1,500 Swiss Confederates. The Swiss gained a complete victory, the
Austrians losing 1,500 killed and wounded, while only 120 Swiss fell.
The battle is celebrated for the heroic action of Arnold von Winkelried,
who broke the line of the Austrian spearmen at the cost of his life, and
enabled his followers to penetrate their phalanx.
Seneff (Wars of Louis XIV).
Fought August 11, 1674, between the French, 45,000 strong, under Condé,
and the Flemings and Spaniards, 60,000 strong, under the Prince of
Orange. Orange, finding Condé’s position too strong to attack, began a
retreat towards Le Quesnay, thereby exposing his flank. Condé took
instant advantage of this error, and dispersed the vanguard of the
allies, but the Prince took up a strong position at Seneff, from which
Condé was unable to dislodge him, and the conflict ended in a drawn
battle, after seventeen hours’ hard fighting.
Senegal (Napoleonic Wars).
The French garrison of this place surrendered, July 13, 1809, to a
British force of 1 frigate and 2 brigs, with some transports carrying
troops, under Captain G. H. Columbine.
Senekal (Second Boer War).
Fought May 29, 1900, when a British force, under General Rundle,
attacked the Boers, strongly posted on the Biddulphsberg. The attack was
made amidst great bush fires, in which many of the wounded perished, and
was unsuccessful, the British losses amounting to 7 officers and 177 men
killed and wounded.
Senlac.
_See_ Hastings.
Sentinum (Third Samnite War).
Fought B.C. 298, between five Roman legions, under Q. Fabius Maximus and
Publius Decius, and the Samnites and Gauls, under Gellius Equatius. The
Roman left was disordered by the war-chariots of the Gauls, but was
rallied by Decius, who restored the battle, but at the cost of his life.
On the right the Samnites were routed, and Fabius then fell upon the
Gauls in flank, and broke them. Meanwhile the Samnite camp was attacked,
and Equatius slain, the Romans gaining a signal victory. The losses of
the victors amounted to 8,200, while the Gauls and Samnites lost 25,000
killed and 8,000 prisoners.
Sepeia (Argive War).
Fought B.C. 494, between the Spartans, under Cleomenes, and the Argives.
The Spartans, by a ruse, succeeded in surprising the Argives while the
soldiers were dining, and totally routed them. This defeat deprived
Argos of the paramountcy in the Peloponnesus.
Seringapatam (Second Mysore War).
This city was besieged, February 5, 1792, by 22,000 British and native
troops, with 86 guns, under Lord Cornwallis, and defended by a Mysori
garrison, under Tippu Sahib. On the 6th an assault upon the outlying
works was successful, all the redoubts commanding the city being
carried, at a cost to the assailants of 530, while the Mysoris lost
20,000. On the approach of reinforcements, under General Abercromby, on
the 16th, Tippu consented to treat, and peace was signed in the
following month.
Seringapatam (Third Mysore War).
The second siege by General Harris, opened April 6, 1799, when the city
was defended by a garrison of 20,000, under Tippu. On May 3, the breach
was declared practicable, and the place was stormed by 4,000 men, under
General Baird. Tippu was slain in the rout which followed the assault.
The British losses during the siege amounted to 1,464. About 8,000
Mysoris fell in the assault.
Seringham (Seven Years’ War).
Fought 1753, between 1,000 British troops, under Major Laurence, and the
French, with their Mahratta and Mysori allies, under M. Astruc. The
French attacked in force an isolated post, held by 200 Sepoys, and
carried it before Major Laurence could come up. He then attacked, and in
turn carried the position, driving off the French, and the Mahrattas who
came up to their support, and captured three guns.
Seskar (Russo-Swedish Wars).
Fought 1790, between the Swedish fleet, under the Duke of Sudermanland,
and a Russian squadron, under Admiral Kruze. The Swedes were totally
defeated, after a severe engagement, which lasted from daybreak till far
into the night.
