division of the Austro-Sardinian army, attacked the French position at
Montenotte, held by Cervoni’s division. Cervoni was driven back, but the
key to the position was held throughout the day by Tampon, with 1,500
men, and on the 12th d’Argentian found himself outflanked by Augereau
and Masséna, and was compelled to fall back, with a loss of 1,000
killed, 2,000 prisoners, and some guns. This was Napoleon’s first
victory.
Montereau (Allied Campaign in France).
Fought February 18, 1814, between the rearguard of the French army,
under Napoleon, and the Würtembergers, under Prince Eugène of
Würtemberg. Eugène attacked Napoleon’s position, but was repulsed with a
loss of about 2,000 killed and wounded and 4,000 prisoners.
Monterey (Americo-Mexican War).
This town in southern California was captured from the Mexicans,
September 23, 1846, by the Americans, under General Taylor, and this
success was followed by the occupation of the whole of Northern Mexico
by the American army.
Montevideo (Napoleonic Wars).
This city was taken by assault February 3, 1807, by 3,000 British
troops, under Sir Samuel Auchmuty. The capture was preceded by an action
outside the town, in which the Rifle corps, now the Rifle Brigade,
especially distinguished itself. The British losses amounted to about
600.
Montevideo (Uruguayan War of Independence).
This city was besieged February 16, 1843, by the Argentine troops, under
Oribe, and was defended by the Uruguayans, and a number of foreign
residents, amongst others Garibaldi, under General Paz. In the course of
the siege, Garibaldi, at the head of 160 Italians, made a sortie, in
which he held his own for a whole day against 12,000 Argentines, and
eventually effected a retreat in good order. The intervention of France
and England eventually forced Oribe to raise the siege, November, 1845.
Montevideo (Uruguayan War of Independence).
Fought October 8, 1851, between the combined forces of Uruguay, Brazil
and Paraguay, under Urquiza, and the Argentines, under Oribe. The
Argentines were besieging Montevideo, and Oribe was hemmed in in his
lines by the allies, and forced to capitulate.
Montevideo.
Fought August, 1863, between the Colorados, or Liberal party, of
Uruguay, under General Venancio Flores, and the Blancos, under General
Medina. The Blancos were victorious.
Montfaucon (Norman Invasion of France).
Fought 887, between the French, under Eudes, and the Norman invaders.
The latter were totally defeated, losing 19,000 men in the battle, and
were forced to retire from before the walls of Paris, which they were
besieging.
Montiel.
Fought 1369, between the French, under Bertrand du Guesclin, and the
Spaniards, under Pedro II of Castile. Pedro was routed and taken
prisoner, and Henry of Trastamare placed on the throne of Castile.
Montlhéry (War of the Public Good).
Fought 1465, between the forces of the Ligue du Bien Public, under the
Comte de Charolais, and the Royal troops, under Louis XI. Louis was
totally defeated, after a sanguinary engagement, and driven from the
field.
Montmirail. _See_ Champ Aubert.
Montmorenci (Seven Years’ War).
Fought July 31, 1759, during the siege of Quebec, when Wolfe, with 5,000
men, attacked the entrenched camp of the French, which was defended by
12,000 men under Montcalm. As the British were landing, 13 companies of
grenadiers advanced to the attack without waiting for the main body.
They were repulsed with heavy loss, which so weakened Wolfe that he
decided not to press the attack further. The British loss amounted to
443, almost the whole of which fell upon the grenadiers. The French
losses were very small.
Montreal (Seven Years’ War).
This city was surrendered to the British, under General Amherst, by
Vaudreuil, Governor-General of Canada, September 8, 1760. One of the
conditions of the surrender was that the whole of the French army in
Canada and its dependencies must lay down their arms. Canada thus became
a part of the British dominions.
Mont Valérien.
_See_ Buzenval.
Moodkee (First Sikh War).
