Pasha, and 60,000 French and Germans, under Montecucculi, who occupied a
strong position behind the Raab. On the Turks advancing to the attack, a
young Turk rode out, and challenged a Christian to single combat. The
challenge was accepted by the Chevalier de Lorraine, who killed his
adversary. The Turks then assaulted Montecucculi’s entrenchment, but
could make no impression, and after hard fighting were beaten off with a
loss of 8,000 killed.
St. Jacob an der Mirs (Armagnac War).
Fought September, 1444, between 30,000 Armagnacs, under the Dauphin, and
1,300 Confederate Swiss. The Swiss being hard pressed, occupied the
hospital of St. Jacob an der Mirs, where they maintained the unequal
fight until the last man had fallen. The Armagnacs, however, had lost
2,000 killed, and the Dauphin felt compelled to abandon the invasion of
Switzerland.
St. Kitts (Dutch Wars).
Fought May 10, 1667, when Sir John Harman, commanding an English
squadron of 12 frigates, fell in with a combined Dutch and French fleet
of 22 sail, under Commodore Kruysen and M. de la Barre, off St. Kitts.
Notwithstanding his inferiority, Harman boldly attacked, and gained a
signal victory, burning 5 and sinking several more of the enemy’s
vessels. The allies took refuge in the harbour of St. Kitts, and Sir
John, following them in, destroyed the rest of their fleet, at a cost of
80 men only.
St. Lucia (Wars of the French Revolution).
This island was captured from the French, April 4, 1794, by a British
squadron, under Sir John Jervis.
St. Mary’s Clyst (Arundel’s Rebellion).
Fought August 4, 1549, when Lord Russell, marching with the Royal army
to the relief of Exeter, was attacked by 6,000 rebels, detached from the
besieging force. The rebels were defeated with a loss of 1,000 killed,
and Arundel was forced to raise the siege of Exeter.
St. Privat.
_See_ Gravelotte.
St. Quentin.
Fought August 10, 1557, between 22,000 French and Germans, under the
Constable Montmorenci, and about 5,000 Spanish and Flemish cavalry of
the Duke of Savoy’s army, under Count Egmont, supported by a small force
of infantry. The French, in attempting to throw reinforcements into St.
Quentin, were entrapped in a narrow pass, and were utterly routed, with
a loss of 15,000 killed, wounded and captured, and all but two of their
guns. The Spaniards only lost 50 men.
St. Quentin (Franco-German War).
Fought January 19, 1871, between the French, 40,000 strong, under
General Faidherbe, and 33,000 Germans, under Von Göben. The French were
decisively defeated, with a loss of 3,500 killed and wounded, 9,000
prisoners, and 6 guns. The Germans lost 96 officers and 2,304 men.
St. Thomas (Napoleonic Wars).
This island was captured from the Danes, December 21, 1807, by a
combined British naval and military force, under Admiral Sir A. J.
Cochrane and General Bowyer.
Saints, The.
_See_ Dominica.
Salado. (Moorish Empire in Spain).
Fought 1344, between the Portuguese and Castilians, under Alfonso IV of
Portugal and Alfonso XI of Castile, and the Moors, under Abu Hamed, Emir
of Morocco. The Christians won a signal victory, and Alfonso so
distinguished himself in the battle as to earn the title of the “Brave.”
Salamanca (Peninsular War).
Fought July 22, 1812, when Wellington, with 46,000 British and Spanish
troops, encountered 42,000 French, under Marmont. The battle was forced
on by Marmont, who was endeavouring to interrupt Wellington’s retreat,
but the Marshal was severely wounded early in the day, and the conduct
of the action was in the hands of General Bonnet. The result was a
signal victory for the British, the French losing 12,500 killed, wounded
and prisoners, and 12 guns. The British and Spanish loss amounted to
about 6,000. These figures include the skirmishes of the days preceding
the battle, during which the armies were in touch.
