Vice-Admiral Togo, and the Russian fleet of 6 battleships and 10
cruisers, under Vice-Admiral Stark, lying at anchor off Port Arthur. The
Japanese attacked with torpedo boats, and succeeded in seriously
damaging 2 battleships and a cruiser, which were beached at the mouth of
the harbour. They then opened a bombardment, in which they injured a
third battleship and four more cruisers sustaining no damage to their
own ships. The Russians lost 56 killed and wounded, the Japanese, 58,
chiefly in the torpedo boats.
On April 13, the Japanese torpedo flotilla attacked the Russian
squadron, under Makaroff. The battleship Petropavlovsk was torpedoed and
sunk, Makaroff and 700 officers and men being drowned. The battleship
Pobieda, and a destroyer were also torpedoed, but managed to reach the
harbour. The Japanese suffered no material loss.
After numerous only partially successful attempts to block the fairway,
the Japanese, on May 2, sent in a fleet of merchant steamers,
accompanied by the torpedo flotilla. Of these, eight succeeded in
reaching the outer harbour, and two of them broke the boom guarding the
inner harbour, and were blown up by their commanders in the fairway.
Several others were sunk near the harbour entrance. Of the 179 officers
and men forming the crews of the merchant steamers, only 42 were rescued
by the Japanese, though a few survivors fell into the hands of the
Russians. This is one of the most daring exploits in the history of
naval warfare.
Porte St. Antoine (Wars of the Fronde).
Fought July 2, 1652, between the Royal troops, under Turenne, and 5,000
insurgents, under Condé. Condé occupied a position round the gate,
protected by barricades and fortified houses, where he was attacked by
Turenne. The barricades were taken and retaken several times, but at
last, after heavy fighting, Condé abandoned all idea of penetrating into
Paris, and retired. His losses were heavy, especially in officers, among
the severely wounded being the Duc de Nemurs, and the Duc de la
Rochefoucauld.
Port Hudson (American Civil War).
This fortress was invested, May 25, 1863, by five Federal divisions,
under General Banks, and defended by 6,000 Confederates, under General
Gardner. An assault on the 27th was repulsed, and a regular siege
commenced. After a second unsuccessful assault, on June 14, the
garrison, having no hope of relief, surrendered, July 9, having lost 800
men during the siege. The losses of the besiegers were far heavier, the
two unsuccessful assaults showing a heavy list of casualties.
Portland (Dutch Wars).
Fought February 18, 1653, between an English fleet of about 70 sail,
under Blake, Deane and Monk, and a Dutch fleet of 73 ships, convoying
300 merchantmen, under Van Tromp, de Ruyter and Evetzen. In the early
part of the engagement, which was very severely contested, three English
ships were carried by the board, and that portion of the fleet which had
come into action was nearly overwhelmed. At this crisis, however, the
rest of the English ships engaged, the battle was restored, and the
captured ships retaken. On the 19th the battle was renewed off the Isle
of Wight, 5 Dutch ships being captured or destroyed. On the 20th the
Dutch sheered off defeated, having lost during the three days’ fighting,
11 men-of-war, 60 merchant ships, 1,500 killed and wounded and 700
prisoners. The English losses were also heavy.
Porto Bello (Raids of the Buccaneers).
This Spanish-American fortress was captured in 1665 by 460 Buccaneers,
under Morgan. The walls were scaled, and the town sacked, unheard-of
cruelties being perpetrated by the Filibusters.
Porto Bello (War of the Austrian Succession).
This place was captured from the Spaniards, November 21, 1740, by a
British fleet of 6 ships, under Admiral Vernon. The British loss was
trifling.
Porto Novo (First Mysore War).
Fought July 1, 1781, between 8,500 British troops, under Sir Eyre Coote,
and about 65,000 Mysoris, under Hyder Ali. Hyder occupied a strongly
entrenched camp, blocking the British advance upon Cuddalore. Here he
was attacked by Coote, and after a day’s hard fighting the position was
stormed, and Hyder forced to retreat. The British lost 306 only, while
the Mysoris are computed to have lost 10,000.
Porto Praya Bay.
Fought April 16, 1781, when Commodore Johnstone, in command of a British
squadron of 5 ships of the line and 5 frigates, repulsed a determined
attack of a French squadron of 11 sail, under de Suffren. The loss in
the British squadron amounted to 36 killed and 147 wounded.
Port Republic (American Civil War).
Fought June 9, 1862, between the Federals, 12,000 strong, under General
Shields, and an equal force of Confederates, under General Jackson. The
Federals were completely defeated, a portion of their army being driven
from the field in disorder and with heavy loss.
Potidæa.
