B.

BACK-Step, the retrograde movement of a man or body of men without changing front; it is half the forward step.

BACKWARDS, a technical word made use of in the British service to express the retrograde movement of troops from line into column, and vice versa. See Wheel.

BAGGAGE, in military affairs, signifies the clothes, tents, utensils of divers sorts, and provisions, &c. belonging to an army.

Baggage-Waggons. See Waggons.

BAGPIPE, the name of a musical warlike instrument, of the wind kind, used by the Scots regiments, and sometimes by the Irish. Bagpipes were used by the Danes; by the Romans, and by the Asiatics at this day; there is in Rome a most beautiful bas-relievo, a piece of Grecian sculpture of the highest antiquity, which represents a bag-piper playing on his instrument exactly like a modern highlander. The Greeks had also an instrument composed of a pipe and blown-up skin. The Romans in all probability, borrowed it from them. The Italians still use it under the names of piva and cornumusa. The Bagpipe has been a favorite instrument among the Scots. There are two varieties: the one with long pipes, and sounded with the mouth; the other with short pipes, filled with air by a bellows, and played on with the fingers: the first is the loudest and most ear-piercing of all music, is the genuine highland pipe, and is well suited to the warlike genius of that people. It formerly roused their courage to battle, alarmed them when secure, and collected them when scattered: solaced them in their long and painful marches, and in times of peace kept up the memory of the gallantry of their ancestors, by tunes composed after signal victories. The other is the Irish bagpipe.

BAGS, in military employments, are used on many occasions: as,

Sand Bags, generally 16 inches diameter, and 30 high, filled with earth or sand to repair breaches, and the embrasures of batteries, when damaged by the enemies fire, or by the blast of the guns. Sometimes they are made less, and placed three together, upon the parapets, for the men to fire through.

Earth-Bags, containing about a cubical foot of earth, are used to raise a parapet in haste, or to repair one that is beaten down. They are only used when the ground is rocky, and does not afford earth enough to carry on the approaches.

BALANCE, Fr. a term used in the French artillery to express a machine in which stores and ammunition are weighed.

BALL, in the military art, comprehends all sorts of balls and bullets for fire-arms, from the cannon to the pistol.

Balls of Lead, of different kinds.

KINDS. Number to one Pound. Diameter in Inches. No. made from one ton of Lead.

Wall pieces 6 ³⁄₄ .89 14,760

Musquets 14 ¹⁄₂ .68 32,480

Carabine 20 .60 44,800

Pistol 34 .51 78,048

7 Brl. guns 46 ¹⁄₂ .46 104,160

Lead balls are packed in boxes containing each 1 cwt. About 4 pounds of lead in the cwt. are generally lost in casting. See Shot.

Cannon-Balls are of iron; and musket and pistol-balls are of lead. Cannon-balls are always distinguished by their respective calibres, thus,

A 42 - pound ball, the diameter of which is - 6,684 inches.

32 6,105

24 5,547

18 5,040

12 4,403

9 4,000

6 3,498

3 2,775

2 2,423

1 1,923

Fire-Balls, -

Light-Balls,

of which there are various sorts, used for various purposes. Their composition is mealed powder 2, saltpetre 1¹⁄₂, sulphur 1, rosin 1, turpentine 2¹⁄₂. Sometimes they are made of an iron shell, sometimes a stone, filled and covered with various coats of the above composition, until it conglomerates to a proper size; the last coat being of grained powder. But the best sort in our opinion, is to take thick brown paper, and make a shell the size of the mortar, and fill it with a composition of an equal quantity of sulphur, pitch, rosin, and mealed powder; which being well mixed, and put in warm, will give a clear fire, and burn a considerable time.

When they are intended to set fire to magazines, buildings, &c. the composition must be mealed powder 10, saltpetre 2, sulphur 4, and rosin 1; or rather mealed powder 48, saltpetre 32, sulphur 16, rosin 4, steel or iron filings 2, fir-tree saw-dust boiled in saltpetre ley 2, birch-wood charcoal 1, well rammed into a shell for that purpose, having various holes filled with small barrels, loaded with musket-balls; and lastly the whole immerged in melted pitch, rosin and turpentine oil.

Smoke-Balls are prepared as above, with this difference, that they contain 5 to 1 of pitch, rosin and saw-dust. This composition is put into shells made for that purpose, having 4 holes to let out the smoke. Smoke-balls are thrown out of mortars, and continue to smoke from 25 to 30 minutes.

Stink-Balls are prepared by a composition of mealed powder, rosin, saltpetre, pitch, sulphur, rasped horses and asses hoofs, burnt in the fire, assa-fœtida, seraphim gum or ferula, and bug or stinking herbs, made up into balls, as mentioned in Light-Balls, agreeably to the size of the mortar out of which you intend to throw them.

Poisoned Balls. We are not sure that they have ever been used in Europe; but the Indians and Africans have always been very ingenious at poisoning several sorts of warlike stores and instruments. Their composition is mealed powder 4, pitch 6, rosin 3, sulphur 5, assa-fœtida 8, extract of toad’s poison 12, other poisonous substances 12, made into balls as above directed. At the commencement of the French Revolution poisoned balls were exhibited to the people said to have been fired by the Austrians, particularly at the siege of Lisle. We have seen some of this sort. They contained glass, small pieces of iron, &c. and were said to be concocted together by means of a greasy composition which was impregnated with poisonous matter. In 1792, they were deposited in the Archives of Paris.