Salamanca (Mexican Liberal Rising).
Fought March 10, 1858, between the Government troops, under Miramon, and
the Liberals, under Doblado. Doblado’s raw levies could not face
Miramon’s trained troops, and were utterly routed.
Salamis (Third Persian Invasion).
Fought 480 B.C. between the Greek fleet of 370 sail, under Themistocles,
and the Persian fleet, of over 1,000 galleys. The Greeks at first
hesitated to attack in face of the overwhelming numbers of the Persian
ships, but an Athenian trireme, commanded by Aminias, dashed in, and
being followed by the rest of the Athenians and the Æginetans in good
order, the Persians were, after a hard struggle, totally defeated, with
the loss of more than half their fleet. Xerxes and his army witnessed
the rout from the shores of Salamis.
Salamis (Wars of Alexander’s Successors).
Fought B.C. 307, between the Macedonian fleet, under Demetrius
Poliorcetes, and the Egyptians, under Ptolemy Soter. The Egyptians were
routed, with the loss of 100 ships captured and the rest sunk, and
30,000 prisoners.
Salankemen (Ottoman Wars).
Fought August 19, 1691, between 100,000 Turks, under the Grand Vizier,
Mustapha Köpriali Pasha, and 45,000 Imperialists, under the Margrave
Louis. The Turks were signally defeated and Köpriali slain.
Salano (Moorish Empire in Spain).
Fought 1340 between the Spaniards, under Alfonso XI of Castile, and the
Moors, under Abu ’l Hasan of Granada. The Moors, who were besieging
Tarifa, were attacked by the Spaniards, who utterly routed them and
relieved the town. Abu ’l Hamed fled to Africa, and Alfonso was enabled
to recover Algeciras.
Saldanha Bay (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought August 17, 1796, when Sir Keith Elphinstone, with a British
squadron, entered the bay, and after capturing a Dutch ship of war lying
in the harbour, landed a force, to which the garrison surrendered after
a brief resistance.
Salo.
_See_ Castiglione.
Samarcand (Tartar Invasion of Kharismia).
This place, which was defended by a garrison of 110,000 Turks and
Kharismians, under the Governor, Alub Khan, was besieged by the Tartars,
under Genghiz Khan, in June, 1220. The garrison harassed the Tartars by
numerous sorties, and little progress was made with the siege, but some
of the inhabitants, hoping to save the city from pillage, opened the
gates to the besiegers. After heroic efforts to defend the city against
the overwhelming hordes of the enemy, Alub Khan put himself at the head
of 1,000 picked horsemen and cut his way out. The survivors of the
garrison, now reduced to 30,000, were put to the sword.
Samaghar (Rebellion of Aurungzebe).
Fought June, 1658, between the army of the Great Mogul, Shah Jehan,
under Dara, and the forces of his rebellious sons, Aurungzebe and Marad.
Dara was totally defeated, and his army dispersed, and three days later
the rebels occupied Agra, where Shah Jehan was imprisoned and Aurungzebe
seized the crown.
Sampford Courtney (Arundel’s Rebellion).
The final engagement with the rebels, fought August 17, 1549, when
Arundel was defeated by the Royal troops, under Lord Russell, with a
loss of 700 killed and many prisoners, including most of the
ring-leaders in the rising.
San Giovanni (Wars of the French Revolution).
Fought June 17, 1799, between the French, under Macdonald, and the
Russians, under Suwaroff. After three days’ hard fighting, the French
were forced to retreat, having suffered a loss of 6,000 killed and
wounded and 9,000 prisoners. The Russian losses were about 6,000.
San Isidoro (Paraguay War).
Fought April, 1870, between the Paraguayans, under Lopez, and the allied
army of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, under General Camera. Camera
attacked Lopez’s entrenchments and drove him out, forcing him to take
refuge in the mountains with the small remnant of his troops.
San Jacinto (Texan Rising).