This city was besieged by a force of about 3,000 Athenians, B.C. 432,
and was defended by a small garrison of Corinthians, under Aristæus. The
town held out until the winter of 429, when the garrison surrendered,
and were permitted to go free.
Potosi. (South-American War of Independence).
Fought April, 1825, between, the Bolivians, under Bolivar, and the
Spanish Royalists, under Olaneta. The Spaniards were completely
defeated.
Prague (Thirty Years’ War).
Fought November 8, 1620, when the Imperialists, under Maximilian of
Bavaria and Count Tilly, drove 22,000 Bohemians, under Frederick of
Bohemia, up to the walls of Prague, and signally defeated them, with a
loss of 5,000 men and all their artillery. Frederick was obliged to take
refuge in the city, and soon afterwards capitulated. The battle only
lasted an hour, and the Imperialists lost no more than 300 men.
Prague (Seven Years’ War).
Fought May 6, 1757, between 70,000 Austrians, under Charles of Lorraine,
and 60,000 Prussians, under Frederick the Great. The Austrians occupied
a very strong position on the Moldau, which was attacked and carried by
Frederick, Charles being driven back into Prague with a loss of 8,000
killed and wounded and 9,000 prisoners. Marshal Braun was among the
killed. The Prussians lost 13,000, including Marshal Schwerin.
Prairie Grove (American Civil War).
A sanguinary but indecisive action, fought December 7, 1862, between the
Confederates, under General Hindman, and the Federals, under General
Herron. The losses were about equal.
Preston (Civil War).
Fought August 17, 1648, when Langdale, with 4,000 Royalists, was
deserted by the main body of the Scottish invading army, and left to
face the attack of about 8,000 Parliamentarians under Cromwell. The
Royalists fought desperately for four hours, but were overpowered, and
the whole force killed or captured.
Preston (Rebellion of the Fifteen).
Fought November 12, 1715, between 4,000 Jacobites, under General
Forster, and a small force of Royal troops, chiefly dragoons, under
General Wills. The Jacobites had barricaded the approaches to the town,
and held their ground throughout the day, but reinforcements arriving,
Wills was able to invest the place completely; and early on the morning
of the 14th Forster surrendered. Many of the rebels having left the town
on the night of the 12th, the prisoners numbered 1,468. The Jacobite
loss in killed and wounded was 42, that of the Royalists about 200.
Prestonpans (Rebellion of the Forty-five).
Fought September 21, 1745, between 2,300 Royal troops, under Sir John
Cope, and a slightly superior force of Jacobites, under the Young
Pretender. Cope’s infantry failed to stand up against the charge of the
Highlanders, and fled in confusion, losing heavily in killed and
wounded, and 1,600 prisoners, including 70 officers. The Highlanders
lost about 140 killed and wounded. This action is also known as the
Battle of Gladsmuir.
Primolano (Napoleon’s Italian Campaigns).
Fought September 7, 1796, when Napoleon surprised and totally routed the
vanguard of Wurmser’s army. The Austrians lost over 4,000 killed,
wounded and prisoners.
Princeton (American War of Independence).
Fought 1776 between the Americans, under Washington, and the British,
under General Gage. The British were defeated, and this victory enabled
Washington to regain possession of New Jersey.
Pruth, The (Ottoman Wars).
Fought August 2, 1770, when the Russians, under General Romanzoff,
stormed the triple entrenchments held by the main Turkish army, 120,000
strong, under Halil Bey, and drove out the Turks with a loss of 20,000
killed and wounded.
Puente (South American War of Independence).
Fought February 16, 1816, between the Colombian Patriots, under
Lorrices, and the Spanish Royalists, under Morillo. The Royalists gained
a complete victory.
Puente de la Reyna (Second Carlist War).
Fought October 6, 1872, between 50,000 Carlists, under Ollo, and about
9,000 Republicans, under Moriones. The Republicans were defeated after
hard fighting, and were at last driven in disorder from the field by a
bayonet charge. The Carlists lost 113 only; the losses of the
Republicans were far heavier.
Pultowa (Russo-Swedish Wars).
Fought July 8, 1709, between the Swedes, 24,000 strong, under Charles
XII, and the Russians, 70,000 in number, under Peter the Great. After
some successes early in the battle the Swedes were overwhelmed by the
Czar’s great superiority in artillery, and were defeated with a loss of
9,000 killed and wounded and 6,000 prisoners. Charles with difficulty
made his escape from the field by swimming the Borysthenes.
Pultusk (Russo-Swedish Wars).
Fought 1703, between 10,000 Swedes, under Charles XII, and an equal
force of Saxons, under Marshal von Stenau. The Saxons made practically
no resistance, but fled from the field, losing only 600 killed and 1,000
prisoners.
