d’Anjou, and 25,000 Imperialists, under Prince Eugene. The Prince
attacked the French in their entrenchments in front of Luzzara, and
after a stubborn resistance, drove them out with a loss of about 4,000
men. The Imperialists lost 27,000 killed and wounded.
Lynn Haven Bay.
Fought September 5, 1781, between a British fleet of 19 ships of the
line and 7 frigates, under Admiral Thomas Graves, and a French fleet of
25 line of battle ships. Admiral Graves attacked the French as they were
lying in Lynn Haven Bay, but was unsuccessful, and drew off after two
hours’ hard fighting, with a loss of 79 killed and 230 wounded. The
French lost 22 officers and 200 men killed and wounded.
Lyons.
Fought 197 between the legions of Britain, under Clodius Albinus, and
the legions of Pannonia, under Severus, both generals having been
proclaimed Emperor by their respective troops on the death of Pertinax.
Albinus was defeated and slain.
M
Macalo (Italian Wars).
Fought October 11, 1427, when the Venetians, under Carmagnola, in a
strong position near Macalo, were attacked by the Milanese, under
Malatesta. The Venetians repulsed the attack, and assuming the
offensive, surrounded Malatesta, and compelled him to surrender with his
whole force, numbering about 10,000 men.
Madonna dell’ Oleno (War of the Austrian Succession).
Fought September 30, 1744, between the French and Spaniards, under
Prince Louis de Conti and Don Philip of Spain, and the Imperialists,
under the King of Sardinia. With a view of relieving Cuneo, which the
allies were besieging, the King attacked their lines, and though he was
defeated in the battle, he gained his object, for Conti was compelled by
lack of supplies to raise the siege, October 22, having suffered heavy
losses from famine, flood and battle.
Madras.
This city was invested by the French under Labourdonnais, with 9 ships
and about 3,700 troops, mostly Europeans, September 14, 1746. It was
defended by a garrison of 200, and after a week’s bombardment,
surrendered September 25. The garrison lost 5 men only; the French not a
single man.
Madras (Seven Years’ War).
On December 16, 1758, Madras was invested by Lally-Tollendal with 2,000
European and 4,000 native troops. The garrison consisted of 4,000 men,
more than half of whom were Sepoys, under Colonel Laurence, After a
bombardment lasting from January 2, 1759, to February 16,
Lally-Tollendal was on the point of ordering an assault, when the
arrival of the British fleet caused him to raise the siege and retire.
The garrison lost during the siege 1,341 killed and wounded. The French
losses amounted to 700 Europeans, besides Sepoys.
Madeira (Napoleonic Wars).
This island was occupied without bloodshed by a combined naval and
military force, under Admiral Sir A. J. Cochrane and General Bowyer,
December 26, 1807.
Maestricht (Netherlands War of Independence).
This city, the German Gate of the Netherlands, was besieged by the
Spaniards, under Prince Alexander of Parma, March 12, 1579. It was held
by a garrison of 1,000 troops and 1,200 armed burghers, under Melchior,
while the besiegers numbered 20,000. Two unsuccessful assaults were made
April 8, which cost the Spaniards 670 officers and 4,000 men, but
finally the place was taken by surprise, and a massacre followed, in
which 6,000 of the inhabitants perished.
Mafeking (Second Boer War).
This small township, entirely destitute of regular defences, was
invested October, 1899, by a force of 5,000 Boers, under General Cronje,
and defended by a garrison of about 700 irregulars and armed townsmen,
under Colonel Baden-Powell. Later in the siege Cronje withdrew a large
part of his force, leaving about 2,000 under Snyman to prosecute the
siege. Though the bombardment was continuous, only one resolute attempt
was made to penetrate the defences; when on May 12, 1900, 300 Boers,
under Sarel Eloff, succeeded in getting within the lines, but were
surrounded and forced to surrender. On May 17, the place was relieved by
a cavalry column under Colonel Mahon. The garrison lost 273, the Boers
about 1,000, in the course of the siege.
Magdeburg (Thirty Years’ War).
This city, held by a small Swedish garrison, under Falkenberg, was
besieged by the Imperialists, under Tilly, March, 1631. After a
desultory bombardment, Tilly was forced by the approach of Gustavus
Adolphus either to raise the siege or to attempt a storm. Choosing the
latter course, an assault was delivered, under Pappenberg, and after two
hours’ severe fighting, in the course of which Falkenberg fell, the
garrison was overpowered. The victory was sullied by an infamous
massacre of the unarmed inhabitants, thousands of whom perished at the
hands of the Croats and Walloons.