Fought April 2, 1836, when the Mexican army, under Santa Anna, about
5,000 strong, was routed and almost destroyed by the Texans, under
General Houston. The survivors, with Santa Anna and his staff, were
taken prisoners, and Texas was freed from the Mexican yoke.
San Jacinto.
Fought February 12, 1867, between the adherents of the Emperor
Maximilian, under Miramon, and the Mexican Constitutionalists, under
Escobedo. Miramon was defeated, and his army surrendered, he himself
escaping with difficulty from the field.
San Juan.
_See_ El Caney.
San Lazaro (War of the Austrian Succession).
Fought June, 1746, between the Austrians, 40,000 strong, under Prince
Lichtenstein, and the French and Spaniards, under Marshal Maillebois.
The allies attacked the Austrian entrenched camp, and after an obstinate
conflict, lasting nine hours, were repulsed with a loss of 10,000 killed
and wounded.
Sanna’s Post (Second Boer War).
Fought March 31, 1900, when a force of cavalry, with 2 R.H.A. batteries
and a considerable convoy, under Colonel Broadwood, was ambushed by a
party of Boers, under De Wet, while crossing a donga. The guns were just
entering the donga when the Boers opened fire, and 4 guns of Q battery
succeeded in getting clear and opening fire, stuck to their work till
only 10 men of the battery were left standing. Broadwood succeeded in
extricating his force, but at a cost of 19 officers and 136 men killed
and wounded, 426 prisoners, 7 guns, and the whole of his convoy. General
Colville’s column was within a few miles, but though the firing was
heard, he failed to relieve. This is also known as the action of
Kornspruit.
San Sebastian (Peninsular War).
This town was besieged July 10, 1813, by the British, under General
Graham, and was defended by a French garrison, under General Rey. An
assault on July 25 was repulsed, and pending the arrival of heavy guns
from England, the siege resolved itself into a blockade. Active
operations were resumed, and on the 31st the town was taken by storm.
Rey, however, still held out in the citadel, and it was only after
further bombardment that he surrendered on September 9. The besiegers’
losses amounted to over 2,500 killed and wounded.
San Sebastian (First Carlist War).
This fortress, held by a garrison of Cristinos and a small detachment of
the British legion, under Colonel Wylde, was besieged by the Carlists,
under Sagastibelza, February, 1836. The siege was carried on in
desultory fashion, with constant fighting between the outposts, till
June, 1836, when General Evans, with 10,000 British and Spanish troops,
occupied the advanced Carlist positions, and forced them to withdraw.
Santa Lucia (Rio Grande Rising).
Fought 1842, between the Brazilian Government troops, under General
Caxias, and the rebels, 6,000 strong, under Feliciano. The rebels were
totally defeated.
Santarem (Dom Miguel’s Rebellion).
Fought February 18, 1834, when the Portuguese Government troops, under
Marshal Saldanha, totally defeated the “Miguelists,” under Dom Miguel.
Santa Vittoria (War of the Spanish Succession).
Fought July 26, 1702, when 4 regiments of Prince Eugene’s army, under
General Visconti, were attacked by 15,000 French and Spaniards, under
the Duc de Vendôme. The Imperialists were forced to abandon their camp
and retire with the loss of their baggage, but lost only 500 men, while
their qualified success cost the allies nearly 2,000 killed and wounded.
Santiago (Spanish-American War).
Fought July 3, 1898, between the American fleet of 4 battleships and 3
cruisers, under Admiral W. T. Sampson, and the Spanish fleet of 4
armoured cruisers and 3 torpedo-boats, under Admiral Cervera. The
Spaniards endeavoured to escape from the blockaded harbour of Santiago,
but were unsuccessful, the whole squadron being destroyed. The Americans
suffered hardly any damage, the Spanish gunnery being very inefficient,
and lost only 1 man killed.
Sapienza (Ottoman Wars).