Red-hot Balls are fired out of mortars, howitzers, or cannon. Use which you will, the ball must be made red-hot, which is done upon a large coal fire in a square hole made in the ground, 6 feet every way, and 4 or 5 feet deep. Some make the fire under an iron grate, on which the shell or ball is laid; but the best way is to put the ball into the middle of a clear burning fire, and when red-hot, all the fiery particles must be swept off. Whatever machine you use to throw the red-hot ball out of, it must be elevated according to the distance you intend it shall range, and the charge of powder must be put into a flannel cartridge, and a good wad upon that; then a piece of wood of the exact diameter of the piece, and about 3¹⁄₂ inches thick, to prevent the ball from setting fire to the powder; then place the ball on the edge of the mortar, &c. with an instrument for that purpose, and let it roll of itself against the wood, and instantly fire it off. Should there be a ditch or parallel before such a battery, with soldiers, the wood must not be used, as the blast of powder will break it to pieces, and its own elasticity prevent it from flying far; it would in that case either kill or wound your own people. For this deficiency the wad must be double. See American Mil. Lib. article Artillery.

Chain-Balls are two balls linked together by a chain of 8 or 10 inches long, and some have been made with a chain of 3 or 4 feet long; they are used to destroy the pallisadoes, wooden bridges, and chevaux-de-friezes of a fortification. They are also very destructive to the rigging of a ship.

Stang-Balls are by some called balls of two heads; they are sometimes made of two half-balls joined together by a bar of iron from 8 to 14 inches long; they are likewise made of two entire balls; they are for the same purpose as the before-mentioned.

Anchor-Balls are made in the same way as the light-balls, and filled with the same composition, only with this addition, that these are made with an iron bar two-thirds of the ball’s diameter in length, and 3 or 4 inches square. One half is fixed within the ball, and the other half remains without; the exterior end is made with a grapple-hook. Very useful to set fire to wooden bridges, or any thing made of wood, or even the rigging of ships, &c. for the pile end being the heaviest, flies foremost, and wherever it touches, fastens, and sets all on fire about it.

Message-Balls. See Shells.

BALLIUM, a term used in ancient military history. In towns the appellation of ballium was given to a work fenced with pallisades, and sometimes to masonry, covering the suburbs; but in castles it was the space immediately within the outer wall.

BALLOON, a hollow vessel of silk, varnished over and filled with inflammable air, by which means it ascends in the atmosphere. It has during the war been used by the French in reconnoitering, and with great success at Fleurus.

BALOTS, Fr.. sacks or bales of wool, made use of in cases of great emergency, to form parapets or places of arms. They are likewise adapted for the defence of trenches, to cover the workmen in saps, and in all instances where promptitude is required.

BAN, or Bann, a sort of proclamation made at the head of a body of troops, or in the several quarters or cantonments of an army, by sound of trumpet, or beat of drum; either for observing martial discipline, or for declaring a new officer, or punishing a soldier, or the like. At present such kind of proclamations are given out in the written orders of the day.

BAN and Arriere Ban, a French military phrase signifying the convocation of vassals under the feudal system. Ménage, a French writer, derives the term from the German word ban, which means publication; Nicod derives it from another German term which signifies field. Borel from the Greek pan which means all, because the convocation was general. In the reign of Charles VII. the ban and arriere ban had different significations. Formerly it meant the assembling of the ordinary militia. After the days of Charles VII. it was called the extraordinary militia. The first served more than the latter; and each was distinguished according to the nature of its particular service. The persons belonging to the arriere-ban were at one period accoutred and mounted like light-horse; but there were occasions on which they served like the infantry. Once under Francis I. in 1545, and again under Lewis XIII. who issued out an order in 1637, that the Arriere-Ban should serve on foot.

Ban likewise signified during the ancient monarchy of France, a proclamation made by the sound of drums, trumpets, and tamborines, either at the head of a body of troops, or in quarters. Sometimes to prevent the men from quitting camp, at others to enforce the rigor of military discipline; sometimes for the purpose of receiving a new commanding officer, and at others to degrade a military character.

BANDER, Fr. to unite, to intrigue together for the purposes of insurrection.

BANDERET, in military history, implies the commander in chief of the troops of the canton of Berne, in Switzerland.

BANDES, Fr. bands, bodies of infantry.

Bandes Francoises. The French infantry was anciently so called. The term, however, become less general and was confined to the Prévôt des Bandes, or the Judge or Prevost marshal that tried the men belonging to the French guards.

BANDIERES, Fr. Une Armée rangée en front de bandieres, signifies an army in battle array. This disposition of the army is opposed to that in which it is cantoned and divided into several bodies.

BANDOLEER, in ancient military history, a large leathern belt worn over the right shoulder, and hanging under the left arm, to carry some kind of warlike weapon.

Bandoliers were likewise little wooden cases covered with leather, of which every musqueteer used to wear 12 hanging on a shoulder-belt; each of them contained the charge of powder for a musquet.