Seta (Yoshinaka’s Rebellion).
Fought 1183, between the army of Yoritomo, under his brothers Noriyori
and Yoshitsune, and that of Yoshinaka. The rebels were completely
defeated, and Yoshinaka killed.
Seven Days’ Battles (American Civil War).
A series of actions fought by General Lee, with 100,000 Confederates,
against General M’Clellan, with 95,000 Federals, Lee’s object being to
relieve Richmond. On June 26, 1862, General Hill, with 1,400
Confederates, attacked M’Call’s division, in a strong position at
=Beaver’s Dam Creek=, which attack M’Call repulsed, at small cost to his
force. On the 27th, General Porter, 35,000 strong, posted on the
Chickahominy at =Gaines’ Mill=, was attacked by 54,000 Confederates,
under Lee in person. The Southerners advanced under a heavy artillery
fire, and after severe fighting, drove the Federals across the river,
and captured 20 guns. On the 28th, M’Clellan prepared to withdraw to the
James River, his centre having been pierced, and commenced his retreat.
On the 29th, 4 Confederate divisions, under Longstreet, aided by an
armoured train, came up with Sumner’s corps at =Savage’s Station=, but
was repulsed, Sumner thus inflicting a serious check upon the pursuing
columns. On the 30th, 3 divisions, under General Jackson, overtook the
Federal rearguard, under General French, near the =White Oak Swamp=, and
an artillery duel followed, which cost the Federals some guns. Two
divisions, under Longstreet, also attacked M’Call’s division, and routed
it, M’Call being captured. By the evening of the 30th, M’Clellan reached
=Malvern Hill=, overlooking the James River, and determined to oppose
here the further advance of the Confederates. On July 1st, the
Confederates attacked, but the Federals held their ground throughout the
day, and on the 2nd retired in good order and practically unmolested.
The Federals admit a loss of 15,249 men and 25 guns during the
operations, but Confederate accounts put the figures much higher, and
claim 51 guns. The losses of the Southerners were also very heavy,
especially at Malvern Hill, but Lee’s object was accomplished, and
Richmond was relieved.
Sevenoaks (Cade’s Rebellion).
Fought June 18, 1450, between the rebels, under Cade, and the royal
troops, under Sir Humphrey Stafford. The force under Stafford was quite
inadequate for the work in hand, and was routed, Stafford being killed.
Seven Pines.
_See_ Fair Oaks.
Shahjehan (Tartar Invasion of Kharismia.)
This city was besieged 1221, by the Tartars, under Tuli Khan, and was
obstinately defended by the garrison under a Turkish general named
Bugha. For twenty-one successive days the besiegers delivered assaults,
which were repulsed, but finally the inhabitants made terms with Tuli
Khan, and opened the gates.
Shaldiran (Ottoman Wars).
Fought August 24, 1514, between 120,000 Turks, under Selim I, and about
80,000 Persians, under the Shah Ismael. The wing led by the Shah in
person was victorious, but the Persian left was totally routed, and in
endeavouring to restore the battle on that side Ismael was wounded,
whereupon the army was seized with panic, and took to flight.
Shannon and Chesapeake (Second American War).
A famous frigate action, fought May 29, 1813, between the British
frigate _Shannon_, of 38 guns, commanded by Captain Broke, and the
American frigate _Chesapeake_, also of 38 guns, under Captain John
Lawrence. The _Chesapeake_ sailed out of Boston Harbour to attack the
_Shannon_, and after a brisk action was taken by the board by the
British. The _Shannon_ lost 4 officers and 21 men killed, and 3 officers
and 56 men wounded; the _Chesapeake_, 8 officers and 39 men killed, and
9 officers and 106 men wounded. Captain Lawrence was killed and Captain
Broke wounded.
Sheerness (Dutch Wars).
Fought June 7, 1667, and following days, when the Dutch fleet, under de
Ruyter, sailed up the Medway as far as Upnor Castle, and destroyed 7
ships of war.