Fought December 18, 1845, between the British, 12,000 strong, with 42
guns, under Sir Hugh Gough, and the Sikhs, 30,000 strong, with 40 guns,
under Taj Singh. Gough, at the end of a long march, was surprised by the
Sikhs, and his force thrown into some confusion, but he succeeded in
rallying them, and finally drove the Sikhs from the field, capturing 17
guns. The British loss was 872 killed and wounded, among the former
being Generals M’Caskill and Sir Robert Sale.
Mook (Netherlands War of Independence).
Fought April 14, 1574, between the Dutch Patriots, 8,000 strong, under
Count Louis of Nassau, and 5,000 Spaniards, under Don Sancho d’Avila.
The village of Mook was held by the Dutch infantry, who were driven out
by the Spaniards, and totally routed, with a loss of at least 4,000.
Among the slain were the Counts Louis and Henry of Nassau.
Morat (Burgundian Wars).
Fought June 22, 1746, between the Burgundians, 35,000 strong, under
Charles the Bold, and 24,000 Swiss, under Hans Waldmann. After a few
hours’ hard fighting the Burgundians were driven into the plain, where
the Swiss utterly routed them, no less than 8,000 falling. The Swiss
chroniclers aver that the victors only lost 500 killed.
Morawa (Ottoman Wars).
Fought November 3, 1443, between the Hungarians, under John Hunniades,
with 12,000 horse and 20,000 foot, and a greatly superior Turkish army,
under Amurath II. The Turks were defeated, with a loss of 2,000 killed
and 4,000 prisoners. This battle is also called the Battle of Nissa.
Morazzone (Italian Rising).
Fought 1848 between 1,500 Garibaldian volunteers, under Garibaldi, and
5,000 Austrians, under General d’Aspré. After a resistance lasting
eleven hours, Garibaldi, hopelessly out-numbered, withdrew his force
from the town, and executed a masterly retreat to Arona.
Morella (First Carlist War).
This fortress, the last stronghold of the Carlists, was besieged by
Espartero, with 20,000 Cristinos, May 23, 1840. It was defended by a
garrison of 4,000 veterans, under Cabrera, who on the 30th attempted to
break through the besiegers’ lines. His plan, however, had been
betrayed, and he was met and driven back, whereupon the place
surrendered. Cabrera, however, with a portion of the garrison, made a
second and this time a successful attempt to cut his way out.
Morgarten (First Swiss-Austrian War).
Fought November 16, 1315. The men of Schwyz, 1,400 in number, took post
in the Pass of Morgarten, and lay in wait for the Archduke Leopold, who,
with 15,000 Austrians, was marching into Schwyz. Having disordered the
Austrian ranks by rolling down boulders upon them, the Swiss then fell
upon them with their halberds, and totally routed them, with a loss of
1,500 killed.
Morshedabad.
Fought July 24, 1763, between the troops of Mir Cossim, the deposed
Nawab of Bengal, and a British force of 750 Europeans and a large body
of native troops, under Major Adams. The British stormed Cossim’s
entrenchments, driving out his army in confusion, and followed up their
victory by the occupation of Morshedabad, without further opposition.
Mortara (Italian Rising).
Fought March 21, 1849, between the Piedmontese, under the Duke of Savoy
(Victor Emmanuel) and General Darando, and the main Austrian army, under
Radetsky. No steps had been taken by the Piedmontese to render Mortara
defensible, and little guard was kept, with the result that they were
surprised by Radetsky, and driven out of the town in confusion, with a
loss of 500 killed and wounded, 2,000 prisoners and 5 guns. The
Austrians lost 300 only.
Mortimer’s Cross (Wars of the Roses).
Fought February 2, 1461, when Edward, Duke of York, defeated the
Lancastrians, under the Earls of Pembroke and Wiltshire, and drove them
back into Wales, thus preventing a concentration of the Lancastrian
forces.
Mortlack (Danish Invasion of Scotland).
