured the whole of Tilly’s artillery, and his
victory was the salvation of the Protestant cause, which was trembling
in the balance.
Leipsic (Campaign of Leipsic).
Fought October 16, 17, and 18, 1813, between the French, under Napoleon,
and the forces of the Great Coalition. Napoleon, who held Leipsic with
155,000 men, was faced by 160,000 Austrians and Russians, under the
Prince of Schwartzemberg, and 60,000 Prussians, under Blucher. On the
16th Schwartzemberg attacked, being faced by Napoleon with 115,000 men,
and, after an obstinate engagement, which lasted till nightfall, the
French had gained a little ground. At the same time Blucher attacked
Marmont, who, with 24,000 men, held his own throughout the day. The
French lost 27,000; the allies about 35,000. Both sides receiving
reinforcements during the night, Napoleon on the morning of the 17th was
at the head of 150,000 troops, while the allies numbered nearly 300,000,
including the Swedes under Bernadotte. Little was done on the 17th, but
on the 18th Napoleon moved out to drive back the allies, and leave a
road of retreat open. He was repulsed at all points, and driven back
into Leipsic, whence during the night of the 18th to 19th, the French
retired by the only serviceable bridge. The corps under Poniatowski left
to cover the retreat was almost annihilated, and Poniatowski killed. The
French lost in the three days over 60,000 men, while the losses of the
allies were also enormous.
Leitskau (Campaign of Leipsic).
Fought August 27, 1813, between 5,000 French, under General Girard, and
a Prussian division, under General Hirschberg, aided by some Cossacks,
under Czernitcheff. Girard was defeated, losing heavily in killed and
wounded, besides 1,500 prisoners and 6 guns.
Le Mans (Franco-German War).
Fought January 10, 11, and 12, between the Germans, 50,000 strong, under
Prince Frederick Charles, and the French, numbering about 150,000, under
General Chanzy. The French army was completely routed, and the whole
force so completely demoralised as to be no longer an effective fighting
unit. The Germans took 20,000 prisoners, 17 guns, and great quantities
of war material, at a cost to themselves of 200 officers and 3,200 men.
Lens (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought August 20, 1648, between the French, 14,000 strong, under Condé,
and the Austrians, in somewhat superior force, under the Archduke
Leopold. Condé feigned a retreat, to draw the enemy from their lines,
and then turning upon them, decisively defeated them, with a loss of
4,000 killed, 6,000 prisoners, and all their baggage and artillery.
Leontini.
This city, the stronghold of the National party in Sicily, held by a
garrison of Syracusans and Roman deserters, was stormed and sacked, B.C.
211, by three Roman legions under M. Marcellus. Two thousand Roman
deserters captured in the place were put to the sword. Hippocrates
succeeded in escaping.
Lepanto (Cyprus War).
Fought October 17, 1571, between a fleet of 250 Spanish and Venetian
ships, under Don John of Austria, and a Turkish fleet of 270 sail, under
Piale, the Capitan Pasha. The Turkish left wing, under the Dey of
Algiers, met with some success, but the centre and right were almost
destroyed, the Turks losing 200 vessels, and, it is said, 30,000 men.
Piale was killed. The Dey of Algiers succeeded in extricating the
majority of his ships. The allies lost between 4,000 and 5,000 men,
including 15 Venetian captains.
Lerida (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought September, 1642, between the Spaniards, under Leganez, and the
French, under Lamothe-Houdancourt. The Spanish army was defeated, and
this victory, in conjunction with the fall of Perpignan, gave the French
possession of Roussillon.
Lerida (Thirty Years’ War).
This city, held by a garrison of 4,000 Spaniards, under Don Jorge Britt,
was besieged by the French, under the Great Condé, May 12, 1647. The
defence was vigorous, the garrison making constant sorties, and about
the middle of June the appearance of a large Spanish army at Fraga
forced Condé either to deliver an assault or to raise the siege. He
chose the second alternative and withdrew his troops June 17.
Lesno (Russo-Swedish War).