Magenta (Franco-Austrian War).
Fought June 4, 1859, between the 2nd French Corps d’Armée, under
Macmahon, and the main Austrian army, under Marshal Giulay, about
100,000 strong. Macmahon attacked the Austrian position, and, after hard
fighting, drove them out of Magenta, and totally defeated them with a
loss of about 6,000 killed and wounded. The French lost 4,400.
Magersfontein (Second Boer War).
Fought December 11, 1899, between 9,000 Boers, under General Cronje, and
Lord Methuen’s division, with the addition of the Highland Brigade.
Cronje’s position was exceedingly strong, and an attempt to turn it by a
flank march undertaken at night led to a disaster to the Highland
brigade, who came under a heavy fire before they were extended, and lost
57 officers and over 700 men, including their brigadier, General
Wauchope. Eventually the attacking force was withdrawn, without having
made any impression on the Boer position. The total British losses were
68 officers and 1,011 men. The Boers admitted a loss of 320, but it was
probably considerably heavier.
Magnesia (War with Antiochus the Great).
Fought B.C. 190, between Antiochus the Great, with 80,000 troops, and
the Romans, 40,000 strong, under Cnæus Domitius. Antiochus, leading the
right wing, drove back the Roman left and penetrated to their camp,
which he nearly succeeded in capturing. His left wing, however, was
routed, and his elephants becoming unmanageable, broke the ranks of the
phalanx, whereupon his whole army fled in confusion, with a loss, it is
said, of 50,000 killed. The Romans lost 300 only.
Maharajpur (Gwalior War).
Fought December 29, 1843, between the British, 14,000 strong, with 40
guns, under Sir Hugh Gough, and the troops of Bhagerat Rao Scindhia,
18,000 strong, with 100 guns. The Mahrattas occupied a strong position
at Maharajpur, the exact locality of their lines being unknown to Sir
Hugh, until his troops came under fire. The British at once charged and
carried the batteries, and finally routed the Gwalior infantry at a cost
of 787 killed and wounded. The Mahrattas lost 3,000 killed and wounded,
and 56 guns.
Maharajpur (Indian Mutiny).
Fought July 16, 1857, between 5,000 rebels, under the Nana Sahib, and
the British relieving force, under Havelock. The Nana was entrenched
across the Grand Trunk Road, and his position being too strong for a
frontal attack, Havelock turned his left flank. After severe fighting
the rebels were defeated, though Havelock was left with only 800
Europeans available for further service. On the following day Cawnpore
was re-occupied.
Mahidpur (Third Mahratta War).
Fought December 21, 1817, between the British, under Sir Thomas Hislop,
and the army of Holkar of Indore. The Mahrattas, with 70 guns, were
strongly posted behind the Sipra, which Sir Thomas crossed in the face
of a heavy fire, and completely defeated them. The British lost 778
killed and wounded, the Mahrattas about 3,000.
Maida (Napoleonic Wars).
Fought July 4, 1806, between the British expeditionary force in
Calabria, 5,000 strong, under Sir John Stuart, and the French, in equal
strength, under General Reynier. The British charged with the bayonet,
and the French, though veterans, failing to withstand the onslaught,
broke and fled, losing very heavily in the pursuit.
Maidan (First Afghan War).
Fought September 14, 1842, between the British, under General Nott, and
12,000 Afghans, under Shems-ud-din, who occupied the heights commanding
the road to Kabul. Nott attacked and carried the Afghan position, the
Afghans being driven off with heavy loss.
Maiwand (Second Afghan War).
Fought July 27, 1880, between a small British force, with 6 guns, under
General Burrows, and the Afghan army, under Ayub Khan. A Bombay native
regiment was broken by a Ghazi rush, and although the 66th Regiment
fought magnificently, the British were routed, with a loss of 32
officers and 939 men killed, and 17 officers and 151 men wounded. The
survivors escaped with difficulty to Kandahar.
Main, The (Germanic War).
Fought B.C. 9, when the Romans, under Drusus, attacked and totally
routed the Marcomanni, driving them to the eastward and occupying their
territory.
Majorca (Napoleonic Wars).
This island was captured from the Spaniards in 1706, by a small British
force under Sir John Leake.
Majuba (First Boer War).
Fought February 27, 1881, when a British column, 647 strong, under Sir
George Colley, posted on the summit of Majuba Hill, was attacked and
driven off by the Boers under General Joubert. A strong party of young
Boers stormed the hill while the fire of the defenders was kept down by
a picked body of marksmen, and the British were driven from their
position with heavy loss, especially during the retirement down the
hillside. The casualties amounted to 223 killed and wounded, Sir George
Colley being killed, and 50 prisoners. The Boer losses were very small.