Fought 1010, between the Danes, under Sweyn, and the Scots, under
Malcolm II. After a long and obstinate engagement the Danes were totally
defeated, and forced to flee to their ships. A victory for them on this
occasion would probably have given them a permanent lodgment in
Scotland, as Malcolm had his last available man in the field.
Mortmant (Allied Invasion of France).
Fought February 17, 1814, between the Russian advance-guard, under the
Count de Pahlen, and the French rear-guard, under Victor. The Russians
were repulsed with a loss of 3,000 killed and wounded, and 11 guns.
Möskirch (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought May 5, 1800, between 50,000 French, under Moreau, and 60,000
Austrians, under de Kray. The French advance-guard, under Lecourbe,
approaching Möskirch found the heights strongly held by the Austrians,
and attempted to carry them, but without success. The arrival of the
main body, however, turned the scale, and the Austrians were obliged to
abandon all their positions, with a loss of about 5,000 men. The French
lost about 3,500.
Moskowa.
_See_ Borodino.
Motya.
This city, the chief stronghold of the Carthaginians in Sicily, was
besieged by Dionysius of Syracuse, with 83,000 men, B.C. 398. Having
built a mole to connect the mainland and the island on which Motya
stood, he erected thereon his new engines of war, the catapults, used
for the first time in this siege. He also built large moving towers to
enable him to cope with the lofty defences of the place, and by these
devices succeeded in effecting an entrance. Every house, however, was in
itself a small fortress, and after days of street fighting, which cost
the assailants a heavy price, the city was still unsubdued. At last by a
night surprise he mastered the quarter which still held out, and the
inhabitants were massacred or sold as slaves.
Mount Gaurus (First Samnite War).
Fought B.C. 342, between the Romans, under Valerius Corvus, and the
Samnites. The Romans won a signal victory.
Mount Lactarius (Second Gothic War).
Fought March 553, between the troops of the Emperor Justinian, under
Narses, and the Goths, under Teias, the last Gothic king of Italy. The
Romans gained a signal victory, and Teias was slain, the Goths thereupon
accepting the rule of Justinian.
Mount Panium.
Fought B.C. 198, between the Syrians, under Antiochus the Great, and the
Greeks and Egyptians, under Scopas. Scopas was routed, and Antiochus
took possession of all the territory held by Egypt in Asia, up to the
frontier of Egypt proper.
Mount Seleucus (Revolt of Magnentius).
Fought August 10, 353, between the rebels, under Magnentius, and the
Imperial legions, under Constantius. Constantius forced the passage of
the Cottian Alps, and defeated Magnentius in a sanguinary battle, which
dispersed his army and finally broke his power, Gaul and Italy being
thus again brought under the Imperial sway.
Mount Tabor (French Invasion of Egypt).
Fought April 15, 1799, when Napoleon defeated and dispersed the Syrian
army raised to create a diversion in favour of the beleaguered garrison
of Acre. Kléber’s division bore the brunt of the fighting.
Mount Taurus (Moslem Invasion of Asia Minor).
Fought 804, between the Moslems, under Harroun-al-Raschid, and the
Greeks, under the Emperor Nicephorus I. The Greeks were totally
defeated, with a loss of 40,000 men, and Nicephorus, wounded in three
places, with difficulty escaped from the field.
Mount Tifata (Civil War of Marius and Sulla).
Fought B.C. 83, when the legions of Sulla defeated the army of the
Consul, Norbanus, with heavy loss, and drove them to take refuge in
Capua.
Mouscron (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought 1794, between the French, under Moreau and Souham, and the
Austrians, under General Clarifait. The French were victorious.
Mühlberg (Wars of Charles V).
Fought April 24, 1547, between the German Protestants, 9,000 strong,
under the Elector Frederick of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse, and
the Imperial army, together with 3,500 Papal troops, 13,000 in all,
under Charles V. The Protestants were totally defeated, and their two
leaders taken prisoners. The Imperialists lost 50 only.