Sheriffmuir (Rebellion of the Fifteen).
Fought November 13, 1715, between 3,500 royal troops, under the Duke of
Argyle, and 9,000 Highlanders, under the Earl of Mar. Argyle’s left wing
was routed by the Macdonalds, and his left and centre, though at first
they held their own, were in the end compelled to retire, and Argyle
effected a retreat in good order to Stirling.
Sherstone (Danish Invasion).
Fought 1016, between Edmund Ironside, and Knut, the rival claimants to
the throne. The battle was indecisive.
Shijo Nawate (War of the Northern and Southern Empires).
Fought 1339, between the army of the Northern Emperor, under Takaugi and
Tadayoshi, and the troops of the Southern Emperor, under Kusunoki
Masatsura. Masatsura was attacked at Yoshino, which place was
temporarily the Imperial residence. Feeling that he was too weak to
defend it, he marched out with his whole force to meet his assailants,
and fell fighting to the last, the Northern troops gaining a complete
victory. Japan was soon afterwards again united, under the rule of the
Northern line.
Shiloh (American Civil War).
Fought April 6 and 7, 1862, between the Confederates, 43,000 strong,
under General Johnston, and the Federals, 40,000 strong, under General
Grant. The Confederates attacked Grant’s position on the west of the
Tennessee river, and surprised the Federals, driving back the first line
in confusion. By nightfall, Grant was practically defeated, but Johnston
failed to take advantage of his opportunity, and Grant being reinforced
by 20,000 men during the night, was able on the 7th to assume the
offensive. After severe fighting the Southerners were driven from the
field with a loss of 9,740 killed and wounded and 959 prisoners, General
Johnston being among the killed. The Federals lost 9,617 killed and
wounded, and 4,044 prisoners.
Shinowara (Yoshinaka’s Rebellion).
Fought April, 1183, between the troops of the rebel Daimio Yoshinaka,
and the Japanese Imperial army, consisting of 100,000 horsemen, under
Taira-no-Kore. The Imperial troops were defeated with a loss of 20,000
killed.
Shirogawa (Satsuma Rebellion).
Fought September 24, 1876, when the last remnants of the rebels, under
Saigo, were defeated by the Imperial army, under Prince Taruhito. The
rebels were practically annihilated, and most of the leaders of the
revolt killed. Saigo, after the defeat, committed _Hara-kiri_ on the
field.
Sholapur (Third Mahratta War).
Fought May 10, 1818, when a body of cavalry, under General Pritzen,
forming part of General Monro’s force, attacked and dispersed the
retreating remnant of the Peshwa’s army. Sholapur surrendered on the
15th, the operations having cost the British only 97 killed and wounded,
while the loss of the Mahrattas exceeded 800 killed.
Sholingur (First Mysore War).
Fought September 27, 1781, between the British, 10,000 strong, under Sir
Eyre Coote, and the Mysoris, numbering about 80,000, under Hyder Ali.
Hyder was surprised in the act of striking camp, and though a series of
cavalry charges enabled him to withdraw his guns in safety, it was at a
cost of 5,000 men that he eventually made good his retreat. The British
loss did not exceed 100.
Shrewsbury (Percy’s Rebellion).
Fought July 21, 1403, when the royalists, under Henry IV, met and
defeated the insurgents, under Hotspur. Hotspur was killed, and Douglas
and Worcester taken prisoners. The battle was the baptism of fire of
Henry, Prince of Wales (Henry V), who displayed great bravery, and was
severely wounded.
Sidassir (Third Mysore War).
Fought March 6, 1799, between the advance guard of General Stuart’s
force, composed of three regiments, under Colonel Montresor, and 12,000
Mysoris, under Tippu Sahib. Montresor’s small force withstood the attack
of Tippu’s troops for over six hours, and their ammunition was all but
exhausted when Stuart came up, and drove back the enemy with a loss of
2,000 men. The British lost 143 killed and wounded.