After this disaster an armistice was agreed to, and peace soon
afterwards concluded.
Malacca.
This city, which was defended by 30,000 Malays, under the Sultan
Mohammed, was captured by Albuquerque, with 19 ships and 1,400
Portuguese regulars, after a very feeble defence, in 1513.
Malaga (War of Granada).
This city, defended by a Moorish garrison, under Hamet Zeli, was
besieged by the Spaniards, 60,000 strong, under Ferdinand the Catholic,
April 17, 1487. After an obstinate resistance, lasting for four months,
the garrison was forced to surrender, and Ferdinand and Isabella entered
the city August 18th. The inhabitants were sold into slavery.
Malaga (War of the Spanish Succession).
Fought August 13, 1704, between the combined British and Dutch fleets,
consisting of 45 sail of the line, under Sir George Rooke, and the
French fleet of 53 line-of-battle-ships, under the Comte de Thoulouse.
The French admiral was endeavouring to effect a junction with the
Spanish fleet, which was engaged in the siege of Gibraltar, and was
brought to action by Sir George Rooke off Malaga. The fighting was
severe, and though no ships were lost on either side, the British gained
an important strategic victory as the junction of the two hostile fleets
was prevented. The British lost 6 officers and 687 men killed, and 18
officers and 1,645 wounded. The French lost 191 officers and 3,048 men
killed and wounded.
Malakand Pass (Chitral Campaign).
Fought April 3, 1895, when the British expedition, under General Low,
15,000 strong, forced the pass, which was held by about 12,000
tribesmen, with a loss of 8 officers and 61 men killed and wounded. The
Chitralis lost about 500.
Malakoff (Crimean War).
This fort, forming an important part of the southern defences of
Sebastopol, was stormed by 30,000 French, under General Pelissier,
September 8, 1855. The Russians being taken by surprise, made but a
feeble resistance.
Malavilly (Third Mysore War).
Fought March 20, 1799, when the camp of the British force, under Lord
Harris, marching on Seringapatam, was attacked in force by Tippu Sahib.
The enemy was thrown into confusion by a charge of cavalry, under
General Floyd, and retired with a loss of about 1,000. The British
losses were trifling.
Maldon (Danish Invasion).
Fought 991, between the Anglo-Saxons, under Brihtnoth, and the Danes,
under Olaf Triggvason and Guthmund. The Anglo-Saxons were completely
defeated and Brihtnoth slain.
Malegnano (Franco-Austrian War).
Fought June 8, 1859, between three French divisions, under Marshal
Baraguay d’Hilliers, and the Austrians, in about equal force. After
three hours’ hard fighting, the Austrians were defeated and driven out
of Malegnano, with heavy loss, including 1,000 prisoners. The French
lost 850 killed and wounded.
Mahnate.
_See_ Varese.
Malo-Jaroslawetz (Moscow Campaign).
Fought October 24, 1812, between 24,000 Russians, under General
Doctoroff, and a portion of Eugène Beauharnais’ corps, 15,000 strong,
under General Delzons. After a sanguinary engagement, in which
Malo-Jaroslawetz was taken and retaken seven times, the action ended in
a drawn battle, but the strategical success lay with the Russians, who
obliged Napoleon to abandon the southerly line of retreat he had
projected. The French lost 5,000, including General Delzons killed, the
Russians about 6,000.
Malplaquet (War of the Spanish Succession).
Fought September 11, 1709, between the British and Imperialists, under
Marlborough and Prince Eugene, and the French, under Marshal Villars.
Villars offered battle with the object of relieving Mons, which the
allies were besieging, but while they were waiting for reinforcement
from Tournay, he was enabled to entrench himself strongly on the ground
he had chosen. After desperate fighting, however, the French position
was carried from end to end, and they were driven out with a loss of
17,000 killed and wounded. The allies lost, according to most accounts,
about 8,000, though some contemporaries assert that their losses were
even heavier than those of the French.
Malta (Ottoman Wars).
This place was besieged May 19, 1565, by 30,000 Turks, under Mustapha
Pasha, aided by a fleet of 185 sail, under Piale, the Capitan Pasha. It
was defended by the Knights of Malta, under their Grand-Master
Lavalette, and though St. Elmo was taken, Valetta held out against
numerous assaults until September 11, when Mustapha raised the siege.