Mühldorf.
Fought 1322, between the Imperial troops, under the Emperor Louis the
Bavarian, and the German malcontents, under Frederick, Duke of Austria.
Louis won a signal victory, and put an end to the resistance to his
rule.
Mühlhausen (Gallic War).
Fought B.C. 58, between the Romans, 36,000 strong, under Julius Cæsar,
and the Sequani, under Ariovistus. The Romans occupied two camps, one of
which was held successfully by two legions against a determined attack
of the Gauls. The attack having been repulsed, Cæsar united his forces,
and led them against the Sequani, whom he totally routed with enormous
loss.
Mukwanpur (Gurkha War).
Fought February 27, 1816, when a village, forming part of Sir David
Ochterlony’s position, was attacked by 2,000 Gurkhas. The village was
defended by three companies of Sepoys and 40 men of the 87th Regiment,
and the defenders were hard pressed, but the arrival of reinforcements
enabled them after severe fighting to beat off the assailants with very
heavy loss.
Multan (Second Sikh War).
This fortress, defended by the Sikhs, under Mulraj, was besieged by
Lieutenant Edwardes with about 1,200 men in July, 1848. After an
ineffectual bombardment, the siege was raised September 22, but was
renewed December 27 by General Whish, with 17,000 men and 64 guns. After
a heavy bombardment the place was stormed January 2, 1849, and on the
22nd of the same month Mulraj surrendered the citadel. The British loss
during the siege was 210 killed and 910 wounded.
Münchengrätz (Seven Weeks’ War).
Fought June 28, 1866, between the advance-guard of Prince Frederick
Charles’ army, and the Austrians, under Count Clam-Gallas. The Austrians
were defeated with a loss of about 300 killed and wounded, and 1,000
prisoners. The Prussian losses were very small.
Munda (Civil War of Cæsar and Pompey).
Fought March 17, B.C. 45, between the Pompeians, under Cnæus Pompeius,
and the Cæsareans, under Julius Cæsar. The Pompeians were totally
defeated, losing 30,000 men, including Labienus and Varro, while the
Cæsareans lost 1,000 only. Cnæus Pompey was wounded. This defeat put an
end to the resistance of the Pompeian faction in Spain, and the action
is further notable as being Cæsar’s last battle.
Muret (Albigensian Crusade).
Fought 1213, between the Catholics, under Simon de Montfort, and the
Albigenses, under the Count of Thoulouse, aided by Pedro II of Aragon.
The Albigenses were routed, and this defeat put an end to their
organized resistance. Pedro fell in the battle.
Murfreesboro (American Civil War).
Fought December 31, 1862, between 35,000 Confederates, under General
Bragg, and 40,000 Federals, under General Rosecrans. Bragg attacked and
drove back the Federal right, but the centre and left held their ground,
and prevented the defeat degenerating into a rout. Both sides lost
heavily, but the Confederates captured a large number of prisoners and
over 20 guns. On the following day the Federal right retook the ground
it had lost on the 31st, and at the end of the day both armies occupied
their original positions. Early on January 2, however, Bragg retired in
good order. Each side lost about 8,000, killed, wounded and missing, in
the two days’ fighting.
Mursa (Revolt of Magnentius).
Fought September 28, 351, between the usurper Magnentius, with 100,000
troops, and the Emperor Constantius, with 80,000. The battle was
severely contested, but finally the legions of Magnentius were driven
from the field with a loss of 24,000; that of the victors amounting to
30,000.
Musa Bagh (Indian Mutiny).
Fought March 19, 1858, when a British force, under Sir James Outram,
totally routed a body of mutineers, 7,000 strong, under Huzrat Mahal,
Begum of Oude, which was holding the Musa Bagh, a fortified palace in
the outskirts of Lucknow.
Muta (Moslem Invasion of Syria).