Sievershausen.
Fought July 9, 1553, between the Germans, under Maurice, Elector of
Saxony, and the Brandenburgers, under the Margrave Albert. The
Brandenburgers were defeated, but Maurice was wounded in the action, and
died two days later.
Siffin.
A series of actions extending over a hundred days, in 656, between the
Moslems, under the Caliph Ali, and the adherents Moawiyeh, the son of
Abu Sophian, a pretender to the Caliphate. In the course of these
engagements Ali lost 25,000, and Moawiyeh 45,000 men, but the latter was
undefeated, and the sanguinary conflict was ended by an unsatisfactory
compromise.
Sikajoki (Finland War).
Fought April 18, 1808, between the Swedes, under General Klingspor, and
the Russians, under General Bouxhoevden. The Russians endeavoured to
outflank the Swedes by moving out on to the ice at the mouth of the
Sikajoki river, at the same time assailing them in front. Both attacks
were repulsed, and after eight hours fighting, Klingspor took the
offensive, and drove the Russians from the field, with heavy loss. The
Swedes lost 1,000 killed and wounded.
Silistria (Crimean War).
This fortress was besieged by the Russians in 1854, and was defended by
a Turkish garrison, who received valuable assistance from two English
officers, Captain Buller and Lieutenant Nasmyth. Many attempts to storm
the place were repulsed, and though no efforts were made to relieve
them, the garrison held out until June 22, when the Russians raised the
siege, having suffered a loss of over 12,000 men.
Silpia.
_See_ Elinga.
Simnitza (Russo-Turkish War).
Fought June 26, 1877, between the Russians, under the Grand Duke
Nicholas, and the Turkish garrison of Sistova. On the night of the 26th,
the Russian advance-guard, 15,000 strong, under Dragomiroff, crossed the
Danube in boats, and then, under Skobeleff, drove the Turks headlong
from their entrenchments. On the morning of the 27th, Sistova was
occupied, the Russians having lost 820 only in the operations.
Singara (Persian Wars).
Fought 348, between the Romans, under Constantius, and the Persians, in
largely superior force, under Sapor II. The Persian king, having posted
the major part of his army on the heights overlooking Singara, engaged
the Romans with a comparatively small force of light-armed troops, who
were easily routed by the legionaries. The pursuit, however, was carried
too far, and when night fell, the Romans, exhausted by their efforts,
bivouacked under the heights. During the night, Sapor led his best
troops to the attack, and routed the weary Romans, with terrible
slaughter.
Singara (Persian Wars).
This fortress, held by a Roman garrison, was captured, after a brief
siege, by the Persians, under Sapor II, in 360. The garrison was sent
into captivity and the fortress dismantled.
Sinnaca (Parthian War).
At this place the remnants of the army of Crassus, after the battle of
Carrhæ, B.C. 53, surrendered to the Parthians. Only 5,000 men were with
the eagles.
Sinope (Crimean War).
Fought 1853, when the Russian fleet attacked the Turkish fleet of 9
sail, lying in the harbour of Sinope. No quarter was given, and the
Turkish fleet was totally destroyed. Over 4,000 Turks were killed, and
it is said that only 400, almost all wounded, escaped the massacre.
Sinzheim (Wars of Louis XIV).
Fought October 4, 1674, between the French, under Turenne, and the
Imperialists, under General Caprara and the Duke of Lorraine. The French
gained a signal victory. This action is also known as the Battle of
Entzheim.
Sitabaldi (Third Mahratta War).
Fought November 24, 1817, between a small force of Madras native troops,
and some Bengal cavalry, in all about 1,300 men, under Colonel Scott,
and the army of Nappa Sahib, Rajah of Nagpur, 18,000 strong, with 36
guns. The Sepoys held their ground for 18 hours, and eventually beat off
their assailants, at a cost to themselves of about 300 men.
Skalitz (Seven Weeks’ War).