The garrison lost 5,000 men, the Turks 20,000.
Malta (Wars of the French Revolution).
The town of Valetta and the island of Malta were captured from the
French September 5, 1800, by a combined British naval and military
force, under Captain George Martin, R.N., and Major-General Pigott. Two
line-of-battle-ships and three frigates were seized in the harbour.
Malvern Hill.
_See_ Seven Days’ Battles.
Mandonia.
Fought B.C. 338, between the Italian Greeks, under Archidamus, King of
Sparta, and the Lucanians. The Greeks were defeated, and Archidamus
slain.
Mangalore (First Mysore War).
This place was besieged June 20, 1783, by Tippu Sahib with his whole
army, and was defended by a small British garrison, under Colonel
Campbell. On the conclusion of peace between France and England, the
French officer assisting Tippu withdrew, and on August 2 an armistice
was arranged, during which the garrison was to receive regular supplies.
This article was evaded, and the defenders half starved, and after some
delay Tippu renewed the siege. No attempt, however, was made to relieve
the place, and after a gallant defence, Campbell surrendered January 26,
1763.
Manilla (American-Spanish War).
Fought May 1, 1898, between the American squadron of 6 ships, under
Admiral Dewey, and 11 Spanish vessels, chiefly small, and unarmoured.
The Spanish fleet was totally destroyed, the Americans suffering no
loss.
Mansfield (American Civil War).
Fought April 8, 1864, between 20,000 Federals, under General Banks, and
about 8,000 Confederates, under General Taylor. Banks, while marching
through a difficult country, was attacked by Taylor, and utterly routed,
at a cost to the assailants of less than a thousand men. Besides heavy
losses in killed and wounded, the Federals lost 3,500 prisoners, 22
guns, and 220 waggons of stores and ammunition.
Mantineia (Peloponnesian War).
Fought B.C. 418, between 10,000 Spartans and Tegeans, under Agis, and an
equal force of Athenians, under Laches and Nicostratus. The Spartan left
was completely routed, but the Athenian centre and left failed to
withstand the Spartan attack, and but for the defeat of Agis’ left wing,
would have been surrounded and captured. In the end the Spartans gained
a signal victory. Laches and Nicostratus both fell in the action.
Mantineia (Bœotian War).
Fought B.C. 362, between the Bœotians, under Epaminondas, and the
combined forces of Athens, Sparta, and Mantineia. Epaminondas attacked
strongly with his left, holding back his right in reserve, and after the
driving back of the Mantineians, routed the Spartans in the centre. The
Athenians were hardly engaged, but the Bœotian victory was complete.
In the pursuit Epaminondas, fell and the loss of the great leader so
disheartened the Bœotians that they did not further press their
victory.
Mantineia (Wars of the Achæan League).
Fought B.C. 208, between the Achæans, under Philopœmen, and the
Spartans, under Machanidas. The Achæans drove the Spartans into a ravine
in great disorder, and routed them with a loss of 4,000 killed, amongst
whom was Machanidas.
Mantua (Napoleon’s Italian Campaigns).
This city was invested by Napoleon June 4, 1796, and was defended by
14,000 Austrians, under General Canto d’Irles. The siege was vigorously
prosecuted, but the approach of Wurmser with a large Austrian army
forced Napoleon to concentrate his forces, and he raised the siege July
31. After a brief campaign, which resulted in the dispersal of Wurmser’s
army, that general, with the remnant of his forces, was shut up in the
city, which was again closely invested September 19. Wurmser held out
till his provisions were exhausted, when, on February 2, 1797, he
surrendered, with 20,000 men, of whom only 10,000 were fit for service.
It is computed that 27,000 perished during the siege.
Maogamalcha (Persian Wars).
This fortress, defended by a Persian garrison, and considered
impregnable, was besieged by the Romans under the Emperor Julian in 363.
A mine was carried from the trenches under the ramparts, and three
cohorts broke through into the streets, whereupon the garrison deserted
the ramparts and the besiegers entered. The place was sacked, and
afterwards razed to the ground.
Marathon (Second Persian Invasion).
Fought September 490 B.C., between the Athenians and Platæans, 10,000
and 1,000 strong respectively, under Miltiades, and the army of Darius
Hystaspes, about 100,000 in number, under Datis. Being greatly
outnumbered, Miltiades altered the usual arrangement of the Greek line,
so as to extend his wings across the whole width of the valley in which
the battle was fought, and thus escape being outflanked. To effect this
he was forced to weaken his centre, which was repulsed, but both his
wings drove back the invaders, and then fell upon and routed the
victorious Persian centre. The Persians fled in confusion to their
ships, which they succeeded in launching, and escaped with a loss of
6,400. The Athenians lost 192 only.