Fought 629, between the Moslems, under Zaid, and the troops of the
Emperor Heraclius. Zaid was slain, and so successively were Jaafar and
Abdallah, who followed him in the command, but the banner of the prophet
was then raised by Khaled, who succeeded in repulsing the onslaught of
the Imperial troops, and on the following day led the Moslems undefeated
from the field. This is the first battle between the Mohammedan Arabs
and a foreign enemy.
Muthal, The (Jugurthine War).
Fought B.C. 108, between the Numidians, under Jugurtha, and the Romans,
under Metellus Numidicus. The Numidians were strongly posted on the
heights above the river, but were driven out by the legionaries with
heavy loss. Jugurtha did not again face the Romans in the field,
contenting himself with a guerilla warfare.
Mutina (Mark Antony’s First Rebellion).
Fought April 16, 43 B.C., between the adherents of Antony, and three
Consular armies, under Hirtius, Octavius, and Vibius Pansa. Antony, who
was besieging Mutina, was attacked simultaneously by the three armies.
That of Pansa was routed, and Pansa slain but Octavius and Hirtius
gained some small success. Antony, however, was undefeated, and
continued the siege. On the 27th Octavius and Hirtius made a combined
attack on his lines, and succeeded in forcing their way through into the
town, though Hirtius fell in the action.
Mycale (Third Persian Invasion).
Fought August, 479 B.C., between the Greeks, under Leotychides the
Spartan, and a large Persian army. The Greeks effected a landing near
Cape Mycale, and drove the Persians back upon their entrenchments, which
they then carried by storm, whereupon the Persian auxiliaries fled. The
fugitives were slaughtered in detail by the revolted Ionians, and the
whole army destroyed.
Mylæ (First Punic War).
Fought B.C. 260, when the Roman fleet, under Caius Duilius, defeated the
Carthaginians, under Hannibal, with loss of 50 ships, 3,000 killed and
7,000 prisoners. Duilius had introduced the boarding bridge, which was
lowered on to the deck of the opposing galley, and this gave full scope
to the superior powers of the Romans in hand-to-hand fighting.
Mylex (Civil War of Cæsar and Pompey).
Fought B.C. 36, between the Pompeian fleet, under Sextus Pompeius, and
the fleet of the Triumvirs, under Agrippa. The Pompeians were defeated.
Myonnesus (War with Antiochus the Great).
Fought B.C. 190, between the Roman fleet, under Caius Livius, and the
fleet of Antiochus, under Polyxenides, who had an advantage of nine
ships. He was, however, defeated by the superior seamanship of the
Romans, with a loss of 42 vessels.
Mytilene (Peloponnesian War).
This city, which had revolted against Athens, was invested in the autumn
of 428 B.C. by the Athenians, under Paches, with 1,000 hoplites and a
fleet of triremes. A feeble attempt at relief by a Peloponnesian
squadron, under Alcidas, was unsuccessful, and in May, 427, the city
surrendered, and all the male inhabitants were condemned to death. In
the end, however, only the leaders of the revolt were executed.
Mytilene (Peloponnesian War).
A naval action fought B.C. 406, between 140 Peloponnesian vessels, under
Callicratidas, and 70 Athenian triremes, under Conon. Conon was
defeated, with the loss of 30 ships, the rest of his fleet being driven
into Mytilene, where it was blockaded.
N
Nachod (Seven Weeks’ War).
Fought June 27, 1866, between the 5th Prussian Corps, under General
Steinmetz, and the Austrians, under General Ramming. The Austrian
cavalry, which was considerably superior in number, was defeated by the
Prussian Uhlans, and the action resulted in the retreat of the
Austrians, with a considerable loss in killed and wounded. The
Prussians, who lost 900, captured 2,000 prisoners and 5 guns.
Næfels (War of Kiburg).