Pultusk (Campaign of Friedland).
Fought December 26, 1806, between 43,000 Russians, under Bennigsen, and
18,000 French, under Lannes. Lannes endeavoured to pierce the Russian
left and cut them off from the town, but he did not succeed in getting
through, and in this part of the field the action was indecisive. On the
left the French did little more than hold their own, but the Russians
retired during the night, having lost 3,000 killed and wounded, 2,000
prisoners, and a large number of guns. The French admitted a loss of
1,500 only, but this is probably an understatement, Russian accounts
estimating the French losses at 8,000.
Puna (Raids of the Buccaneers).
On April 27, 1687, three Buccaneering vessels, under Captain Davis,
engaged two Spanish men-of-war off Puna. The action was entirely one of
long-range firing, and lasted till May 3, when the Spanish commander
withdrew his ships. In the seven days only three or four Buccaneers were
wounded.
Punniar (Gwalior Campaign).
Fought December 29, 1843, between the left wing of Sir Hugh Gough’s
army, under General Grey, and a force of 12,000 Mahrattas, with 40 guns.
The Mahrattas were totally routed.
Pydna (Third Macedonian War).
Fought June 22, 168 B.C., between the Romans, under Æmilius Paulus, and
the Macedonians, under Perseus. The Macedonian phalanx attacked the
Roman line, and drove them back on their camp, but becoming disordered
by the uneven ground, was broken by the legionaries and cut to pieces.
The result was a total defeat of the Macedonians, with a loss of 20,000
killed and 11,000 prisoners. The phalanx here fought its last fight and
perished to a man.
Pyramids (French Invasion of Egypt).
Fought July 21, 1798, when the Mameluke army, under Murad Bey,
endeavoured to arrest Napoleon’s march on Cairo. The Mameluke infantry,
numbering about 20,000, took no part in the fight, but their cavalry,
perhaps at that time the finest in the world, charged the French squares
with the utmost gallantry. They were, however, repulsed time after time,
with great slaughter, and were eventually driven into the Nile, where
the shattered remnants escaped by swimming.
Pyrenees (Peninsular War).
The engagements fought between Wellington’s lieutenants and Soult’s
army, which was endeavouring to relieve San Sebastian, are known as the
Battles of the Pyrenees. They include the fighting from July 25 to
August 2, 1813, and specially the actions of Roncesvalles, Maya,
Santarem and Buenzas. The British loss in these battles amounted to
7,300, while the French lost fully double that number.
Pylos and Sphacteria (Peloponnesian War).
The promontory of Pylos, which is separated by a narrow channel from the
island of Sphacteria, was seized and fortified by an Athenian force
under Demosthenes, B.C. 425. Here he was besieged by the Spartans under
Thrasymelidas, with a land force and a fleet of 43 ships, the crews of
which occupied Sphacteria. Demosthenes repulsed an attack on Pylos, and
Eurymedon, arriving with 50 Athenian vessels, defeated the Spartan
fleet, and blockaded Sphacteria. After a protracted siege, the arrival
of reinforcements, under Cleon, enabled the Athenians to land 14,000 men
in the island, and the garrison, reduced from 420 to 292, surrendered.
Q
Quatre Bras (Hundred Days).
Fought June 16, 1815, between the advance guard of the British army,
under Wellington, and the left wing of the French army, 16,000 strong,
under Ney. Napoleon’s object was to prevent the junction of the British
and the Prussians, and Ney’s orders were to drive back the British,
while Napoleon, with his main body, engaged the Prussians. Ney attacked
at 3 p.m., but the British held their own till evening, when Ney, not
receiving the reinforcements he expected, began to fall back. Wellington
then attacked vigorously all along the line, retaking all the positions
occupied by the French during the day.
Quebec (Seven Years’ War).
This city was besieged June, 1759, by 9,000 British troops, under
General Wolfe, assisted by a fleet of 22 ships of war, under Admiral
Holmes. The place was defended by about 16,000 French, under Montcalm.
Wolfe was too weak numerically for an investment, and his object was to
draw Montcalm into an engagement. On July 31 he was defeated in an
attack on Montcalm’s lines outside the city, but on September 13, having
landed above Quebec, he met and defeated the French, who evacuated the
place on the 17th.
After defeating General Murray, April 27, 1760, the Chevalier de Levis
laid siege to Quebec, with about 8,000 French and Canadians. The
garrison consisted of no more than 2,500 effectives, but owing to the
superiority of their artillery, Levis was unable to make any impression
on the defences. On May 15 a small British squadron anchored off the
city, and on the following day attacked and destroyed the French ships
carrying de Levis’ supplies and reserve of ammunition, whereupon he
hastily raised the siege, leaving behind him 40 siege guns and all his
sick and wounded.
