strong, under Sir Herbert Kitchener, and 50,000 Dervishes, under the
Khalifa. The Dervishes attacked the British zareba, and were repulsed
with heavy loss. Kitchener then advanced, to drive the enemy before him
into Omdurman, and capture the place. In the course of the operation,
however, the Egyptian Brigade on the British right, under General
Macdonald, became isolated, and was attacked in front by the centre of
the Dervish army, while his flank and rear were threatened by the
Dervish left, which had not previously been engaged. The position was
critical, but through the extreme steadiness of the Soudanese, who
changed front under heavy fire, the attack was repulsed. The British and
Egyptian losses were 500 killed and wounded. The Dervishes lost about
15,000.
Onao (Indian Mutiny).
Fought July 28, 1857, between Havelock’s relieving force, 1,500 strong,
and the rebels, who occupied a strong position near Onao, so protected
on the flanks that a frontal attack was necessary. This was successful,
and after the town had been passed, a further attack by the mutineers
was repulsed, with a loss of 300 men and 15 guns.
Onessant.
Fought July 27, 1778, between 30 British ships of the line, under
Admiral Keppel, and a French squadron of equal force, under the Comte
d’Estaing. After a fight which lasted throughout the day, the two fleets
drew off to repair damages, neither side having lost a ship.
Oondwa Nullah.
Fought September, 1763, when 3,000 British and native troops, under
Major Adams, carried by storm the entrenchments and the fort held by Mir
Cossim’s army of 60,000 men with 100 guns. Mir Cossim fled and his army
was entirely dispersed.
Ooscata.
Fought August 23, 1768, when the camp of the Mahratta contingent, under
Morari Rao, forming a part of Colonel Donald Campbell’s column, was
attacked by a detachment of Hyder Ali’s army. The Mahrattas repulsed the
Mysore cavalry with a loss of about 300, at a cost to themselves of 18
only.
Opequan (American Civil War).
Fought September 19, 1864, between 13,000 Confederates, under General
Early, and 45,000 Federals, under General Sheridan. Success at first
inclined to the side of the Southerners, but their left wing was broken
by a charge of 7,000 cavalry, under Custer, and the Confederates were
completely routed and fled in confusion.
Oporto (Peninsular War).
Fought March 28, 1809, when the French, under Soult, completely defeated
the Portuguese under Lima and Pareiras, outside the city of Oporto.
Soult followed up his success by storming Oporto, with horrible
slaughter, it being computed that 10,000 of the inhabitants perished.
The French lost 500 only.
Oran (Ximenes’ Expedition to Morocco).
Fought May 17, 1509, between the Moors and the Spaniards, under Navarro.
The Spaniards, late in the evening, attacked and drove off the Moors
from a strong position on the heights above the city. They then stormed
the city itself, escalading the walls by placing their pikes in the
crevices of the stones. The Moors lost in the battle and the storm 4,000
killed and about 8,000 prisoners, while the losses of the victors were
very small.
Orchomenus (First Mithridatic War).
Fought B.C. 85, between the Pontic army, under Archelaus, and the
Romans, under Sulla. The Asiatic cavalry attacked and drove back the
Roman line, but Sulla himself rallied his troops, and led them in a
charge which totally routed the enemy with heavy loss.
Ordovici, The.
Fought A.D. 50, between the Romans, under Ostorius Scapula, and the
Britons, under Caractacus. The Britons occupied the slope of a hill,
where they were attacked by the Romans and totally routed. Caractacus
fled to the Brigantes, by whom he was surrendered, and sent a captive to
Rome.
Orleans (Hundred Years’ War).
This city was besieged by the English, under the Regent, the Duke of
Bedford, in October, 1428. In April, 1429, a French force, 7,000 strong,
under Dunois and Joan of Arc, succeeded in entering, it having been
found impossible to invest the place completely. After various
successful attacks on the batteries erected by the besiegers, Joan, on
the 6th and 7th of May, led the garrison to victory against the English
lines, and on the 8th Bedford was compelled to raise the siege.