Marcianopolis (Gothic Invasion of Thrace).
Fought 376, between the Romans, under Lupicinus, and the Goths, under
Fritigern. The Romans were totally defeated, but stood their ground to
the last, and were cut to pieces almost to a man. Lupicinus fled as soon
as the ultimate success of the Goths became apparent.
Mardis (War of the Two Empires).
Fought 315, shortly after the battle of Cibalis, between Constantine,
Emperor of the West, and Licinius, Emperor of the East. Constantine
moved a body of 5,000 men round his opponent’s flank, and attacked him
simultaneously in front and rear. The Illyrian veterans formed a double
front, and held their ground, though with heavy loss, till nightfall,
when Licinius, having lost thousands of his best troops, drew off his
army towards the mountains of Macedonia. The consequence of this defeat
was the acquisition by Constantine of Pannonia, Dalmatia, Dacia,
Macedonia and Greece.
Marengo (Napoleon’s Italian Campaigns).
Fought June 14, 1800, between 30,000 French, under Napoleon, and 40,000
Austrians, under Melas. The Austrians attacked, and drove back in
disorder the first line under Victor, and, following up their success, a
serious defeat for Napoleon seemed inevitable, when the arrival of the
reserve corps under Desaix turned the scale. Undercover of his attack,
the broken divisions reformed, and the Austrians were finally repulsed
at all points, and fled in disorder. Desaix was killed at the head of
his troops.
Margus.
Fought May, 285, between the legions of the Emperor Carinus and those of
Diocletian, who had been raised to the purple by his soldiers. The
troops of Diocletian, wasted by the Persian War, were all but
overpowered by the fresher legions of Carinus, but the defection during
the battle of one of his generals turned the scale, and Carinus himself
being killed by an officer whom he had wronged, Diocletian gained a
complete victory.
Maria Zell (Campaign of the Danube).
Fought November 8, 1805, during the French advance on Vienna, between
Davoust’s corps, and the Austrian corps, under General von Meerfeld. The
Austrians were defeated and driven off in disorder, leaving 4,000
prisoners in the hands of the French.
Mariendahl (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought May 2, 1645, between the French, under Turenne, and the
Imperialists, under Merci. Turenne, who had 3,000 infantry and 8
regiments of horse, was surprised in his camp by Merci at 2 a.m., and
being placed between two fires, was compelled to beat a disastrous
retreat, with the loss of almost all his infantry, 1,200 cavalry, and
all his artillery and baggage.
Marignano (Italian Wars).
Fought September 13 and 14, 1575, between 50,000 French, under Francis
I, and about 40,000 Swiss mercenaries. The Swiss attacked the French
camp, and forcing the lines, fought till midnight without decisive
result. On the morning of the 14th the battle was renewed, and the Swiss
were on the point of success, when the arrival of a small force of
Venetians obliged them to withdraw. The French lost 6,000 men, and the
Swiss losses were very heavy, including 1,200 who perished in the flames
of a village they were defending after the repulse of the attack.
Marshal Trivulzio, who commanded a wing of the French army, called the
action the “Battle of Giants.”
Marosch, The (Conquest of Dacia).
Fought 101, between the Dacians, under Decebalus, and the Romans, under
Trajan. The Dacians were utterly routed, and driven across the river
with heavy loss.
Marseglia (Wars of Louis XIV).
Fought October 4, 1693, tween the French, under Marshal de Catinat, and
the Austrians, Spanish, and English, under the Duke of Savoy. The
allies, who were inferior in numbers, were attacked by the French, and,
after severe fighting, driven across the Po with a loss of about 6,000.
The Duke of Schomberg and Lord Warwick were taken prisoners. The loss of
the French was slightly less.
Mars-la-Tour (Franco-German War).
Fought August 18, 1870, between the French, under Marshal Bazaine, and
the 3rd and 10th German Army corps, under Von Alvensleben. The Germans,
though at times very hard pressed, succeeded in holding their ground,
and prevented the French breaking through to the westward. The battle is
chiefly remarkable for the desperate charges of the German cavalry, and
especially of Von Bredow’s brigade, against the French infantry, under
cover of which the shattered German infantry was enabled to reform. The
losses were about equal, amounting to about 16,000 killed and wounded on
each side. The action is also known as the Battle of Vionville.
Marston Moor (Civil War).