Peloponnesian ships, under Cnemas. The Athenians were entrapped by
Cnemas at the entrance to the Bay of Naupactus, and 9 of his vessels
driven ashore. The remaining 11 fled towards Naupactus, closely pursued
by the Peloponnesians, when the rearmost of the flying Athenians
suddenly turned, and rammed the leading ship of Cnemas’ squadron. The
pursuers hesitated, and the rest of the Athenians then returned, and
gained a complete victory, taking 6 ships, and recovering 8 of the 9
which had run ashore.
Navarino (Greek War of Independence).
Fought October 20, 1827, when the allied fleets of Great Britain, France
and Russia under Codrington, de Rigny, and Heiden respectively, and
numbering in all 24 ships, annihilated the Turkish and Egyptian fleets,
60 vessels being entirely destroyed, and the remainder driven ashore.
The allies lost 272 in killed and wounded; the Turks over 4,000. This
battle is noteworthy as being the last general action fought under the
old conditions between wooden sailing ships.
Navarrete (Hundred Years’ War).
Fought April 3, 1367, between 24,000 English, under Edward the Black
Prince, and 60,000 French and Spaniards, under Bertrand du Guesclin and
Henry de Trastamare. The English, mainly owing to the skill of their
archers, completely defeated their opponents, with heavy loss, du
Guesclin being made prisoner. This battle is also known as the Battle of
Najara.
Naxos.
Fought September, 376 B.C., between 80 Athenian triremes, under
Chabrias, and 60 Spartan ships, under Pollio, who was endeavouring to
waylay the Athenian grain ships from the Euxine. Pollio was totally
defeated, with a loss of 49 triremes.
Nechtan’s Mere.
Fought May 20, 685, between the Picts, under Brude, and the
Northumbrians, under Ecgfrith. The latter was defeated, and the Picts by
their victory freed themselves from the Northumbrian domination.
Neerwinde (War of the Revolution).
Fought July 19, 1693, between the English, under William III, and the
French in superior force, under Marshal Luxemberg. The French attacked
the English entrenchments, and were at first repulsed, but after eight
hours’ hard fighting, they succeeded in driving them back all along the
line, though owing largely to the personal bravery of the King, the
retirement was in good order. This victory which cost the French 10,000
men, was a barren one, for William’s retreat was unmolested, and he was
almost at once in a condition to renew the conflict. This is also called
the Battle of Landen.
Neerwinde (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought March 18, 1793, between the French, under Dumouriez, and the
Austrians, under the Prince of Coburg. The Austrians won a signal
victory, and in consequence of his defeat Dumouriez was compelled to
evacuate Belgium.
Negapatam.
Fought 1746, off the Coromandel coast between a British squadron of 6
ships, under Captain Peyton, and 9 French ships, under Labourdonnais.
The fight was conducted almost entirely at long range, and was
indecisive, but after the action Peyton sheered off and made for
Trincomalee, thus practically admitting defeat, though the French had in
fact suffered the heavier loss.
Negapatam.
Siege was laid to this place October 21, 1781, by a British force, 4,000
strong, under Colonel Braithwaite. The garrison, partly Dutch and partly
Mysore troops, though 8,000 in number, did not wait for a bombardment,
but surrendered November 3.
Negapatam.
A naval action was fought off this place in 1782 between a British
squadron, under Sir Edward Hughes, and a French squadron, under Suffren.
The opposing forces were of about equal strength, and the action was
indecisive, but the French designs on Negapatam were frustrated, and
Suffren drew off to the southward.
Nehavend (Moslem Invasion of Persia).
Fought A.D. 637 between the Moslems, under Said, the lieutenant of the
Caliph Omar, and a Persian army, 150,000 strong. The Persians were
utterly routed, this being the last stand made against the conquering
Moslems.
Neon (Sacred War).
Fought B.C. 354, between the Phocians and certain mercenary troops,
10,000 in all, under Philomelus, and the Thebans and Locrians. The
Phocians were totally defeated, and Philomelus, driven fighting and
covered with wounds to the edge of a precipice, preferred death to
surrender, and sprang over the cliff.
Neuwied (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought April 18, 1797, between the French, 80,000 strong, under Hoche,
and the Austrians, under Werneck. Hoche won a signal victory, driving
the Austrians beyond the Lahn, with a loss of 8,000 men and 80 guns.
Neville’s Cross (Scottish Wars).
Fought October 17, 1346, between the Scottish invading army, under David
II, and the northern levies, under Henry Percy and Ralph Neville. The
Scots were completely routed, with a loss of 15,000 men, and David and
many of his nobles captured.