Fought April 9, 1388, between 6,000 Austrians, under Tockenburg, and 500
men of Glarus with a few Schwyzers. The Swiss were driven from their
first position behind the “Letzi” at the entrance to the valley, but,
retiring to the heights of the Rauhberg, disordered the advancing
columns by rolling boulders upon them, and, then attacking, utterly
routed them. The Austrians lost 80 knights and 2,000 soldiers.
Nagy-Sarló (Hungarian Rising).
Fought April 19, 1849, between the Hungarians, 25,000 strong, under
Görgey, and the Austrians, who endeavoured to prevent Görgey
constructing bridges over the Gran. The Austrians were signally
defeated, and the river successfully bridged.
Naissus (Gothic Invasion of the East).
Fought 269 between the Imperial troops, under the Emperor Claudius
Gothicus, and the invading Goths. The Romans were hard pressed, when the
Gothic lines were attacked in the rear by a force of 5,000 men, which
Claudius had concealed for this purpose in the neighbouring mountains,
and being thrown into confusion, were totally routed. Fifty thousand men
are said to have fallen in the battle.
Najara.
_See_ Navarrete.
Nanshan (Russo-Japanese War).
Fought May 26, 1904, between three Japanese divisions, under General
Oku, and a Russian division, with a large force of artillery, under
General Stoessel. The Russians occupied a very strongly entrenched
position on the heights of Nanshan. After an artillery preparation, the
Japanese attempted to storm the heights, eight successive attacks
failing before the concentrated fire of the Russian guns, though the
last survivors of the assailants got within 30 yards of the trenches.
The infantry were then retired, and after a further bombardment, aided
by the Japanese fleet in Kiuchau Bay, the whole force attacked
simultaneously, and, penetrating the defences on the Russian left, drove
them from their positions with heavy loss, the defenders leaving 500
dead on the field. The Japanese lost 4,304 killed, wounded and missing.
Seventy-eight guns were taken, and the Russians penned up in Port
Arthur.
Narva (Russo-Swedish War).
Fought November 30, 1700, between 8,000 Swedes, under Charles XII, and
80,000 Russians, under General Dolgorouky. The Russians were besieging
Narva, and after driving in two large bodies who occupied advanced
positions, Charles boldly attacked their entrenched camp. After a brief
cannonade, the Swedes stormed the trenches, and though the Russian
artillerymen stood to their guns, after three hours’ hard fighting, the
defenders were driven out in disorder having lost 18,000 in the
trenches, while many more fell in the fight. The Swedes lost 600 only.
Naseby (Civil War).
Fought June 14, 1645, between 14,000 Parliamentarians, under Fairfax,
and 7,500 Royalists, under Charles I, with Prince Rupert in actual
command. Rupert’s first charge broke the Parliamentary left wing, but,
as usual, the pursuit was carried too far, and before the cavalry
returned, Cromwell on the right had turned the scale, and the battle was
over. The Royalist infantry, overwhelmed by superior numbers, was almost
annihilated, 5,000 prisoners, and all the artillery and munitions of war
being captured.
Nashville (American Civil War).
Fought December 15 and 16, 1863, between 50,000 Federals, under General
Thomas, and 40,000 Confederates, under General Hood. Thomas attacked the
left of Hood’s lines before Nashville, and after hard fighting, in which
Hood lost 1,200 prisoners and 16 guns, the Confederates withdrew during
the night to a position a few miles in the rear. Here they were again
attacked on the 16th, and, though at first holding their ground, were in
the end driven from the field in confusion, with heavy loss in killed
and wounded, besides 4,460 prisoners and 54 guns.
Naulachus (Civil War of Cæsar and Pompey).
Fought September 3, B.C. 36, between the Pompeian fleet of 300 ships,
under Sextus Pompeius, and the fleet of the Triumvirs, of equal
strength, under Agrippa. The action was severely contested, but in the
end Agrippa was victorious, and Pompeius fled with 17 vessels only.
Naupactus (Peloponnesian War).