BANDROLS. -

BANNEROLS.

See Camp Colors.

BANDS, properly bodies of foot, though almost out of date.

Train-Bands. In England the militia of the City of London were generally so called. The third regiment of Foot or the Old Bulls were originally recruited from the Train bands, which circumstance gave that corps the exclusive privilege of marching through London with drums beating and colors flying. They lost their colors in America, which are now in the war-office at Washington.

Band of Music. The term band is applied to the body of musicians attached to any regiment or battalion, with wind instruments.

Band is also the denomination of a military order in Spain, instituted by Alphonsus XI. king of Castile, for the younger sons of the nobility, who, before their admission, must serve 10 years, at least, either in the army or during a war; and are bound to take up arms in defence of the Catholic faith, against the infidels.

BANERET, Fr. a term derived from Baniere. This appellation was attached to any lord of a fief who had vassals sufficient to unite them under one banier or banner, and to become chief of the troops or company.

Un Chevalier Baneret, or a Knight Baneret gave precedence to the troop or company which he commanded over that of a baneret who was not a knight or chevalier; the latter obeyed the former, and the banner of the first was cut into fewer vanes than that of the second.

BANNERET, Knights-bannerets, according to the English acceptation of the term, are persons who for any particular act of valor were formerly knighted on the field of battle.

BANQUET. See Bridges.

BANQUETTE. See Fortification.

BAR, a long piece of wood or iron. Bars have various denominations in the construction of artillery carriages, as sweep and cross bars for tumbrils: fore, hind and under cross bars, for powder carts; shaft bars for waggons, and dowel bars used in mortar beds.

BAR Shot, two half bullets joined together by an union bar, forming a kind of double headed shot.

BARB, the reflected points of the head of an arrow. The armor for horses was so called. See Caparison.

BARBACAN, or Barbican, a watch-tower, for the purpose of descrying an enemy at a great distance: it also implies an outer defence, or sort of ancient fortification to a city or castle, used especially as a fence to the city or walls; also an aperture made in the walls of a fortress to fire through upon the enemy. It is sometimes used to denote a fort at the entrance of a bridge, or the outlet of a city, having a double wall with towers.

BARBETS were peasants of Piedmont, who abandoned their dwellings when an enemy has taken possession of them. They formed into bodies and defended the Alps.

Barbet-Battery, in gunnery, is when the breast-work of a battery is only so high, that the guns may fire over it without being obliged to make embrasures: in such cases, it is said the guns fire en barbette. See Battery.

BARDEES d’eau, Fr. a measure used in the making of saltpetre, containing three half-hogsheads of water, which are poured into tubs for the purpose of refining it. Four half-hogsheads are sometimes thrown in.

BARILLER, Fr. an officer employed among the gallies, whose chief duty was to superintend the distribution of bread and water.

BARRACKS, or Baracks, are places erected for both officers and men to lodge in; they are built different ways, according to their different situations. When there is sufficient room to make a large square, surrounded with buildings, they are very convenient, because the soldiers are easily contained in their quarters; and the rooms being contiguous, orders are executed with privacy and expedition; and the soldiers have no connection but with those who instruct them in their duty.

Barrack-Allowance, a specific allowance of bread, beer, wood, coals, &c. to the regiments stationed in barracks. See Ration.

Barrack-Guard, when a regiment is in barracks, the principal guard is the barrack-guard; the officer being responsible for the regularity of the men in barracks, and for all prisoners duly committed to his charge while on that duty.

Barrack-Master General, a staff officer at the head of the barrack department; he has a number of barrack-masters and deputies under him, who are stationed at the different barracks; he has an office and clerks for the dispatch of business; to this office all reports, &c. respecting the barrack department are made. This is a British sinecure office.

Barrack-Office: the office at which all business relating to the Barrack department is transacted.

BARRELS, in military affairs, are of various kinds.

Fire-Barrels are of different sorts: some are mounted on wheels, filled with composition and intermixed with loaded grenades, and the outside full of sharp spikes: some are placed under ground, which have the effect of small mines: others are used to roll down a breach, to prevent the enemy’s entrance.—Composition, corned powder 30lb. Swedish pitch 12, saltpetre 6, and tallow 3. Not used now.

Thundering-Barrels are for the same purpose, filled with various kinds of combustibles, intermixed with small shells, grenades, and other fire-works. Not used now.

Powder-Barrels are about 16 inches diameter, and 30 or 32 inches long, holding 100 pounds of powder.

Barrels for powder—Their dimensions.

Whole Barrels. Half Barrels. Quarter Barrels.

Ft. In. Ft. In. Ft. In.

Depth 1 9.61 1 5.13 1 2.25

Diameter at top 1 3.61 1 0.37 9.35

Diameter at bulge 1 5.36 1 2. 10.71

Diameter at bot’m 1 3.51 1 0.31 9.41

The whole barrels are made to contain 100 pounds, and the half barrels 50 pounds of powder; but of late only 90 pounds have been put into the barrels, and 45 into the half barrels; which, by leaving the powder room to be shifted, preserves it the better.