Newburn (Scottish Wars).
Fought August 28, 1640, between 4,500 English, under Lord Conway, and
the Scottish army, 22,500 strong, under Leslie. Conway endeavoured to
hold the ford of Newburn, near Newcastle, but his raw levies, after a
cannonade of three hours, fled in confusion. Conway was consequently
obliged to evacuate Newcastle, which was occupied by the Scots. The
losses on both sides were small.
Newbury (Civil War).
Fought September 20, 1643, between the Royalists, under Charles I, and
the Parliamentarians, under Essex. The object of Charles was to stop
Essex’s march on London, and though his troops held their ground
throughout the day, he could not be said to have gained a victory, as
during the night he felt himself obliged to abandon his position.
A second indecisive battle was fought at Newbury, October 27, 1644, when
the Royalists, under Charles I, again sustained throughout the day,
without giving ground, the attacks of the Parliamentary army, under
Waller, Manchester, and others, but, as on the previous occasion,
retired during the night.
Newmarket (American Civil War).
Fought May 13, 1864, between 15,000 Federals, under Sigel, and 3,500
Confederates, under Breckenridge. The Confederates, by a rapid flank
movement, fell upon Sigel’s force while on the march, and drove them to
seek shelter in a wood behind their artillery. The guns were then most
gallantly attacked and taken by 250 boys, pupils of the Lexington
Military School, who lost 80 of their number in the charge. Sigel
retired, having lost very heavily in men, and leaving 6 guns in the
enemy’s hands.
New Orleans (Second American War).
This city, held by a garrison of 12,000 Americans, under General
Jackson, was attacked December, 1814, by a British force of 6,000 men,
under General Keane, aided by the fleet. On the 13th the American
warships, lying in the Mississippi, were captured by a boat attack, and
by the 21st the whole of the troops were disembarked. After a few
skirmishes, Sir Edward Pakenham, arrived and took command on the 25th,
and on January 1, 1815, a determined attack was made upon the American
position. This failed, and owing to difficulties as to supplies, the
British retired. On the 7th a final assault took place, but the
assailants were again repulsed, with a loss of 1,500, including
Pakenham, and the expedition then withdrew. At the time of the action
peace had already been concluded, though of course neither party was
aware of the fact.
New Orleans (American Civil War).
On April 16, 1862, the Federal fleet of 30 armed steamers and 21 mortar
vessels, under Commodore Farragut, began the attack on this city by the
bombardment of Fort Jackson. After this fort and Fort Mary had been
shelled with little intermission until the 25th, Farragut forced the
passage, and anchoring off the Levée of New Orleans, the city at once
surrendered. The forts, however, still held out, but a mutiny broke out
in Fort Jackson, and on the 28th they surrendered to Commodore Porter.
New Ross (Irish Rebellion).
Fought June 5, 1799, between 30,000 rebels, under Father Roche and
Bagenal Harvey, and about 1,400 regulars, under General Johnstone. The
rebels attacked the troops posted in New Ross, and penetrated into the
centre of the town, but were then driven back with the bayonet, and
totally routed, with a loss of 2,600 killed.
Newtown Butler (War of the Revolution).
Fought August 2, 1689, between 5,000 Catholics, under Maccarthy, and
3,000 Protestants, under Colonel Wolseley, in defence of Enniskillen.
The Catholics were totally routed, and fled in disorder, losing 1,500 in
the action, and 500 drowned in Lough Erne.
Niagara (Seven Years’ War).
This fort was besieged in June, 1759, by 2,500 British, with 900
Indians, under General Prideaux, the garrison consisting of 600 French,
under Captain Pouchot. Prideaux was killed by the premature explosion of
a shell, and Sir William Johnson succeeded to the command. On July 24,
when the garrison were almost _in extremis_, an attempt to relieve the
fort was made by 1,300 French and Indians, under Ligneris, but he was
repulsed by Johnson with considerable loss, at La Belle Famille, and
Pouchot at once surrendered.
Nicæa (First Crusade).
This city was besieged by the Crusaders, under Godefroi de Bouillon, May
14, 1097. The Saracens were greatly aided in the defence by the
possession of Lake Ascanius, but with great labour the crusaders
transported boats from the sea to the lake, and thus completed the
investment of the place. Two determined attempts to relieve it were made
by the Sultan Soliman, but both were repulsed, and Nicæa surrendered
June 20.
Nicholson’s Nek.
_See_ Farquhar’s Farm.
Nicopolis (Third Mithridatic War).
Fought B.C. 66, between the Romans, under Pompey, and the army of
Mithridates. The Romans had occupied the heights in front of the
retreating Asiatics, and Mithridates encamped under their position. In
the night the Romans attacked him in his camp, and utterly routed him.