Queenston Heights (Second American War).
Fought October 13, 1812, between 4,000 British (chiefly Canadian
volunteers), under General Brock, and about 5,000 Americans, under Van
Rensselaer. The Americans attacked the British position on Queenston
Heights, and after very severe fighting, were totally defeated. The
exact losses are unknown, but the British took 1,000 prisoners, and the
American column was practically annihilated.
Quiberon Bay (Seven Years’ War).
Fought November 20, 1759, between the British fleet, 23 sail of the line
and 10 frigates, under Hawke, and 21 French line-of-battleships and 3
frigates, under Conflans. The action was fought in a heavy gale on a lee
shore, and resulted in the French being driven to take refuge in
Quiberon Bay, with a loss of 2 ships sunk and 2 captured.
Notwithstanding the gale, Hawke followed up his advantage, and standing
in, succeeded in capturing or destroying all but four of the ships which
had taken refuge in the bay, though in so doing he lost two of his own
ships, which were driven ashore and wrecked. The British lost in the
action only 1 officer and 270 men killed and wounded.
Quipuaypan (Conquest of Peru).
Fought 1532, between the rival Peruvian chiefs, Atahualpa and Huascar.
Huascar was totally routed, and taken prisoner.
Quistello (War of the Polish Succession).
Fought July, 1734, between the Imperialists, under Prince Eugene, and
the French, under the Duc de Broglie. Prince Eugene gained a signal
victory.
R
Raab (Campaign of Wagram).
Fought June 14, 1809, between 44,000 French, under Eugene Beauharnais,
and about 40,000 Austrians, under the Archduke John. The French attacked
the Austrian position, and driving them successively from the villages
of Kismegyer and Szabadhegy, totally defeated them. Under cover of
night, however, the Archduke was able to make an orderly retirement,
with a loss of about 3,000 killed and wounded and 2,500 prisoners. The
French lost something over 2,000.
Radcot Bridge.
Fought 1387, between the troops of Richard II, under De Vere, Duke of
Ireland, and the forces of the Lords Appellant, under the Earl of Derby
(Henry IV). De Vere and his troops fled almost without striking a blow,
and the King was thus left entirely in the power of the Barons.
Ragatz (Armagnac War).
Fought March, 1446, between the Austrians and the Swiss Confederation.
The Swiss gained a brilliant victory, which was followed by peace with
Austria and the Armagnacs.
Rajahmundry (Seven Years’ War).
Fought December 9, 1758, between 2,500 British troops, under Colonel
Forde, in conjunction with about 5,000 native levies, and the French,
6,500 strong, under Conflans. The native troops did little on either
side, but Forde’s 500 Europeans routed Conflans’ Frenchmen, and the
latter fled with considerable loss.
Rakersberg (Ottoman Wars).
Fought 1416, between 20,000 Turks, under Ahmed Bey, and 12,000 Austrians
and others, under Duke Ernest of Styria. Duke Ernest marched to the
relief of Rakersberg, which the Turks were besieging, and drove them
from the field utterly routed. It is said that the Turkish losses
amounted to more than the whole Christian army. Ahmed Bey was among the
slain.
Ramillies (Seven Years’ War).
Fought May 23, 1706, between the British and Imperialists, under
Marlborough and Prince Eugene, about 80,000 strong, and the French, in
equal force, under Marshal Villeroy. The allies drove the French out of
Ramillies, their resistance on the whole being unworthy of them, and in
the end they were disastrously defeated with heavy loss, 5,000 being
killed and wounded, while 6,000 prisoners and 50 guns were taken. The
allies lost less than 3,000.
Ramla.
Fought 1177, between the Saracens, under Saladin, and the Christians of
Jerusalem, under Renaud de Châtillon. The Christians won a complete
victory.
Ramnugger (Second Sikh War).
Fought November, 1849, when Lord Gough attempted to dislodge Shir Singh,
who with about 35,000 Sikhs, had occupied a position behind the Chenab
opposite Ramnugger. The attempt was made by a brigade under General
Campbell, with a cavalry force under General Cureton, and failed owing
to the unexpected strength of the Sikh artillery, which was well posted
and served. General Cureton was killed.
Raphia.
Fought B.C. 223, between the Egyptians, under Ptolemy Philopator, and
the Syrians, under Antiochus the Great. Antiochus at first held the
advantage, but pressing too far in the pursuit, was overpowered and
totally routed. The Syrians lost 14,000 killed and 4,000 prisoners.