Fought 1490 between the Turkish fleet, under Kemal Reis, and the
Venetians. The Venetians suffered a severe reverse, this being the first
naval victory of the Turks in the Mediterranean.
Saragossa (War of the Spanish Succession).
Fought August 20, 1700, between 25,000 Spaniards, and a force of
Austrians, British, Dutch and Portuguese troops, 23,000 in number, under
the Archduke Charles. The Portuguese in the right wing gave way, leading
a large force of Spaniards in pursuit, but the left and centre stood
their ground, and finally repulsed the enemy, with a loss of 4,000
prisoners, besides killed and wounded. The Archduke at once took
possession of Saragossa.
Saragossa (Peninsular War).
In June, 1808, siege was laid to this city by the French, under Marshal
Lefebvre. A successful defence was made, and the marshal’s forces being
insufficient to effect a prompt capture, he raised the siege in August.
In December of the same year it was again besieged by the French, under
Moncey and Mortier, and defended by a Spanish garrison, under Palafox. A
most heroic defence was made, notable for the bravery of Agostina, the
maid of Saragossa, who took the place of her wounded lover on the
ramparts, and helped to serve the guns, but despite all the efforts of
Palafox, the place was stormed, and, after very severe house to house
fighting, captured, February 21, 1809.
Saratoga.
_See_ Stillwater.
Sardis (Wars of Alexander’s Successors).
Fought B.C. 280, between the troops of Pergamus, under Eumenes, and the
Syrians, under Antigonus Soter. Eumenes gained a signal victory, and
annexed a large part of the dominions of Antigonus.
Sárkány (Hungarian Rising).
Fought December 30, 1848, between the Austrians, under Windischgrätz,
and the Hungarians, under General Perczel. Perczel had been entrusted by
Görgey with the defence of the Sárkány defile, but on being attacked by
the Austrians, his division made little resistance, and fled in
disorder, thus forcing Görgey to retire from the line he had chosen to
defend.
Sauchie Barn (Rebellion of the Barons).
Fought June 18, 1488, between the rebel Barons, under Angus
“Bell-the-Cat,” and the troops of James III of Scotland, under the king.
The royal army was totally defeated and James slain.
Saucourt (Norse Invasion of France).
Fought 861 between the Neustrians, under Louis III, and the invading
Norsemen, when Louis gained a brilliant victory.
Sauroren (Peninsular War).
Fought July 28, 1813, between the French, 25,000 strong, under Soult,
and the British, 12,000 strong, under Wellington. Soult attempted to
turn the British left in order to drive them from a strong position, but
after severe fighting he was repulsed, with a loss of about 3,000. The
British losses were about 2,600. Soult renewed his attempt to force
Wellington’s lines on the 30th, but was again repulsed, with a loss of
2,000 killed and wounded and 3,000 prisoners. The British loss amounted
to 1,900.
Savage’s Station.
_See_ Seven Days’ Battle.
Savandroog (Second Mysore War).
Siege was laid to this place December 10, 1791, by a column of Lord
Cornwallis’ army, about 4,000 strong. It was defended by a strong
garrison of Mysoris, and was considered impregnable, but a practicable
breach having been effected, it was taken by storm eleven days later,
the garrison offering little resistance. The assailants did not lose a
man.
Saxa Rubra (Revolt of Maxentius).
Fought October 28, 312, between the Imperial troops, under Constantine,
and the legions of Italy, under Maxentius. The Italian cavalry, posted
on the wings, was routed by Constantine’s horse; the infantry, thus left
unsupported, fled from the field, only the Pretorians making a brave
resistance, and dying where they stood. Maxentius escaped, but crossing
the Tiber into Rome by the Milvian Bridge, was forced by the crowd of
fugitives into the river and drowned.
Scarpheia (War of the Achæan League).
Fought B.C. 146, between the Romans, under Metellus, and the Achæans,
under Critolaus. The Greeks were totally defeated with heavy loss,
Critolaus being killed.
Scio (Ottoman Wars).