This was the last battle fought by Mithridates against the legions of
Rome.
Nicopolis.
Fought B.C. 47, when Domitius Calvinus, with one Roman legion and a
contingent of Pontic and other Asiatic troops, encountered the
Bosporans, under Pharnaces. Calvinus’ Asiatic troops fled at the first
onset, and he was completely defeated, only the steadiness of the Romans
saving him from disaster.
Nicopolis (Ottoman Wars).
Fought September 28, 1395, between 10,000 French and 50,000 Hungarians,
under the Duc de Nevers and Sigismund of Hungary, and the Turkish army
of Bajazet I. The French charged the Turkish lines, without waiting for
the Hungarians, and penetrated the two first lines, killing 1,500 Turks,
but they were then overpowered by the Janissaries in the third line and
3,000 killed, while all the survivors were captured. Bajazet then turned
upon the Hungarians, who fled without striking a blow. Bajazet massacred
all his prisoners, excepting 25 nobles.
Nicopolis (Russo-Turkish War).
This place was captured July 16, 1877, by the 9th Russian Army Corps,
under General Krudener, after two days’ bombardment, when the garrison
of 7,000 Turks surrendered. The Russians lost 1,300 killed and wounded.
Nieuport (Netherlands War of Independence).
Fought July 2, 1600, between the Dutch, under Maurice of Orange, and the
Spaniards, under the Archduke Albert of Austria. Prince Maurice was
surprised by the Archduke in a very critical position, but succeeded in
holding his own, and after a long and evenly-contested engagement,
ultimately defeated the Spaniards with heavy loss.
Nikko (Japanese Revolution).
Fought 1868, between the adherents of the Shogun, under Otori Keisuke,
and the Imperial army, under Saigo Takamori. The rebels were defeated,
and fled to the castle of Wakamatsu.
Nile (French Invasion of Egypt).
Fought August 1, 1798. Admiral Brueys, with 13 ships of the line and
4 frigates, was anchored in Aboukir Bay. Nelson, with 13
line-of-battleships and one 50-gun ship, penetrated with half his
squadron between the French line and the shore, while his remaining
ships engaged them on the outside. Thus caught between two fires,
the French were utterly routed, only two of their vessels escaping
capture or destruction. Admiral Brueys was killed, and his ship
L’Orient blown up. This battle is also known as the Battle of
Aboukir.
Nineveh (Persian Wars).
Fought December 1, 627, between the Imperial troops, under the Emperor
Heraclius, and the Persians, under Rhazates, the general of Chosroes II.
The Persians stood their ground manfully throughout the day and far into
the night, and were almost annihilated before the surviving remnant
retreated in good order to their camp. The Romans also lost heavily, but
the victory opened the way to the royal city of Destigerd, which fell
into the hands of Heraclius, and peace was made the following year.
Niquitas (South American War of Independence).
Fought 1813, when the Colombian Patriots, under Bolivar, completely
defeated the Spanish Royalists.
Nisib (Mehemet Ali’s Second Rebellion).
Fought June 23, 1839, between 30,000 Turks, under Hafiz Pasha, and
Mehemet Ali’s Syro-Egyptian army, under his son Ibrahim. Ibrahim was far
the stronger in artillery, and his fire so shattered the Turks, that
when he finally advanced his infantry, they made no stand, but turned
and fled. Von Moltke, as a captain in the Turkish service, was under
fire in this action for the first time.
Nisibis (Persian Wars).
This fortress, known as the Bulwark of the East, was thrice besieged in
338, 346 and 350 by Sapor II, King of Persia. In the two former years he
was compelled to retire after a siege of 60 and 80 days respectively. In
350 the city was defended by a garrison under Lucilianus, and Sapor,
finding the ordinary methods unavailing, diverted the course of the
Mygdonius, and by building dams formed a large lake, upon which he
placed a fleet of armed vessels, and attacked the city almost from the
level of the ramparts. Under pressure of the water a portion of the wall
gave way, and the Persians at once delivered an assault, but were
repulsed; and by the following day the garrison had rebuilt the wall. At
the end of about three months, Sapor, having lost 20,000 men, raised the
siege.
Nissa.
A naval action, fought at the mouth of the Nissa in 1064, between the
Danish fleet, under Sweyn II, and the Norwegians under Harold Hardrada.
Sweyn was totally defeated, and his fleet destroyed, he himself escaping
with difficulty to Zealand.
Nissa.
_See_ Morawa.
Nive (Peninsular War).