Orthez (Peninsular War).
Fought February 27, 1814, between the British under Wellington, and the
French, under Soult. The French were driven out of Orthez and across the
Luy de Béarn, with a loss of 4,000 killed and wounded, and 6 guns.
Oruro.
Fought 1862, between the Bolivian Government troops, under the
President, General Acha, and the rebels, under General Perez, who had
proclaimed himself President. Perez was utterly routed.
Ostend (Netherlands War of Independence).
This place was besieged, July 5, 1601, by the Spaniards, under the
Archduke Albert. The town made a most remarkable defence, holding out
for more than three years, but Spinola having taken command of the
besiegers, it was finally captured, September 14, 1604, by which time
scarcely a house in the town was left standing. The Spaniards lost
70,000 men in the course of the siege.
Ostia (Italian Wars).
This place, held by a French garrison, under Menaldo Guerri, was
besieged in 1500 by the Spaniards, under Gonsalvo de Cordova. After five
days’ bombardment, an attack was made upon the town on the opposite side
by a small party of Spaniards resident in Rome, under Garcilasso de la
Vega. Thus between two fires, Guerri surrendered.
Ostrolenka (Crimean War).
Fought 1853, between the Turks, under Omar Pasha, and the Russian army
which had invaded the Danubian Principalities. The Turks, who were
considerably superior in numbers, gained a complete victory.
Ostrowno (Campaign of Moscow).
Fought July 25 and 26, 1812, between the French corps of Ney and Prince
Eugène, with Murat’s cavalry, and the Russian corps of Count Osterman
and General Konownitzyn. The Russians were defeated and driven back on
both days, with a loss of 3,000 killed and wounded, 800 prisoners and 8
guns. The French loss was about the same.
Oswego (Seven Years’ War).
This place, held by a garrison of 1,400 Provincial troops, under Colonel
Mercer, was besieged by the French, under Montcalm, August 11, 1756.
After a bombardment of 3 days, in the course of which Mercer was killed,
the place surrendered. The losses on both sides were very small.
Otrar (Tartar Invasion of Kharismia).
This city was besieged, 1219, by 200,000 Mongols, under Oktai and
Zagatai, sons of Genghiz Khan, and defended by a garrison of 60,000,
under Gazer Khan. The place was entered after a four months’ siege, by
which time the garrison was reduced to 20,000 men, but with this remnant
Gazer Khan held out in the citadel for another month.
Otterburn (Scottish Wars).
Fought August 19, 1388, between 9,000 English, under Henry Percy
(Hotspur) and a greatly inferior force of Scots, under Earls Douglas and
Murray. Hotspur attacked the Scottish entrenchments, and was totally
defeated, with a loss of about 2,000. The battle is celebrated in the
old ballad of “Chevy Chace.”
Otumba (Conquest of Mexico).
Fought July 8, 1520, between 200 Spaniards, with some thousands of
Tlascalan auxiliaries, under Cortes, and a force of about 200,000
Aztecs. The Spaniards, wearied by a long march on their retreat from
Mexico, were intercepted by the Aztecs, and after many hours’ fighting,
were on the verge of defeat, when a charge of a few cavaliers, headed by
Cortes, into the very heart of the Aztec army, so discouraged them that
they fled in disorder. It is said that 20,000 Aztecs fell.
Oudenarde (War of the Spanish Succession).
Fought July 11, 1708, between 80,000 British and Imperialists, under
Marlborough and Prince Eugene, and 100,000 French, under the Duke of
Burgundy and Marshal Vendôme. The French, who were besieging Oudenarde,
raised the siege on the advance of the allies, and marched to meet them,
but were totally defeated with a loss of 3,000 killed, 7,000 prisoners,
and 10 guns. The allies lost 2,000.
P
Paardeberg (Second Boer War).