Budge Barrels, hold from 40 to 60 pounds of powder; at one end is fixed a leather bag with brass nails: they are used in actual service on the batteries, to keep the powder from firing by accident, for loading the guns and mortars.

Budge-Barrels contain 38 lbs.

Weight of barrel—copper hooped—10 lbs.

Weight of barrel—hazle hooped—6lbs.

Length of barrel—hazle hooped—10¹⁄₂ inches.

Diameter of barrel—hazle hooped—1 foot 1 inch.

BARRICADE. To barricade is to fortify with trees, or branches of trees, cut down for that purpose, the brushy ends towards the enemy. Carts, waggons, &c. are sometimes made use of for the same purpose, viz. to keep back both horse and foot for some time. Abatis.

BARRIER, in a general sense means any fortification, or strong place on the frontiers of a country. It is likewise a kind of fence composed of stakes, and transums, as overthwart rafters, erected to defend the entrance of a passage, retrenchment, or the like. In the middle of the barrier is a moveable bar of wood, which is opened and shut at pleasure. It also implies a gate made of wooden bars, about 5 feet long, perpendicular to the horizon, and kept together by two long bars going across, and another crossing diagonally: Barriers are used to stop the cut made through the esplanade before the gate of a town.

Barrier-Towns, in military history, were Menin, Dendermond, Ypres, Tournay, Mons, Namur, and Maestricht. These towns were formerly garrisoned half by French or Imperial, and half by Dutch troops.

BARM, or Berm. See Berm.

BASCULE, Fr. a counterpoise which serves to lift up the draw bridge of a town. Likewise a term used in fortification to express a door that shuts and opens like a trap door.

BASE, or Basis, in fortification, the exterior part or side of a polygon, or that imaginary line which is drawn from the flanked angle of a bastion to the angle opposite to it.

Base signifies also the level line on which any work stands that is even with the ground, or other work on which it is erected. Hence the base of a parapet is the rampart.

Base, an ancient word for the smallest cannon. See Cannon.

Base-line, the line on which troops in column move, the first division that marches into the alignement forms the base line, or appui which each successive division prolongs.

Base-ring. See Cannon.

BASILISK, an ancient name given to a 48 pounder. See Cannon.

BASIS, the same as Base.

BASKET-Hilt, the hilt of a sword, so made as to contain, and guard the whole hand.

BASKETS, in military affairs, are simple baskets, frequently used in sieges. They are filled with earth, and placed on the parapet of the trench, or any other part. They are generally about a foot and a half in diameter at the top, and eight inches at the bottom, and a foot and a half in height; so that, being placed on the parapet, a kind of embrasure is formed at the bottom, through which the soldiers fire, without being exposed to the shot of the enemy. See Gabion.

Baskets.—Ballast, ¹⁄₂ bushel—weight 5 lbs.

Diameter, 1 foot 6 inches—length 1 foot.

BASTILLE, Fr. any place fortified with towers.

Bastille, a state prison which stood near the Temple in Paris, and was deservedly destroyed by the inhabitants of that capital on the 14th of July, 1789.

BASTINADO, a punishment among the Turkish soldiers, which is performed by beating them with a cane or flat of a sword on the soles of their feet.

BASTION. See Fortification.

BASSE-Enceinte. See Fausse-Braye.

BASSINET, Fr. the pan of a musquet.

BASSON or BASSOON, a wind instrument blown with a reed, performing the base to all martial music, one or two of which are attached to each regimental band.

BAT de Mulet, a pack-saddle used on service when mules are employed to carry stores, &c.

BATAGE, Fr. the time employed in reducing gun-powder to its proper consistency. The French usually consumed 24 hours in pounding the materials to make good gun-powder; supposing the mortar to contain 16 pounds of composition, it would require the application of the pestle 3500 times each hour. The labour required in this process is less in summer than in winter, because the water is softer.

BATAILLE, Fr. a battle.

Cheval de Bataille, Fr. a war horse, or charger. This expression is used figuratively as a sheet anchor or last resource.

BATAILLER, Fr. to struggle hard.

BATARDE, French 8 pounders were so called.

BATARDEAU, in fortification, is a massive perpendicular pile of masonry, whose length is equal to the breadth of the ditch, inundation, or any part of a fortification where the water cannot be kept in without the raising of these sorts of works, which are described either on the capitals prolonged of the bastions or half-moons, or upon their faces. In thickness it is from 15 to 18 feet, that it may be able to withstand the violence of the enemy’s batteries. Its height depends upon the depth of the ditch, and upon the height of the water that is necessary to be kept up for an inundation; but the top of the building must always be under the cover of the parapet of the covert way, so as not to be exposed to the enemy’s view. In the middle of its length is raised a massive cylindrical turret, whose height exceeds the batardeau 6 feet.

BATESME du Tropique, Fr. a christening under the line. This is a ridiculous ceremony which every person is obliged to go through the first time he crosses the Line on his passage to the East-Indies. Different methods of performing it are observed by different nations. Englishmen frequently buy themselves off. Among the French, the individual who was to be baptized or christened, swore that he would individually assist in forcing every person hereafter, who should be similarly situated, to go through the same ceremony. A barbarous usage.