Fought December 13, 1813, between 35,000 French, under Soult, and 14,000
British and Portuguese, under Wellington. Having crossed the Nive on the
10th, Wellington took up a strong position on the heights near the
village of St. Pierre. Here he was attacked by Soult, but repulsed him,
and occupied the French position in front of the Adour. The French
losses in this battle and the combats which preceded it, amounted to
10,000 men. The British lost 5,019 killed and wounded.
Nivelle (Peninsular War).
Fought November 10, 1813, when the French, under Soult, were driven from
a very strong position by the British, under Wellington, and forced to
retire behind the Nivelle. The French lost 4,265, including about 1,200
prisoners, 51 guns, and all their field magazines. The British lost
2,694 killed and wounded.
Nordlingen (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought September 6, 1634, between 40,000 Imperialists, under Ferdinand
of Hungary, and a numerically inferior force of Germans and Swedes,
under the Duke of Weimar and Count Horn. The action was fought to
relieve Nordlingen, which Ferdinand was besieging, and resulted in the
total defeat of the allies, who lost 12,000 killed, 6,000 prisoners,
including Horn, and 80 guns.
Nordlingen (Wars of Louis XIV).
Fought August 3, 1645, between 17,000 French under Condé, and 14,000
Imperialists, under Mercy. The French attacked the village of
Allersheim, where the Imperialists were strongly entrenched, and after
very severe fighting, the left under Turenne succeeded in expelling
them, with a loss of 6,000 killed, wounded and prisoners, and almost all
their guns. General Mercy was killed. The French loss amounted to about
4,000.
Noisseville (Franco-German War).
A sortie of the French, under Bazaine, from Metz, August 31, 1870, in
the endeavour to break through the investing line of the Germans, under
Prince Frederick Charles. The French had some slight success at first,
and maintained the ground they had won during the day, but on September
1, their further efforts to advance were fruitless, and they were driven
back into Metz with a loss of 145 officers and 3,379 men. The Germans
lost 126 officers and 2,850 men.
Northallerton.
_See_ Standard.
Northampton (Wars of the Roses).
Fought July 10, 1460, between the Lancastrians, under Henry VI, and the
Yorkists, under the Earl of Warwick. The king’s entrenchments were
betrayed by Lord Grey de Ruthyn, and the Lancastrians were defeated with
a loss of 300 killed, including Buckingham, Shrewsbury, Egremont, and
other prominent men. The King was made prisoner.
North Foreland (Dutch Wars).
Fought July 25, 1666, between the English fleet, under the Duke of
Albemarle and Prince Rupert, and the Dutch, under Van Tromp and de
Ruyter. The English gained a complete victory, capturing or burning 20
ships. The Dutch had 4,000 men killed or drowned.
Notion (Peloponnesian War).
Fought B.C. 407 between the Peloponnesian fleet, under Lysander, and the
Athenian fleet of Alcibiades, which was lying at Notion. Alcibiades was
not present during the action, which was the result of a surprise, and
the Athenians were defeated with a loss of 15 ships.
Nova Carthago (Second Punic War).
This city, defended by a small Carthaginian garrison, under Mago, was
stormed by 27,500 Romans, under Scipio, B.C. 209.
Novara (Italian Wars).
Fought June 6, 1515, between 10,000 French, under La Tremouille, and
13,000 Swiss. The French camp was surprised by the Swiss, who, after
hard fighting, totally routed the French with a loss of 6,000 men. The
Swiss losses were also heavy.
Novara (Italian Rising).
Fought March 23, 1849, between 50,000 Piedmontese, under Chrzanowski,
and three Austrian army corps, under Radetsky. After hard fighting the
Piedmontese were completely defeated and driven from the field in
disorder.
Novi (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought August 15, 1799, between the French, under Joubert, and the
Russians and Austrians, under Suwaroff. Early in the action Joubert
fell, Moreau succeeding to the command. The result was disastrous to the
French, who were defeated with a loss of 7,000 killed and wounded, 3,000
prisoners, and 37 guns. The allies lost 6,000 killed and wounded and
1,200 prisoners.
Nujufghur (Indian Mutiny).
Fought August 24, 1857, between 6,000 rebels, under Mohammed Bukht Khan,
and a small British force, under John Nicholson. The rebels were
defeated, at small cost, with a loss of over 800 men and all their guns.
Numantia (Lusitanian War).