Fought February 18, 1900, between 5,000 Boers, under Cronje, and the
British, numbering 4 Infantry Brigades, with 4 batteries, under Lord
Kitchener. Cronje had taken refuge in the bed of the Tugela river, and
an attempt was made to dislodge him. The absence of cover for the
attacking force, however, rendered this impossible, but he was
surrounded, and on the arrival of Lord Roberts, subjected to a sustained
artillery fire, which lasted until he surrendered on the 27th. The
British losses during the operations amounted to 98 officers and 1,437
men, of whom 1,100 fell in the battle of the 18th. The prisoners taken
numbered 3,000 Transvaalers and 1,100 Free Staters, with 6 guns.
Pabon.
Fought September 17, 1861, between the troops of Buenos Ayres, under
Mitre, aided by an Italian legion, under Piloni, and the army of the
Argentine Confederation, under Urquiza. The latter were defeated.
Pagahar (First Burmah War).
The only occasion during the war when the Burmans met the British in the
open. In 1825 Sir Archibald Campbell, with 1,300 men, encountered 15,000
Burmans, under Zay-ya-Thayan but the battle was almost a bloodless one,
for the Burmans failed to make any stand, their general being the first
to flee.
Pagasæan Gulf (Sacred War).
Fought B.C. 352, between the Phocians, under Onomarchus, and the
Macedonians, under Philip. Philip’s infantry was about equal in numbers
to that of the Phocians, but he was far superior in cavalry, and in the
end the Phocians were completely defeated, with the loss of a third of
their number. Onomarchus was slain.
Palais Gallien (War of the Fronde).
Fought September 5, 1649, between the Royal troops, 8,000 strong, under
the Marshal de la Meilleraic, and 7,000 Bordelais, under the Ducs de
Bouillon and de la Rochefoucauld. The Bordelais successfully repulsed
four or five assaults, but by nightfall were driven from their
entrenchments into the city, with a loss of about 120. The assailants
lost over 1,000 killed and wounded.
Palermo (Italian Rising).
Fought May 26 and 27, 1848, when Garibaldi, with 750 of his “Thousand
Volunteers,” and about 3,000 Sicilian “Picciotti,” succeeded in
surprising one of the gates of Palermo, which was garrisoned by 18,000
Neapolitans, under General Lanza. The “Picciotti” fled at the first
shot, but Garibaldi penetrated into the city, where, being joined by the
citizens, he erected barricades, and after some severe fighting, in
which the Neapolitans suffered heavily, General Lanza surrendered. The
last of the Neapolitan troops were withdrawn on June 20.
Palestrina (Italian Rising).
Fought May 9, 1849, between 4,000 Italian Patriots, under Garibaldi, and
7,000 Neapolitans, under King Ferdinand. After three hours’ fighting,
the Neapolitans were totally routed. Garibaldi was wounded in the
action.
Palestro (Unification of Italy).
Fought May 30, 1859, between the Sardinians, under General Cialdini, and
the Austrians, under General Stadion. The Austrians attacked the
Sardinians while they were crossing the Sesia, but were repulsed, and
Cialdini effected the passage successfully and drove the Austrians out
of Palestro with considerable loss.
Palmyra (Expedition to Palmyra).
This city was besieged by the Romans, under Aurelian, after the defeat
of Zenobia at Emesa in 272. An obstinate defence was made by the Queen,
but Aurelian being reinforced by Probus early in 273, Zenobia fled from
the city and the place was captured. Zenobia failed to escape, and was
brought into Aurelian’s camp. During his return march, Aurelian learnt
that the citizens had risen, and massacred the Governor and the garrison
he had left in the place. He thereupon retraced his steps, and destroyed
the city, sparing neither young nor old.
Palo Alto (Americo-Mexican War).
Fought May 8, 1846, between the Americans, under General Taylor, and the
Mexicans, under Arista. The Mexicans were completely routed, at very
small cost to the victors.
Panama (Raids of the Buccaneers).