Fought June 28, 1866, between the 5th Prussian Army Corps, under General
Steinmetz, and the 6th and 8th Austrian Corps, under General Ramming.
The Austrians were defeated, and Skalitz occupied by the Prussians, who
captured 4,000 prisoners and 8 guns.
Slivnitza (Servo-Bulgarian War).
Fought November 17, 18 and 19, 1885, between the Servians, 28,000
strong, under King Milan, and Bulgarians, at first 10,000 in number, but
reinforced on the night of the 17th and during the 18th, by a further
5,000, under Prince Alexander. On the 17th, Prince Alexander, who
occupied a position strong against a frontal attack, but very vulnerable
on his left, made a strong attack on the Servian left, to distract
attention from his weak flank. This attack was repulsed, and on the
following day the Servians attacked Alexander’s left. Having been
reinforced, however, he was able to beat them off, while a frontal
attack was also repulsed with loss. On the 19th the Servian attacks were
again unsuccessful, and by 3 p.m. they were in full retreat, pursued by
the Bulgarians. The Servians lost about 2,000, the victors 3,000 in
killed and wounded, in the three days.
Sluys (Hundred Years’ War).
Fought June 24, 1340, when the English fleet of 250 sail, under Sir
Robert Morley and Richard Fitzalan, attacked the French fleet of about
200 sail, under Hugues Quiéret, lying in Sluys Harbour. Practically the
whole of the French fleet was captured or destroyed, and Quiéret was
killed. The French lost 25,000 men, the English 4,000.
Smolensko (Russo-Swedish Wars).
Fought September 22, 1708, when Charles XII of Sweden, with 4,000
infantry and 6 regiments of cavalry, attacked a force of 16,000 Cossacks
and Tartars. The king with one regiment was in the course of the action
cut off from the rest of his troops by a body of Tartars, and had a
narrow escape. His immediate following was reduced to 5 men, when he was
rescued by a cavalry charge. In the end the Swedes routed the Cossacks
with heavy loss.
Smolensko (Campaign of Moscow).
Fought August 17, 1812, between 175,000 French, under Napoleon, and
130,000 Russians, under Bagration, of whom about 50,000 and 60,000
respectively were actually engaged. Bagration’s corps occupied the town
of Smolensko, which Napoleon attacked, carrying two of the suburbs.
During the night the Russians set fire to the place, and evacuated it,
having lost in the action about 10,000 killed and wounded. The French
lost 9,000.
Sobraon (First Sikh War).
Fought February 10, 1846, between the British, about 15,000 strong, and
25,000 Sikhs, under Runjur Singh. The Sikhs were strongly entrenched on
the Sutlej, and Sir Hugh Gough, with feigned attacks on their centre and
right, succeeded in pushing home his assault on their left, and after
hard fighting drove the defenders to the river, where many perished. The
British lost 2,383, the Sikhs about 8,000.
Soczawa (Ottoman Wars).
Fought 1676, between the Poles, under John Sobieski and the Turks, under
Mohammed IV. The Poles, who had been reinforced by the Lithuanians,
under Paz, totally routed the Turks, who were greatly superior in
numbers, and drove them in confusion into Kaminiec, with the exception
of which fortress, the whole of Poland was thus freed from the Ottoman
invaders.
Sohr (War of the Austrian Succession).
Fought September 30, 1745, between 18,000 Prussians, under Frederick the
Great, and 35,000 Austrians, under Prince Charles of Lorraine. The
Prussians attacked the Austrian position and the Austrians, failing to
display their usual courage made no stand against the steady advance of
the Prussian infantry, and were driven back in confusion, with a loss of
6,000 killed, wounded and prisoners, and 22 guns. The Prussians lost
between three and four thousand men.
Soissons.
Fought 486, and notable as the first military exploit of Clovis, the
founder of the Merovingian dynasty, who here defeated Syagrius, Count of
Soissons, and annexed his dominions.