This city, defended by the inhabitants under Megaravicus, was besieged
B.C. 142 by a Roman consular army. In the course of 141 the Romans were
twice defeated under the walls, and though negotiations for a surrender
were entered into in the following year, they were not concluded, and in
139 the new Roman commander, Popilius Lænas, refused to ratify the
terms. Shortly afterwards he was again defeated by the Numantians, as
was his successor Mancius in 137. It was not till the arrival of Scipio
Æmilianus in 134 that the lengthy resistance of the inhabitants was at
last overcome, and fifteen months after he took command the city fell,
in the autumn of 133 B.C.
O
Oberstein.
Fought 1533, between the Poles, under Tarnowski, and the Wallachians,
under Bogdan. The Wallachians were signally defeated, with heavy loss.
Obligado (Uruguayan War of Independence).
Fought November, 1845, between the Argentine fleet, under Oribe, and the
combined French and British squadrons. The allies were victorious, and
Oribe was forced to raise the siege of Montevideo, while the waters of
the Parana were opened to the shipping of all nations.
Ocaña (Peninsular War).
In this action, at which Joseph Buonaparte was present, Soult, with
30,000 French, defeated 53,000 Spaniards, under Areizaga, with a loss of
5,000 killed and wounded, 26,000 prisoners, including 3 generals, 45
guns, and all their baggage and transport. The French only lost 1,700
men.
Ocean Pond (American Civil War).
Fought February 20, 1864, between 5,000 Confederates, under General
Finnegan, and 6,000 Federals, under General Seymour. The Confederates
occupied a strong position, protected by swamps and forests, near Lake
City, where they were attacked by Seymour, whom they defeated with a
loss of 1,200 men and 5 guns. The Confederates loss amounted to 700.
Ockley (Danish Invasion).
Fought 851, between the Danes, and the West Saxons, under Ethelwulf. The
Danes were completely defeated.
Oczakov (Ottoman Wars).
This fortress, defended by 10,000 Turks and Bosnians, was besieged 1737,
by the Russians, under Count Münnich, and after the magazine had been
blown up was stormed by the besiegers, and the garrison cut to pieces.
In 1788 the place was again besieged by the Russians, under Potemkin,
and after a strenuous resistance of six months, was taken by storm,
December 17. In the massacre which followed, 40,000 of the garrison and
inhabitants were put to the sword.
Odawara (Hojo Rebellion).
The castle of Odawara, the last stronghold of the Hojo family, was
besieged by the Japanese Imperial troops, under Hideyoshi. The castle
held out for over three months, but at last finding that they could hope
for no support from without, the garrison surrendered, and the power of
the Hojo family came to an end.
Œnophyta
Fought B.C. 457, between the Athenians, under Myronides, and the Thebans
and other Bœotian states. The Bœotians were totally defeated, and
were in consequence compelled to acknowledge the headship of Athens, and
to contribute men to her armies.
Ofen (Hungarian Rising).
This fortress, held by an Austrian garrison, under General Hentzi, was
besieged by the Hungarians, under Görgey, May 4, 1849. After an
unsuccessful assault, a siege in due form was commenced, and several
further assaults having also failed, the place was finally taken by
storm on the 21st. General Hentzi was mortally wounded.
Ohud (Mohammed’s War with the Koreish).
Fought 623, between 950 Moslems, under Mohammed, and 3,000 Koreish of
Mecca, under Abu Sophian. The latter were victorious, 70 Moslems being
slain, and the Prophet himself wounded, but Abu Sophian did not feel
himself strong enough to follow up his victory by an attack upon Medina.
Olmedo.
Fought 1467, between the Spanish adherents of the Infante Alfonso, a
claimant to the throne, under the Archbishop of Toledo, and the Royal
troops, under Henry of Castile. After an action which began late in the
afternoon, and lasted for three hours, without any very decisive result,
the Archbishop, who was considerably inferior in numbers, withdrew his
troops, leaving Henry in possession of the field.
Olmütz (Seven Years’ War).
This place was besieged by Frederick the Great, May, 1758. Having
insufficient troops to completely invest the place, Frederick’s task was
a difficult one, and Marshal Daun was able to keep communications open,
and supply the town with provisions. After a siege of seven weeks, the
Austrians captured a convoy of 4,000 waggons, under the escort of
Landon, destined for the Prussian army, and Frederick was forced by this
loss to raise the siege, and retire.
Olpæ (Peloponnesian War).
Fought 426 B.C., between a small Athenian force, under Demosthenes, and
a force of Ambraciots, with 3,000 Spartan hoplites, under Eurylochus.
Demosthenes gained a complete victory, by means of an ambuscade, and
Eurylochus was slain.
Oltenitza (Crimean War).
Fought 1853, when a Turkish army, superior in numbers, under Omar Pasha,
totally defeated the Russian army which had invaded the Danubian
Principalities.
Omdurman (Soudan Campaigns).