On December 16, 1670, Morgan the Buccaneer sailed from Hispaniola with
37 ships and about 2,000 men to plunder this town. Having captured the
castle of San Lorenzo, at the mouth of the Chagre, an exploit which cost
the assailants 170 out of 400 men engaged, while two-thirds of the
garrison were killed, Morgan started to cross the Isthmus, at the head
of 1,200 men, January 18, 1671. The garrison of Panama, 2,400 strong,
met him outside the city, and were defeated with heavy loss, the
Buccaneers losing 600 men. Morgan then sacked the place, and on February
24, withdrew with 175 mule loads of plunder, and 600 prisoners.
Panama (Raids of the Buccaneers).
Fought April 23, 1680, between the Buccaneers, with three ships, under
John Coxon, and three Spanish vessels. The Spaniards were defeated,
after a hard fight in which two Spanish vessels were captured by
boarding. The Spanish commander was killed. The Buccaneers then entered
the Bay, and captured six vessels lying in the roads.
Pandosia.
Fought 331 B.C., between the Italian Greeks, under Alexander of Epirus,
and the Lucanians. During the battle Alexander was stabbed by a Lucanian
exile serving in the Greek army, and the Greeks were in the end
defeated.
Pandu Naddi (Indian Mutiny).
Fought July 15, 1857, between a British relieving force, under Havelock,
and the mutineers who were opposing his advance to Cawnpore. By a forced
march in the heat of the day, Havelock succeeded in seizing the bridge
over the Pandu Naddi, which the mutineers were engaged in mining, thus
securing an open road to Cawnpore. The rebels were driven off after a
short engagement.
Pandu Naddi (Indian Mutiny).
Fought November 26, 1857, between 1,400 British, under General Windham,
and the advance guard of the mutineers and the Gwalior contingent, under
the Nana Sahib. The rebels were posted beyond the river, and the British
crossing the dry bed, drove them from their entrenchments, capturing 3
guns. Windham, then finding himself close to the main body of mutineers,
retired towards Cawnpore.
Panipat (Third Mongol Invasion).
Fought April 20, 1526, between the Delhi Mohammedans, 10,000 strong,
with 100 elephants, under Ibrahim, and the Mongols, about 2,000 picked
men, under Baber, the first of the Great Moguls. Ibrahim was totally
defeated, being himself among the slain. The battle marked the end of
the Afghan dynasty of Delhi, and the commencement of the Mogul Empire.
Panipat.
Fought November 5, 1536, between Akbar, the Great Mogul, with about
20,000 troops, and the forces of the revolted Hindu Rajahs, 100,000
strong, under Hemu. The Hindus attacked, and the onslaught of the
elephants being repulsed, their ranks were thrown into disorder, and the
Moguls gained a complete victory. Hemu was wounded and captured. By this
victory Akbar recovered Delhi, which had fallen into the hands of the
rebels.
Panipat.
Fought 1759, between the Mahrattas, 85,000 strong, under Sedashao Rao
Bhao, cousin of the Peshwa, and the Duranis, numbering, with Hindu
allies, about 90,000. The Bhao attacked, and dispersed Ahmed’s Indian
troops, but on the Duranis coming into action, the Mahrattas were broken
and utterly routed, with enormous loss. The Bhao, and the son of the
Peshwa were among the slain.
Panormus (First Punic War).
Fought B.C. 250, between 25,000 Romans, under L. Cæcilius Metellus, and
the Carthaginian army in Sicily, under Hasdrubal. Hasdrubal offered
battle in front of Panormus, and Metellus sent out his light troops to
engage him. They ran back into the town before a charge of the
elephants, which, following closely, were driven into the ditch
surrounding the place, where many were killed. Meanwhile Metellus
sallied out with his legionaries, and taking Hasdrubal in flank
completely routed him. The whole of the Carthaginian elephants in Sicily
were killed or captured in this battle.
Parætakene Mountains (Wars of Alexander’s Successors).