A series of actions, fought 1709 between 40,000 Russians, under Peter
the Great, and 15,000 Swedes, under General Levenhaupt, who was
escorting a convoy of 8,000 waggons to the army of Charles XII. The
battle lasted over five days, at the end of which time the remnant of
the Swedes, though defeated, were permitted to retire in good order, but
without their convoy. The Swedes lost in this series of actions
two-thirds of their numbers. The Russians lost 10,000 men.
Leucopetra (Wars of the Achæan League).
Fought 146 B.C., between a Roman Consular Army, under Lucius Mummius,
and the forces of the Achæan League, under Diacus. The Greeks, who were
only half as strong as their opponents, were routed, and all resistance
came to an end, the Greek cities, one after another, opening their gates
to the Romans.
Leuctra (Bœotian War).
Fought July, 371 B.C., between 11,000 Spartans, under Cleombrotus, and
6,000 Thebans, under Epaminondas. The principal fighting took place on
the Theban left, where Epaminondas had massed his best troops, and after
a fierce encounter the Spartans were driven back, leaving 1,000 dead,
including Cleombrotus, on the field. As a result of this defeat, the
Spartans evacuated Bœotia.
Leuthen (Seven Years’ War).
Fought December 5, 1757, between 33,000 Prussians, under Frederick the
Great, and 90,000 Austrians, under Prince Charles of Lorraine and Count
Daun. Frederick made a feigned attack on the Austrian right wing, and
then under cover of the ground withdrew the major part of his force, and
strongly attacked the Austrian left, which was driven back and finally
overthrown by a charge of cavalry. The Austrians lost 7,000 killed and
wounded, 20,000 prisoners, including three generals, and 134 guns. The
Prussians lost 5,000 killed and wounded. In consequence of this victory,
Breslau surrendered to Frederick, with over 18,000 troops, on December
10.
Lewes (Barons’ War).
Fought May 14, 1264, between the Barons, under Simon de Montfort, and
the Royalists, under Henry III and Prince Edward. The king was
completely defeated, and the two parties signed an agreement, known as
the Mise of Lewes, to submit the points in dispute to arbitration.
Lexington (American War of Independence).
Fought April 19, 1775, between the Royal troops, under General Gage, and
the Americans. After a brief engagement the Americans were defeated, and
retired. The losses on both sides were very small.
Lexington (American Civil War).
This place was invested September 18, 1861, by the Confederates, 8,000
strong, under General Price, who having cut off their supplies, forced
the garrison of 3,500, under Colonel Mulligan, to surrender, September
20. The Confederates lost 100 men only.
Leyden (Netherlands War of Independence).
This city was invested May 26, 1574, by 8,000 Walloons and Germans under
Valdez, who in the course of a few days had erected 62 batteries round
the place. There was no garrison, with the exception of a few
“freebooters” and a burgher guard, under Jan van der Does. The Prince of
Orange, in order to save the city, determined to open the dykes, and on
August 3 the gates at Schiedam and Rotterdam were opened, and the dykes
broken along the course of the Yssel. Meanwhile the citizens had come to
an end of their bread, but by strenuous efforts the fleet under Admiral
Boisot succeeded in throwing relief into the city at the beginning of
October. By this time the city was on the verge of starvation, and 8,000
of the inhabitants had perished of pestilence. The Spaniards, however,
had been driven from work after work, and on October 3 the last of their
redoubts was mastered, and Valdez was forced to raise the siege.
Lignitz (Seven Years’ War).
Fought August 15, 1760. Frederick the Great with 30,000 Prussians was
posted near Lignitz, and expecting to be attacked by the Austrians,
90,000 strong, under Count Daun, commenced a retreat towards Parchwitz,
and took up a position which, according to Daun’s plan was to have been
occupied by Landon’s corps. Landon, quite unconscious of the presence of
the Prussians, marched into the middle of Frederick’s lines, and was
utterly routed, with a loss of 4,000 killed and wounded, 6,000 prisoners
and 82 guns.
Ligny (Hundred Days).
Fought June 16, 1815, between 84,000 Prussians under Blucher and 60,000
French under Napoleon. The French attacked Blucher’s position, and met
with a stout resistance, especially at the village of Ligny, but by
sundown the Prussians had exhausted their last resources, and Napoleon,
bringing up the Guard, and a division of heavy cavalry, drove them from
their positions, with a loss of about 12,000. The French lost 8,000
killed and wounded.