Solebay (Dutch Wars).
Fought May 28, 1672, when the French and English fleets, together about
140 sail, under the Comte d’Estrées and the Duke of York, were surprised
at anchor, by a Dutch fleet of 115 ships, under de Ruyter. The French
were first attacked, but soon edged out of the fight, and the bulk of
the work fell to the English. The battle was indecisive, for though the
Dutch lost five or more ships, and the English one only, the allied
fleet was too crippled to take the offensive for over a month after the
action.
Solferino (Franco-Austrian War).
Fought June 24, 1859, between 150,000 Austrians, under the Emperor
Francis Joseph, with Generals Wimpffen and Scholick in actual command,
and the French and Piedmontese, under Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel.
The French attacked the Austrian position on the heights round
Solferino, which were held by Scholick, and after very hard fighting,
they were captured by the corps of Macmahon and Baraguay d’Hilliers.
Meanwhile Wimpffen, with three Army Corps, attacked the French left, but
was held at bay throughout the day by Marshal Niel’s corps, and when
night fell, the Austrian centre being broken, Francis Joseph had no
option but to retreat, and consequently recrossed the Mincio. The
Austrians lost 22,000 killed, wounded and missing. The allies’ losses
were 18,000, of which number the Piedmontese corps of 25,000 lost 4,000.
Solway Moss (Scottish Wars).
Fought December 14, 1542, between the Scottish invading army, under
Oliver Sinclair, and a band of 500 English borderers, under Thomas Dacre
and John Musgrave. The Scots were totally defeated, and many important
nobles captured.
Somnauth (Mahmud’s Twelfth Invasion of India).
This city, one of the holy places of India, was captured by the Afghans,
under Sultan Mahmud of Ghuzni, in 1024. According to tradition, he
carried off the great gates of the city to Ghuzni; and certain gates
purporting to be the same, but which afterwards proved to be of later
date, were brought back to India with a flourish of trumpets, after the
capture of Ghuzni by the British in 1842.
Son-Tai (Tongking War).
This fortress, defended by a garrison of 25,000 Chinese, including
10,000 “Black Flags,” under Lin Yung Ku, was attacked by the French,
under Admiral Courbet, with 7 river gun-boats and force of 7,000 men,
December 14, 1883. On this day the outer defences were carried, and the
garrison driven into the citadel. During the night the French were
surprised by a sortie, which however they repulsed, after severe
fighting. On the 16th they stormed the citadel, losing in the three days
92 officers and 318 men killed and wounded. The Chinese lost about
1,000.
Sorata (Inca Rising).
This city was besieged, 1780, by the revolted Peruvians, under Andrés,
the last of the Incas. The fortifications, well provided with artillery,
proved impregnable, but Andrés diverted certain mountain torrents
against the walls, and thus opened a large breach, through which the
Peruvians entered the city, and massacred the whole of the garrison and
inhabitants. Of 20,000 souls, it is said that only one priest escaped.
South Mountain (American Civil War).
Fought September 14, 1862, between the Federals, under General
M’Clellan, and the Confederates, under General Lee. Lee’s object was to
hold M’Clellan in check while Jackson captured Harper’s Ferry, and to
this end he posted General D. Hill with 15,000 on South Mountain. Here
Hill was attacked, and driven to the upper slopes, but being reinforced
by a portion of Longstreet’s command, he maintained his position there,
withdrawing on the morning of the 15th. Each side lost about 2,500 men,
but Lee had gained his object, as the delay to M’Clellan ensured the
capture of Harper’s Ferry.
Southwark (Cade’s Rebellion).
Fought July 5, 1450, between the rebels, under Cade, and the citizens of
London, under Matthew Gough. The Londoners endeavoured to hold London
Bridge, to prevent the plundering expeditions of Cade’s followers into
the city, but were driven back, and the central drawbridge set on fire.
The Londoners lost heavily, among the killed being Gough.
Southwold Bay (Dutch Wars).