Fought 316 B.C., between the Macedonians, 30,000 strong, under
Antigonus, and an equal force of Asiatics, under Eumenes. Eumenes
attacked the Macedonian camp, and after a severe engagement, in which
the Asiatics held the advantage, Antigonus, by successful manœuvring,
withdrew his army without serious loss, leaving Eumenes a barren
victory.
Parana (Paraguayan War).
Fought 1866, between the Paraguayans, under Lopez, and the Brazilians,
under Porto Alegre. Lopez was victorious.
Paris (Allied Invasion of France).
On March 30, 1814, Paris, which was defended only by 20,000 regulars and
National Guard, under Marmont, was attacked by the Grand Army of the
allies, under Schwartzemberg. Three columns assaulted the French
positions at Vincennes, Belleville and Montmartre, while a fourth
attacked the extreme left of the French line in order to turn the
heights of Montmartre. The two first positions were carried, and
Montmartre turned, whereupon Joseph having fled, Marmont surrendered.
The French lost over 4,000 men; the allies about 8,000.
Paris (Franco-German War).
Paris was invested by the main German army, under the King of Prussia
and von Moltke, September 19, 1870. The garrison, under the command of
General Trochu, made a gallant defence, many serious sorties taking
place, but the Germans gradually mastered the outer defences, and
finally, being much straitened by famine, the city surrendered January
28, 1871.
Parkany (Ottoman Wars).
Fought August, 1663, between 200,000 Turks, under the Grand Vizier,
Achmet Köprili Pasha, and the Hungarians, in far smaller force, under
Count Forgacz. The Hungarians were defeated, and driven into Neuhäusel,
which town, after a valiant resistance of six weeks, capitulated
September 24.
Parma (War of the Polish Succession).
Fought June 29, 1734, between the French, under Marshal de Coigny, and
the Imperialists, 60,000 strong, under General de Mercy. The
Imperialists were defeated with a loss of 6,000, including de Mercy. The
French loss was almost as heavy.
Paso de la Patria (Paraguayan War).
Fought 1866, between the Paraguayans, under Lopez, and the Brazilians,
under Porto Alegre. The Paraguayans gained a signal victory.
Patay (Hundred Years’ War).
Fought June 18, 1429, between the French, under Joan of Arc and the Duc
d’Alençon, and the English, under Talbot and Sir John Fastolfe. The
English were retiring after the siege of Orleans, and their advanced
guard under Talbot, being attacked by the French, was seized with a
panic, and refusing to meet the charge of the French cavalry, broke and
fled. The main body, under Fastolfe, however, maintained its formation,
and made good its retreat to Etampes. Talbot was made prisoner.
Patila (Tartar Invasion of Persia).
Fought 1394, between the Tartars, under Tamerlane, and the Persians,
under Shah Mansur. The Persians vigorously attacked the Tartar centre,
and Tamerlane was nearly overwhelmed, but rallying his troops he led a
charge which restored the battle, and gained a complete victory. The
complete subjugation of Persia followed.
Pavia (Invasion of the Alemanni).
Fought 271, between the Romans, under Aurelian, and the German invaders.
Aurelian gained a signal victory, and the Alemanni recrossed the
frontier.
Pavia (Lombard Conquest of Italy).
This city was besieged in 568 by the Lombards, under Alboin, and after a
gallant defence, lasting over three years, was at last subdued, rather
by famine than by force of arms, and surrendered to the besiegers. Pavia
then became the capital of the Lombard kingdom of Italy.
Pavia (Italian Wars).
Fought May 22, 1431, on the Ticino, near Pavia, between 85 Venetian
galleys, under Nicolas Trevisani, and a somewhat superior number of
galleys in the pay of the Milanese. The Venetians were defeated, with a
loss of 70 galleys and 3,000 men.
Pavia (Wars of Charles V).