Lille (War of the Spanish Succession).
This city was besieged August 12, 1708, by the Imperialists, under
Prince Eugene, and was defended by a French garrison, under M. de
Bouflers, which after repulsing several determined assaults, surrendered
October 25. The besiegers lost in the course of the siege 3,632. The
French lost about 7,000.
Lilybæum (First Punic War).
This fortress was besieged B.C. 250, by the Romans, under C. Attilius
and L. Manlius, and was defended by a Carthaginian garrison, 10,000
strong, under Himilcon. The Romans invested the place both by sea and
land, but the superior seamanship of the Carthaginians enabled them from
time to time to throw succour into the place. The first line of the
defences was soon carried but the Romans were then confronted with a
second rampart, equally strong, and the siege was begun anew. In 249 P.
Claudiûs took over the command, but a defeat of the Roman fleet at
Drepanum gave the Carthaginians complete command of the sea, and though
the Romans continued to blockade the fortress on the land side, it held
out till 241. After the naval battle of Ægusæ Carthage sued for peace.
Lincoln, Fair of.
Fought in the streets of Lincoln, 1217, between the Royal troops, under
the Earl of Pembroke, and the adherents of the Dauphin Louis, under the
Comte de la Perche. The Royalists were victorious, and the French leader
was killed.
Lindley (Second Boer War).
At this place a force of 500 yeomanry, under Colonel Spragge, after
holding out for four days against a largely superior Boer force,
surrendered May 27, 1900.
Linkoping.
Fought 1598, between the Poles, under Sigismund III, King of Poland and
Sweden, and the Swedes, under Charles the Regent. The Poles were
surprised and totally defeated, with a loss of 20,000 men, the Swedes
losing, it is said, only 240. This victory was shortly followed by the
dethronement of Sigismund and the accession of Charles as King of
Sweden.
Liparæan Islands (First Punic War).
The scene of a naval battle, B.C. 257, in which the Roman fleet, under
the Consul, C. Attilius, completely defeated the Carthaginians.
Lippe (Germanic Wars).
Fought B.C. 11 between the Romans, under Drusus, and the Sicambri, Suevi
and Cherusii. The Romans were largely outnumbered and surrounded, and so
certain were the Germans of victory, that they had already apportioned
the spoil among the various tribes. Drusus, however, attacked the
barbarians vigorously, and totally routed them with very heavy loss.
Lissa (Seven Weeks’ War).
The only naval action between ironclads in European waters, fought July
20, 1866, between the Austrian fleet of 7 armoured ships and some
obsolete wooden vessels, under Admiral Tegethoff, and the Italian fleet
of 10 armour-clads, under Admiral Persano. Tegethoff attacked in wedge
formation, with his flagship as the apex, and broke the line of the
Italian fleet, which was steaming, line ahead, across his bows. He
rammed and sank the Italian flagship, and the rest of the action was a
melée in which the Italians were defeated and driven off, with a loss of
3 ships and over 1,000 men. This defeat forced the Italians to raise the
siege of Lissa.
Little Big Horn (Sioux Rising).
On June 25, 1876, General Custer, with the 7th United States Cavalry,
700 strong, attacked the village of the Sioux chief, Sitting Bull. He
divided his force into three columns, one of which, led by himself,
marched into an ambush, and was massacred to a man. The other two
columns were vigourously attacked by the Sioux, and forced to retire.
The cavalry lost on this occasion 265 killed.
Lodi, Bridge of (Napoleon’s Italian Campaigns).
Fought May 10, 1796, during Napoleon’s pursuit of the retiring
Austro-Sardinian army, under Beaulieu. The bridge over the Adda was
defended by the Austrian rear-guard, with some 20 guns, commanding
passage. Napoleon sent a force of cavalry round by a ford to take the
defenders in rear, and then rushed the bridge, the stormers being led by
Berthier and Masséna, while Napoleon himself was in the thick of the
fighting. The French loss is said not to have exceeded 400, while the
Austrians lost in the action and subsequent pursuit, 2,000 killed and
wounded, 1,000 prisoners, and 20 guns.