BAT-Horses, -

BAW-Horses,

are baggage horses belonging to the officers when on actual duty.

Bat-Men, -

Baw-Men,

were originally servants hired in war time, to take care of the horses belonging to the train of artillery, bakery, baggage, &c. Men who are excused regimental duty, for the specific purpose of attending to the horses belonging to their officers, are called bat-men.

Knights of the BATH, an English military order of uncertain original. After long decay, this order was revived under George I. by a creation of a considerable number of knights. They wear a red riband, and their motto is, Tria juncta in uno, alluding to the three cardinal virtues which every knight ought to possess!

BATON, Fr. a staff. See Staff.

Baton a deux bouts, Fr. a quarter-staff.

Baton de commandement, Fr. an instrument of particular distinction which was formerly given to generals in the French army. Henry III. before his accession to the throne was made generalissimo of all the armies belonging to his brother Charles the IX. and publicly received the Baton, as a mark of high command.

Baton ferrat et non ferrat, Fr. all sorts of weapons.

Obténir son object par le tour du Baton, Fr. to accomplish one’s ends by equivocal means.

Etre bien assuré de son Baton, Fr. to be morally certain of a thing.

Etre reduit au Baton blanc, to be reduced to your last stake.

A Batons rompus, Fr. to do any thing by fits and starts, to be undecided in your plans of attack, &c.

BATOON, a truncheon, or marshal’s staff.

BATTAILOUS, a warlike or military appearance.

BATTALIA, Johnson adopts the word from Battaglia, Ital. and calls it the main body of an army, distinguished from its wings. It also implies an army or considerable detachment of troops drawn up in order of battle, or in any other proper form to attack the enemy. See Battle.

BATTALION, an undetermined body of infantry in regard to number, generally from 500 to 1000 men. In the United States the usage is various, as it is in all other countries. The United Stares regiment of artillery consists of 20 companies, which form five battalions; the other regiments infantry and artillery, consist of ten companies of each, so that each regiment must form two battalions of five companies each. The militia regiments in most of the states consist of 1000 men, composing two battalions of 500 men each, being perhaps the most perfect organization for a battalion.

The French call their military corps which answer to our regiments, demi brigades, these usually consist or three battalions of 1000 men each; when two of the battalions of a demi brigade are in the field the other is in quarters or recruiting and disciplining the young soldiers, who are thus drafted from their regimental depots.

On the British establishment the companies of grenadiers and light infantry-men having been detached from their several corps and formed into separate battalions; the British guards at present consist of 9 battalions. The different companies are likewise considerably augmented; so that it is impossible to affix any specific standard to their complement of men. The English royal regiment of artillery consists of 4 battalions. Sometimes regiments consist each of 1 battalion only; but if more numerous, are divided into several battalions, according to their strength; so that every one may come within the numbers mentioned. A battalion in one of the English marching regiments consists of 1000, and sometimes of 1200 men, officers and non-commissioned included. When there are companies of several regiments in a garrison to form a battalion, those of the eldest regiment post themselves on the right, those of the second on the left, and so on until the youngest fall into the centre. The officers take their posts before their companies, from the right and left, according to seniority. Each battalion is divided into 4 divisions, and each division into two sub-divisions, which are again divided into sections. The companies of grenadiers being unequal in all battalions, their post must be regulated by the commanding officer. See Regiment.

Triangular Battalion, in ancient military history, a body of troops ranged in the form of a triangle, in which the ranks exceed each other by an equal number of men: if the first rank consists of one man only, and the difference between the ranks is only one, then its form is that of an equilateral triangle; and when the difference between the ranks is more than one, its form may then be an isoscele; having two sides equal, or scalene triangle. This method is now laid aside.

BATTER, a cannonade of heavy ordnance, from the 1st or 2d parallel of entrenchment, against any fortress or works.

To Batter in breach, implies a heavy cannonade of many pieces directed to one part of the revetement from the third parallel.

BATTERING, in military affairs, implies the firing with heavy artillery on some fortification or strong post possessed by an enemy, in order to demolish the works.

Battering-Pieces, are large pieces of cannon, used in battering a fortified town or post.

It is judged by all nations, that no less than 24 or 18 pounders are proper for that use. Formerly much larger calibres were used, but, as they were so long and heavy, and very troublesome to transport and manage, were for a long time rejected, till adopted among the French, who during the present war have brought 36 and 42 pounders into the field.

Battering-Train, a train of artillery used solely for besieging a strong place, inclusive of mortars and howitzers: all heavy 24, 18, and 12 pounders, come under this denomination; as likewise the 13, 10, and 8 inch mortars and howitzers.

Battering-Ram. See the article Ram.

BATTERIE de Tambour, a French beat of the drum similar to the general in the British service.

Batterie en roüage, Fr. is used to dismount the enemy’s cannon.

Batterie par camarades, Fr. the discharge of several pieces of ordnance together, directed at one object or place.

BATTERY, in military affairs, implies any place where cannon or mortars are mounted, either to attack the forces of the enemy, or to batter a fortification: hence batteries have various names, agreeably to the purposes they are designed for.