Fought July 5, 1769, between a Russian fleet of 10 sail of the line,
under Admiral Spiritoff, and 15 Turkish ships, with some small vessels,
under the Capitan Pasha. Alter a severe engagement, in which both the
flag-ships were blown up, the Turks were driven into the Bay of Tchesme,
where a few days later their fleet was destroyed by fire-ships.
Schipka Pass (Russo-Turkish War).
Fought August 21, 1877, and following days, when the Russians, 7,000
strong, under General Darozhinsky, holding the pass, were attacked by
25,000 Turks, under Suleiman Pasha. The Russians were driven from point
after point of their defences, and were on the verge of being
overwhelmed, when the arrival of reinforcements enabled them to assume
the offensive and recover their lost positions, and on the 26th fighting
ceased. The Russian losses amounted to 4,000, including Darozhinsky,
while the Turks lost about 11,500.
On September 16 Suleiman, reinforced to 40,000 men, made an attempt to
carry the Russian position on Mount St. Nicholas, but was repulsed with
a loss of 3,000, the Russians losing 31 officers and about 1,000 rank
and file.
By January 8, 1878, the Russian force in the Schipka had been increased
to 60,000 men, under General Radetski, while the Turks, numbering 40,000
were under Vessil Pasha. General Mirsky, with 25,000 men, attacked the
Turkish entrenchments and drove them out of all their positions, and on
the following day Vessil Pasha surrendered with 36,000 men and 93 guns.
The Russians lost 5,000.
Schwechat (Hungarian Rising).
Fought October 30, 1848, between the Austrians, under Prince
Windischgrätz, and the Hungarians, under General Moga. The Hungarian
militia made a very feeble stand against the Austrian regulars, and were
driven back all along the line with considerable loss.
Scutari (Ottoman Wars).
This place, held by a Venetian garrison, under Antonio Loredano, was
besieged by the Turks, under Suleiman Pasha, May, 1474. The garrison
held out stoutly till the middle of August, when Suleiman raised the
siege.
Four years later, in June, 1478, Mohammed II invested it, the garrison
now being under the command of Antonio di Lezze. Though few in numbers,
the Venetians withstood a continuous bombardment, repulsing two serious
assaults, until September 8, when Mohammed retired, leaving behind him
only a blockading force. When on the conclusion of peace the place was
handed over to the Turks only 450 men and 150 women were alive in the
town. In the first assault the Turks lost 12,000 men, and an even
greater number, it is said, in the second.
Sebastopol (Crimean War).
This fortress was besieged by the allied French and British armies,
under Marshal St. Arnaud and Lord Raglan, September 28, 1854. It was
defended by a large force of Russians, under Prince Mentschikoff, with
General Todleben as his principal engineer officer. The besiegers were
too few for a complete investment, and though the harbour was closed by
the British fleet, under Sir Edmund Lyons, the Russians were throughout
the siege enabled to obtain reinforcements and provisions from the north
side. The batteries opened on October 17, and from that time till
September 8, 1855, the town was more or less continuously bombarded. On
that day the Malakoff, an important part of the southern defences, was
stormed by the French, and the place became untenable, the allies
entering it unopposed on the following day. The Russians, during the
later days of the bombardment, are said to have lost as many as 3,000
men a day.
Secchia, The (War of the Polish Succession).
Fought September 14, 1734, when the Imperialists, under Count
Köningsegg, surprised the camp of the French army, under the Duc de
Broglie, capturing 5,000 prisoners, 100 guns and the whole of the
stores, baggage and ammunition.
Secessionville (American Civil War).
Fought June 15, 1862, when 6,000 Federals, under General Benham,
attacked the strong position of Secessionville, covering the road to
Charleston, which was held by 2,000 Confederates, under General Evans.
The Federals were repulsed with a loss of 600 men, the Confederates
losing 200.
Secunderbagh (Indian Mutiny).