Loftcha (Russo-Turkish War).
Fought September 3, 1877, between 20,000 Russians, under Prince
Imeretinsky, and 15,000 Turks, under Adil Pasha. The actual attack on
the Turkish positions was made by Skobeleff, at first with 5,000, and
afterwards with 9,000 men, and the Turks were driven out of Loftcha with
a loss of 5,200 killed. The Russians lost 1,500 killed and wounded.
Loigny-Pouprey (Franco-German War).
Fought December 1, 1870, between the Germans, 34,000 strong, under the
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, and about 90,000 French, forming the army of
the Loire, under General d’Aurelle de Paladines. The Germans gained a
signal victory, completely breaking the aggressive power of the Army of
the Loire. The French lost 18,000 killed and wounded and 9 guns, the
Germans 4,200.
Loja (War of Granada).
Fought July 4, 1482, between the Spaniards, under Ferdinand the
Catholic, and the Moors, under Ali Atar. The King, who was besieging
Loja, was encamped on the heights of Almohacen, but finding the position
insecure, decided upon a retreat. As he was retiring he was vigorously
attacked by the garrison, and though, after very heavy fighting, he
succeeded in withdrawing in good order, he lost most of his baggage and
artillery.
Lonato.
_See_ Castiglione.
Londonderry (War of the Revolution).
This town in which the Ulster Protestants, to the number of about
30,000, had taken refuge, was besieged by James II, April 19, 1689. It
was defended by about 7,000 armed citizens, under Major Henry Baker, and
held out until July 30, when Colonel Kirke succeeded in forcing the boom
at the head of Lough Foyle and reprovisioning the town. The besiegers
then withdrew, having lost 5,000 men during the siege. The garrison was
reduced to 4,000. Among those who died during the siege was Major Baker.
Loose Coat Field.
_See_ Empingham.
Loudon Hill (Scottish Wars).
Fought 1306, between the Scots, under Robert Bruce, and the English,
under the Regent Pembroke. Bruce met the attack of the English cavalry
with a line of spearmen, which they were unable to break, and they were
driven off with heavy loss. Pembroke thereupon withdrew his army and
returned to England.
Louisburg (War of the Austrian Succession).
This place, the strongest fortress in America, was captured June 16,
1745, by a force of New Englanders, under Pepperel, aided by a naval
force under Commodore Warren.
Louisburg (Seven Years’ War).
Louisburg, having been restored to the French, was invested June 3,
1758, by a force of 11,600 British troops, under General Amherst, and a
fleet of 41 ships of war, under Admiral Boscawen. It was defended by
3,800 French regulars, besides Indians and armed citizens, under the
Chevalier de Drucour, while in the harbour were 12 ships of war, with
crews numbering 3,000 men. Owing to heavy weather no siege guns were
landed till the 18th, but by July 20 a practicable breach had been
effected, whereupon the garrison surrendered. During the siege the
defenders lost 1,200 men killed or died of disease, while the prisoners
numbered 5,637, and 239 guns and mortars were taken. Wolfe, who
commanded a brigade, specially distinguished himself.
Löwenberg (Campaign of Leipsic).
Fought August 21, 1813, between 130,000 French, under Napoleon, and
80,000 Prussians, under Blucher. Blucher being vigorously attacked,
retired behind the Haynau without offering any serious resistance to the
French advance. The Prussians lost 2,000 killed and wounded.
Lowositz (Seven Years’ War).
Fought October 1, 1756, between 24,000 Prussians, under Frederick the
Great, and a somewhat superior force of Austrians, under Marshal Brown.
Brown was marching to relieve the Saxons penned up in Pirna, when he was
attacked by the Prussians, who, after hard fighting, forced him to
retire. Each side lost about 3,000, but the victory was of great
importance to Frederick, as it led to the surrender at Pirna of 17,000
Saxons and 80 guns.
Lucena (War of Granada).