Fought February 25, 1525, between the French, under Francis I, and the
Imperialists, under Lannoy. Francis, who was besieging Pavia, awaited
the attack of the Imperialists on his lines, and his artillery wrought
great havoc in their ranks, then, charging at the head of his cavalry,
he was repulsed by Lannoy’s infantry, and the Swiss mercenaries being
taken in flank, and thrown into disorder, the battle was lost. Francis
was captured. This is the occasion on which he wrote to his mother,
“Rien ne m’est demouré, excepté l’honneur et la vie qui est sauve.”
Peach Tree Creek (American Civil War).
Fought July 22, 1864, in the course of the operations round Atlanta,
between the Federals, under General Sherman, and the Confederates, under
General Hood. Hood attacked the Federal position, and drove off their
left wing, capturing 13 guns and some prisoners; being reinforced,
however, the Federals rallied, and recovered the lost ground. The
Confederates, however, claimed the victory. The Federals lost 3,722,
including General McPherson. The Confederate losses were about the same.
Pea Ridge (American Civil War).
Fought March 7 and 8, 1862, between 16,000 Confederates, under General
von Dorn, and the Federals, in equal force, under General Curtis. On the
7th the Confederates drove back the Federal right wing, and nearly
succeeded in cutting their communications, though they lost General
M’Culloch in the course of the action. On the 8th the Federals drove
back the Southerners, and recovered the ground they had lost, the battle
ending without decisive result. The losses on each side were about
1,000. This is also called the Battle of Gek Horn.
Peiwar Kotal (Second Afghan War).
Fought December 2, 1878, between a British force, 3,200 strong, under
Sir Frederick Roberts, with 13 guns, and about 18,000 Afghans, with 11
guns, strongly posted in the Kotal. By an able, but difficult turning
movement, the pass was crossed, and the Afghans completely defeated,
with heavy loss, all their guns being captured. The British lost 20
killed and 78 wounded.
Peking (Tartar Invasion of China).
This city was besieged by the Tartars, under Genghiz Khan, in 1210, and
after a long and obstinate defence, which so exhausted the besiegers
that Genghiz Khan is said to have decimated his men in order to feed the
rest, the city was taken by stratagem.
Pelekanon (Ottoman Conquest of Asia Minor).
Fought 1329, between the Turks, under Orkhan, and the forces of
Andronicus the Younger, Emperor of the East. The Imperialists were
defeated. This is the first occasion in which the Byzantines met the
Ottoman invaders in battle.
Pelischat (Russo-Turkish War).
Fought August 30, 1877, when the Turks, 25,000 strong, with 50 guns,
made a sortie from Plevna, and attacked the Russian lines in front of
Poradim. The Russians, 20,000 strong, under General Zotoff, succeeded in
repulsing all the Turkish attacks, with a loss of about 3,000 killed and
wounded. The Russians lost 1,000.
Pelusium (Persian Conquest of Egypt).
Fought 525 B.C., between the Persians, under Cambyses, and the
Egyptians, under Psammeticus. The Egyptians were totally defeated, and
this victory was followed by the complete subjugation of Egypt, which
became a Persian satrapy.
Pelusium (War of Alexander’s Successors).
Fought B.C. 321, between the Macedonians, under the Regent, Perdiccas,
and the Egyptians, under Ptolemy Lagus. Perdiccas attacked the fortress,
but was driven off with heavy loss, including 1,000 drowned in the Nile.
Peña Cerrada (First Carlist War).
This fortress, held by a Carlist garrison, under Gergue, was captured by
Espartero with 19,000 Cristinos, June 21, 1838. After shelling the place
for 7 hours, Espartero attacked the Carlists, who held the heights
outside the town, and dispersed them, capturing 600 prisoners, and all
their guns. The remainder of the garrison then abandoned the place.
Penobscot Bay (American War of Independence).
Fought July 14, 1779, when a British squadron of 10 ships, under Sir
George Collier, completely destroyed an American squadron of 24 ships,
and captured the 3,000 men who formed their crews.