Fought November 16, 1857, during the second relief of Lucknow by Sir
Colin Campbell. The Secunderbagh, a walled enclosure of strong masonry,
held by a large body of rebels, was, after a bombardment of about an
hour and a half, taken by storm by the 93rd Highlanders and the 4th
Punjabis, with very heavy loss to the enemy, over 2,000 dead bodies
being afterwards carried out of the enclosure.
Sedan (Franco-German War).
This battle, the most decisive of the war, was fought September 1, 1870,
The French, under Marshal Macmahon, who was wounded early in the action,
were driven from all their positions by the Germans, under the King of
Prussia, and compelled to retire into Sedan, where they laid down their
arms. The Emperor Napoleon III was among the prisoners, and one of the
results of the surrender was his dethronement and the proclamation of a
republic in Paris. The battle is remarkable for the charge of the
Chasseurs d’Afrique, under General Margueritte, in the neighbourhood of
Floing. The brigade was cut to pieces and the general killed. The
Germans lost in the action 460 officers and 8,500 men; the French 3,000
killed, 14,000 wounded, and 21,000 prisoners, while 83,000 subsequently
surrendered in Sedan. The Germans took 419 guns, 139 fortress guns and
66,000 rifles.
Sedgemoor (Monmouth’s Rebellion).
Fought July 5, 1685, between the Royal troops, under the Earl of
Faversham, and the rebels, under James, Duke of Monmouth. Monmouth
attempted a night attack on Faversham’s camp, but the alarm was given,
and the Royal troops falling upon their assailants, put Monmouth’s
cavalry to flight, and though his infantry made a sturdy resistance they
were at length overpowered and routed with heavy loss. This defeat put
an end to the rebellion.
Segeswár (Hungarian Rising).
Fought July 31, 1849, between the Hungarians, under General Bem, and the
Russians, under General Lüders. The Russians, after a severe engagement,
were totally defeated.
Segikahara (Rebellion of Hideyori).
Fought September 16, 1600, between the troops of the Shogun Tokugawa
Tyeyasa, 80,000 strong, and 130,000 rebels, under Mitsunari. The rebels
were utterly routed with the loss of 30,000 killed, among whom was
Mitsunari, and the rebellion was suppressed.
Seine Mouth (Hundred Years’ War).
Fought August 15, 1416, when the English fleet, under Bedford, sailed
into the Seine with the object of revictualling Harfleur, which the
French were besieging. The blockading force, consisting of 8 large
Genoese carracks, besides smaller vessels, attacked the English fleet,
and after six hours’ hard fighting were totally defeated, with a loss of
5 carracks and 5 other ships, while Bedford succeeded in throwing
supplies into the town.
Selby (Civil War).
Fought April 11, 1644, between the Royalists, 3,300 strong, under
Colonel John Bellasis, and a slightly superior force of
Parliamentarians, under Sir Thomas Fairfax. Bellasis had occupied Selby
with the object of preventing a junction between Fairfax’s troops and
those of the Scots at Durham. He was attacked by Fairfax and totally
defeated, with the loss of 1,600 men and all his artillery and baggage.
Selinus (Second Carthaginian Invasion of Sicily).
This city was besieged by the Carthaginians, 100,000 strong, under
Hannibal, B.C. 409. An attempt by the Syracusans, under Diocles, to
relieve came too late, for after resisting stubbornly for nine days, the
garrison, hopelessly outnumbered, were overpowered; and the place
stormed and sacked, all the survivors being carried off into captivity.
Seminara (Italian Wars).
Fought 1495 between 6,000 Spaniards and Neapolitans, under Gonsalvo de
Cordova and Ferdinand of Naples, and a largely superior French army,
under D’Aubigny. The Neapolitans fled almost without striking a blow,
and though the Spaniards fought well, they were overpowered by numbers,
and in the end totally routed, only Gonsalvo with 400 Spanish cavalry
making an orderly retreat.
Sempach (War of Sempach).