Fought April, 1483, when the Moors, under Abdullah and Ali Atar, who
were besieging Lucena, were attacked by a Spanish relieving force under
the Comte de Cabra. The Moorish infantry fled, and Ali Atar, heading a
charge of cavalry in a gallant attempt to retrieve the day, was slain,
whereupon his following broke and fled, pursued by the Christians to the
banks of the Xenil, where the majority were cut to pieces.
Lucknow (Indian Mutiny).
On the approach of the rebel Sepoy army, July 1, 1857, the garrison and
residents took refuge in the Residency, which had been prepared to stand
a siege. On September 19, 1857, a force of 3,179 British troops, under
Havelock and Outram, left Cawnpore to relieve the garrison. On the 23rd
they encountered and defeated a force of 12,000 rebels at the Alumbagh,
capturing 5 guns. On the 25th they forced the Charbagh bridge, and
captured the Secunderbagh, and the main body, after prolonged street
fighting, reached the Residency, the rearguard with the wounded getting
in on the 26th. The loss during the operations amounted to 535, while
the garrison up to this time had lost 483 killed and wounded. Outram now
took command and the garrison held out until November 19, when it was
relieved, after very heavy fighting, by a column under Sir
Colin-Campbell, and the whole force withdrawn. On March 1, 1858, the
recovery of the city from the rebels commenced by the capture of the
Alumbagh, and was completed on the 21st, when the mutineers were finally
driven from the place. During the interval the various fortresses and
palaces held by the rebels were successively carried by assault, the
fighting in many cases being exceedingly severe.
Lugdunum.
_See_ Lyons.
Luncarty (Danish Invasions of Scotland).
Fought 980, between the Scots, under Kenneth III, and the Danish
corsairs, who had landed on the Tay to attack Dunkeld. After a furious
hand-to-hand fight the Danes were defeated and driven to their ships.
Lunden (Dano-Swedish Wars).
Fought 1676, between the Swedes, under Charles XI, and the Danes, under
Christian V. Both sides claimed the victory, but the advantage rested
with the Swedes, for Christian had to fall back upon Copenhagen, while
Charles forced the Danes to raise the siege of Malmoe.
Lundy’s Lane (Second American War).
Fought July 25, 1814, between 5,000 Americans, under General Jacob
Brown, and 3,000 British, under Sir George Drummond. Drummond occupied
high ground on each side of Lundy’s Lane, where he was attacked by the
Americans. The fighting lasted till far into the night, when a final
assault was repulsed, and the Americans retired to Chippewa with a loss
of 858. The British lost 878.
Lutter (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought August 27, 1626, between the Imperialists, under Tilly, and the
Danes and Germans, under Christian IV of Denmark. The allies were
retreating before Tilly, who came up with them in an open plain near the
Castle of Lutter, where the King had taken up a strong position. Tilly
attacked, and notwithstanding Christian’s personal gallantry, his
infantry was overwhelmed, while the German cavalry refused to take any
part in the fight. The Danes left 4,000 dead on the field, and Tilly
captured 2,000 prisoners, 22 guns and 60 standards. The King with
difficulty cut his way through the enemy’s horse, and escaped.
Lützen (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought November 16, 1632, between 20,000 Swedes, under Gustavus
Adolphus, and 30,000 Imperialists, under Wallenstein. The Swedes
attacked with success on their right, but their left was driven back by
Pappenheim, and Gustavus, hurrying off to rally them fell mortally
wounded. The fall of their king, however, did not dishearten the Swedes,
and a fresh charge, in which Pappenheim was killed, gave them a complete
victory. A dense fog, however, came on, which enabled Wallenstein to
effect an orderly retreat, though he left all his guns on the field.
Lützen (Campaign of Leipsic).
Fought May 2, 1813, between the French, 70,000 strong, under Napoleon,
and the Russians and Prussians, 65,000 strong, under Wittgenstein and
Blucher. The King of Prussia and the Russian Emperor were present on the
field. Napoleon held five villages in front of Lützen, round which the
battle centred. They were taken and re-taken several times during the
day, but at 8 p.m., in spite of the remonstrances of Blucher, the two
sovereigns ordered a retreat, and the honours of the day rested with the
French. The allies lost about 20,000; the French about 18,000.
Luzzara (War of the Spanish Succession).