Rastadt (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought 1796, between the French, under Moreau, and the Austrians, under
the Archduke Charles. After a severe engagement Moreau succeeded in
seizing the heights held by the Austrians, and forced Charles to retreat
to the Danube.
Raszyn (Campaign of Wagram).
Fought April 19, 1809, between 30,000 Austrians, under the Archduke
Ferdinand, and about 20,000 French and Poles, under Poniatowski. The
Archduke was marching on Warsaw when Poniatowski, to whom the defence of
that city had been entrusted, came out to meet him, and after a stubborn
fight in the woods and marshes round Raszyn, was driven back upon
Warsaw, with a loss of 2,000 killed and wounded. A few days later he
surrendered the city to the Austrians to save it from a bombardment.
Rathenow (Swedish Invasion of Brandenburg).
Fought June 25, 1675, between the Brandenburgers, 15,000 strong, under
the Elector Frederick William, and the Swedes, under Charles XI. The
Swedes, wearied by a long march, were surprised by the Elector in their
camp, and suffered a serious reverse.
Rathmines (Civil War).
Fought August 2, 1649, between the Royalists, under Ormonde, and the
Parliamentary garrison of Dublin, under Colonel Jones. Ormonde having
ordered a night attack upon Dublin, the Parliamentarians made a sortie,
and driving back the assaulting column, attacked the main body of the
Royalists in their camp, totally routing them, with a loss of 4,000
killed and wounded and 2,000 prisoners. All Ormonde’s artillery was
captured.
Ravenna.
Fought 729 between the troops of Leo the Iconoclast, and a force of
Italians, raised by Pope Gregory II, in defence of image worship. After
a severe struggle, the Greeks were routed, and in their flight to their
ships were slaughtered by thousands. It is said that the waters of the
Po were so infected with blood, that for six years the inhabitants of
Ravenna would not eat any fish caught in that river.
Ravenna (War of the Holy League).
Fought 1512, between the troops of the Holy League, and the French,
under Gaston de Foix. The French gained a signal victory, but Gaston de
Foix fell in the moment of his triumph, pierced with sixteen wounds.
Reading (Danish Invasion).
Fought 871, between the Danish invaders, and the West Saxons, under
Æthelred and Alfred. The West Saxons, after a stubborn resistance, were
defeated and driven from the field with great slaughter.
Rebec (Wars of Charles V).
Fought 1524. between the Imperialists, under Constable de Bourbon, and
the French, under Bonnivet. The French were totally defeated, with heavy
loss, among those who fell being the Chevalier de Bayard.
Redan (Crimean War).
This fort, forming part of the southern defences of Sebastopol, was
attacked by the British Second and Light Divisions, September 8, 1855.
The ramparts were stormed, but the assailants were unable to make good
their footing, and were eventually repulsed with heavy loss. The fall of
the Malakoff, however, rendered the southern side of Sebastopol
untenable, and the Russians retired during the night. The British losses
amounted to 2,184 killed and wounded.
Reddersberg (Second Boer War).
Fought April 3, 1900, when 5 companies of British infantry were
surrounded by a force of Boers, with 5 guns, and after holding out for
twenty-four hours, were compelled by want of water to surrender, having
lost 4 officers and 43 men killed and wounded. The prisoners numbered
405.
Reims (Allied Invasion of France).
Fought March 13, 1814, when Napoleon, with 30,000 French, surprised and
routed 13,000 Prussians and Russians, under Saint-Priest, with a loss of
6,000 killed, wounded and prisoners. The French lost a few hundreds
only.
Revel (Russo-Swedish Wars).
This port was attacked in the spring of 1790 by the Swedish fleet, under
the Duke of Sudermanland. The Russian batteries, however, aided by the
fleet under Admiral Chitchagoff, drove them off with considerable loss.
Revolax (Finland War).
Fought April 27, 1808, when General Klingspoor, with about 8,000 Swedes,
surprised an isolated Russian column of about 4,000 men, under General
Boulatoff. The Russians were surrounded, and tried to cut their way
through, but failed, less than 1,000 succeeding in escaping from the
trap. General Boulatoff fell fighting to the last.
Rhé.
St. Martin, the capital of this island, was besieged by the English,
under the Duke of Buckingham, from July 17 to October 29, 1627. An
assault on October 27 was repulsed, and the landing of the Duke of
Schomberg, with 6,000 French, on the island, made the English lines
untenable, whereupon Buckingham raised the siege. While returning to his
ships Buckingham was attacked by the French, and suffered considerably.
The English losses during the operations amounted to about 4,000 men.
Rheinfeldt (Thirty Years’ War).