Gun-Battery, is a defence made of earth faced with green sods or fascines, and sometimes made of gabions filled with earth: it consists of a breast-work parapet, or epaulement, of 18 or 20 feet thick at top, and of 22 or 24 at the foundation; of a ditch 12 feet broad at the bottom, and 18 at the top, and 7 feet deep. They must be 7¹⁄₂ feet high. The embrasures are 2 feet wide within, and 9 without, sloping a little downwards, to depress the metal on occasion. The distance from the centre of one embrasure to that of the other is 18 feet; that is, the guns are placed at 18 feet distance from each other; consequently the merlons (or that part of solid earth between the embrasures) at 16 feet within, and 7 without. The genouilliers (or part of the parapet which covers the carriage of the gun) are generally made 2¹⁄₂ feet high from the platform to the opening of the embrasures; though this height ought to be regulated according to the semi-diameter of the wheels of the carriage, or the calibre of the gun. The platforms are a kind of wooden floors, made to prevent the cannon from sinking into the ground, and to render the working of the guns more easy; and are, strictly speaking, a part of the battery. They are composed of 5 sleepers, or joists of wood, laid lengthways, the whole length of the intended platform; and to keep them firm in their places, stakes must be driven into the ground on each side: these sleepers are then covered with sound thick planks, laid parallel to the parapet; and at the lower end of the platform, next to the parapet, a piece of timber 6 inches square, called a hurter, is placed, to prevent the wheels from damaging the parapet. Platforms are generally made 18 feet long, 15 feet broad behind, and 9 before, with a slope of about 9 or 10 inches, to prevent the guns from recoiling too much, and for bringing them more easily forward when loaded. The dimensions of the platforms, sleepers, planks, hurters, and nails, ought to be regulated according to the nature of the pieces that are to be mounted.

The powder magazines to serve the batteries ought to be at a convenient distance from the same, as also from each other; the large one, at least 55 feet in the rear of the battery, and the small ones about 25. Sometimes the large magazines are made either to the right or left of the battery, in order to deceive the enemy; they are generally built 5 feet under ground; the sides and roof must be well secured with boards, and covered with earth, clay, or something of a similar substance, to prevent the powder from being fired: they are guarded by centinels. The balls are piled in readiness beside the merlins between the embrasures.

The officers of the artillery ought always to construct their own batteries and platforms, and not the engineers, as is practised in the English service; for certainly none can be so good judges of those things as the artillery officers, whose daily practice it is; consequently they are the properest people to direct the situation and to superintend the making of batteries on all occasions.

Mortar-Battery. This kind of battery differs from a gun-battery, only in having no embrasures. It consists of a parapet of 18 or 20 feet thick, 7¹⁄₂ high in front, and 6 in the rear; of a berm 2¹⁄₂ or 3 feet broad, according to the quality of the earth; of a ditch 24 feet broad at the top, and 20 at the bottom. The beds must be 9 feet long, 6 broad, 8 from each other, and 5 feet from the parapet: they are not to be sloping like the gun platforms, but exactly horizontal. The insides of such batteries are sometimes sunk 2 or 3 feet into the ground, by which they are much sooner made than those of cannon. The powder magazines and piles of shells are placed as is mentioned in the article Gun-Battery.

Ricochet-Battery, so called by its inventor M. Vauban, and first used at the siege of Aeth in 1697. It is a method of firing with a very small quantity of powder, and a little elevation of the gun, so as just to fire over the parapet, and then the shot will roll along the opposite rampart, dismounting the cannon, and driving or destroying the troops. In a siege they are generally placed at about 300 feet before the first parallel, perpendicular to the faces produced, which they are to enfilade. Ricochet practice is not confined to cannon alone; small mortars and howitzers may effectually be used for the same purpose. They are of singular use in action to enfilade an enemy’s ranks; for when the men perceive the shells rolling and bouncing about with their fuzes burning, expecting them to burst every moment, the bravest among them will hardly have courage to await their approach and face the havoc of their explosion.

Horizontal Batteries are such as have only a parapet and ditch; the platform being only the surface of the horizon made level.

Breach or Sunk Batteries are such as are sunk upon the glacis, with a design to make an accessible breach in the faces or saliant angles of the bastion and ravelin.

Cross Batteries are such as play athwart each other against the same object, forming an angle at the point of contact; whence greater destruction follows, because what one shot shakes, the other beats down.

Oblique Batteries or Batteries en Echarpe, are those which play on any work obliquely, making an obtuse angle with the line of range, after striking the object.

Enfilading Batteries are those that sweep or scour the whole length of a strait line, or the face or flank of any work.

Sweeping Batteries. See Enfilading-Batteries.

Redan Batteries are such as flank each other at the saliant and rentrant angles of a fortification.

Direct Batteries are those situated opposite to the place intended to be battered, so that the balls strike the works nearly at right angles.

Reverse Batteries are those which play on the rear of the troops appointed to defend the place.

Glancing Batteries are such whose shot strike the object at an angle of about 20°, after which the ball glances from the object, and recoils to some adjacent parts.

Joint Batteries, -

Camarade Batteries,

when several guns fire on the same object at the same time. When 10 guns are fired at once, their effect will be much greater than when fired separately.

Sunk Batteries are those whose platforms are sunk beneath the level of the field; the ground serving for the parapet; and in it the embrasures are made. This often happens in mortar, but seldom in gun-batteries. Battery sometimes signifies the guns themselves placed in a battery.

Fascine Batteries, -

Gabion Batteries,

are batteries made of those machines, where sods are scarce, and the earth very loose or sandy. For a particular detail of all kinds of batteries, see Toussard’s Artillerist, No. I. c. 1.

Battery.—Dimensions of Batteries.

1. Gun Batteries.—Gun Batteries are usually 18 feet per gun. Their principal dimensions are as follow:

Ditch— Breadth 12 feet.

Depth 8

Note.—These dimensions give for a battery of two guns 3456 cubic feet of earth; and must be varied according to the quantity required for the epaulment.

Epaulement— Breadth at bottom 23 feet.

Breadth at top 18

Height within 7

Height without 6 ft. 4 in.

Slope, interior ²⁄₇ of h’gt.

Slope, exterior ¹⁄₂ of h’gt.

Note.—The above breadths at top and bottom are for the worst soil; good earth will not require a base of more than 20 feet wide, which will reduce the breadth at top to 15 feet; an epaulement of these dimensions for two guns will require about 4200 cubic feet of earth, and deducting 300 cubic feet for each embrazure, leaves 3600 required for the epaulement. In confined situations the breadth of the epaulement may be only 12 feet.

Embrazures— Distance between their centers 18 feet

Openings, interior 20 inc.

Openings, exterior 9 feet

Height of the sole above the platform 32 inc.

Note.—Where the epaulement is made of a reduced breadth, the openings of the embrazures are made with the usual breadth within, but the exterior openings proportionably less. The embrazures are sometimes only 12 feet asunder, or even less when the ground is very confined. The superior slope of the epaulement need be very little, where it is not to be defended by small arms. The slope of the side of the embrasures must depend upon the height of the object to be fired at. The Berm is usually made 3 feet wide, and where the soil is loose, this breadth is increased to 4 feet.

2. Howitzer Batteries.—The dimensions of howitzer batteries are the same as those for guns, except that the interior openings of the embrazures are 2 feet 6 inches, and the soles of the embrazures have a slope inwards of about 10 degrees.

3. Mortar Batteries.—Are also made of the same dimensions as gun batteries, but an exact adherence to those dimensions is not so necessary. They have no embrazures. The mortars are commonly placed 15 feet from each other, and about 12 feet from the epaulement.

Note.—Though it has been generally customary to fix mortars at 45°, and to place them at the distance of 12 feet from the epaulement, yet many advantages would often arise from firing them at lower angles, and which may be done by removing them to a greater distance from the epaulement, but where they would be in equal security. If the mortars were placed at the undermentioned distances from the epaulement, they might be fired at the angles corresponding:

At 13 feet distance for firing at 30 degrees.

21 20

30 15

40 10

over an epaulment of 8 feet high.

A French author asserts, that all ricochet batteries, whether for howitzers or guns, might be made after this principle, without the inconvenience of embrazures; and the superior slope of the epaulement being inwards instead of outwards, would greatly facilitate this mode of firing.

If the situation will admit of the battery being sunk, even as low as the soles of the embrazures, a great deal of labour may be saved. In batteries without embrazures, this method may almost always be adopted; and it becomes in some situations absolutely necessary in order to obtain earth for the epaulement; for when a battery is to be formed on the crest of the glacis, or on the edge of the counterscarp of the ditch, there can be no excavation but in the rear of the battery.

4. Batteries on a coast—generally consist of only an epaulement, without much attention being paid to the ditch; they are, however, sometimes made with embrazures, like a common gun battery; but the guns are more generally mounted on traversing platforms, and fire over the epaulement. When this is the case, the guns can seldom be placed nearer than 3¹⁄₂ fathoms from each other. The generality of military writers prefer low situations for coast batteries; but M. Gribauvale lays down some rules for the heights of coast batteries, which place them in such security, as to enable them to produce their greatest effect. He says the height of a battery of this kind, above the level of the sea, must depend upon the distance of the principal objects it has to protect or annoy. The shot from a battery to ricochet with effect, should strike the water at an angle of about 4 or 5 degrees at the distance of 200 yards. Therefore the distance of the object must be the radius, and the height of the battery the tangent to this angle of 4 or 5°; which will be, at the above distance of 200 yards, about 14 yards. At this height, he says, a battery may ricochet vessels in perfect security; for their ricochet being only from a height of 4 or 5 yards, can have no effect against the battery. The ground in front of a battery should be cut in steps, the more effectually to destroy the ricochet of the enemy. In case a ship can approach the battery so as to fire musquetry from her tops, a few light pieces placed higher up on the bank, will soon dislodge the men from that position, by a few discharges of case shot. It is also easy to keep vessels at a distance by carcasses, or other fire balls, which they are always in dread of.

Durtubie estimates, that a battery of 4 or 5 guns, well posted, will be a match for a first rate man of war.

To estimate the materials for a battery.

Fascines of 9 feet long are the most convenient for forming a battery, because they are easily carried, and they answer to most parts of the battery without cutting. The embrazures are however better lined with fascines of 18 feet. The following will be nearly the number required for a fascine battery of two guns or howitzers:

90 fascines of 9 feet long.

20 fascines of 18 feet—for the embrazures.

This number will face the outside as well as the inside of the epaulement, which if the earth be stiff, will not always be necessary; at least not higher than the soles of the embrazures on the outside. This will require five of 9 feet for each merlon less than the above.

A mortar battery will not require any long fascines for the lining of the embrazures. The simplest method of ascertaining the number of fascines for a mortar battery, or for any other plain breast work, is to divide the length of work to be fascined in feet, by the length of each fascine in feet, for the number required for one layer, which being multiplied by the number of layers required, will of course give the number of fascines for facing the whole surface. If a battery be so exposed as to require a shoulder to cover it in flank, about 50 fascines of 9 feet each will be required for each shoulder.

Each fascine of 18 feet will require 7 pickets.

Each fascine of 9 feet will require 4 pickets.

12 workmen of the line, and 8 of the artillery, are generally allotted to each gun.

If to the above proportion of materials, &c. for a battery of two guns, there be added for each additional gun, 30 fascines of 9 feet, and 10 of 18 feet, with 12 workmen, the quantity may easily be found for a battery of any number of pieces.

The workmen are generally thus disposed: one half the men of the line in the ditch at 3 feet asunder, who throw the earth upon the berm: one fourth upon the berm at 6 feet asunder, to throw the earth upon the epaulement, and the other quarter on the epaulement, to level the earth, and beat it down. The artillery men carry on the fascine work, and level the interior for the platforms. This number of workmen may complete a battery in 36 hours, allowing 216 cubic feet to be dug and thrown up, by each man in the ditch in 24 hours.

Tools for the construction of the battery.

Intrenching—1¹⁄₂ times the number of workmen required; half to be pick axes, and half shovels or spades, according to the soil.

Mallets—3 per gun.

Earth Rammers—3 per gun.

Crosscut Saws—1 to every two guns.

Axes or Hatchets—2 per gun.

This estimate of tools and workmen, does not include what may be required for making up the fascines, or preparing the other materials, but supposes them ready prepared. For these articles, see the words Fascine, Gabion, Platform, &c. and for the construction of field magazines for batteries, see the word Magazine.

Note. The following estimate of the quantity of earth which may be removed by a certain number of workmen in a given time, may serve to give some idea of the time required to raise any kind of works. 500 common wheel barrows will contain 2 cubic toises of earth, and may be wheeled by one man, in summer, to the distance of 20 yards up a ramp, and 30 on a horizontal plain, in one day. In doing which he will pass over, going and returning, about 4 leagues in the first case, and 6 in the last. Most men, however, will not wheel more than 1³⁄₄ toise per day. Four men will remove the same quantity to four times the distance.

In a soil easy to be dug, one man can fill the 500 barrows in a day; but if the ground be hard, the number of fillers must be augmented, so as to keep pace with the wheel barrow man.

Battery-Planks are those planks or boards used in making platforms.

Battery-Boxes are square chests or boxes, filled with earth or dung; used in making batteries, where gabions and earth are not to be had. They must not be too large, but of a size that is governable.

Battery-Nails are wooden pins made of the toughest wood, with which the planks that cover the platforms are nailed. Iron nails might strike fire against the iron-work of the wheels, in recoiling, &c. and be dangerous.

Battery-Master, whose duty formerly it was to raise the batteries. This officer is now out of use.

BATTEURS d’Estrade. See Scouts.

BATTLE, implies an action, where the forces of two armies are engaged; and is of two kinds, general and particular, general where the whole army is engaged, and particular where only a part is in action; but as they only differ in numbers, the methods are nearly alike.

There is no action in war more brilliant than that of pitched battles. Their success sometimes decides the fate of nations. It is by this action a general acquires reputation. It is in battle that his valour, his force of genius, and his prudence, appear in their full extent; and where especially he has occasion for that firmness of mind, without which the most able general will hardly succeed.

Battles have ever been the last resource of good generals. A situation where chance and accident often baffle and overcome the most prudential and most able arrangements, and where superiority in numbers by no means ensures success, is such as is never entered into without a clear necessity for so doing. The fighting a battle only because the enemy is near, or from having no other formed plan of offence, is not the way of making war. Darius lost his crown and life by it: Harold, of England, did the same; and Francis I. at Pavia, lost the battle and his liberty. King John, of France, fought the battle of Poictiers, though ruin attended his enemy if he had not fought. The king of Prussia lost his country, and the reputation which Prussia acquired from Frederick II. by the battle of Jena.

A skilful general will give battle when his army’s situation cannot be worse, if defeated, than if it does not fight at all; and when the advantage may be great, and the loss little. Such was the duke of Cumberland’s at Hastenbeck, in 1757, and prince Ferdinand’s at Vellinghausen, in 1761. The reasons and situations for giving battle are so numerous, that to treat of them all would fill a large volume; the following are a few exigencies of state that require an army to attack the enemy at all events. Such were the causes of the battle of Blenheim, in 1704, of Zorndorff, in 1758, of Cunnersdorff, in 1759, and of Rosbach, in 1757, of Austerlitz, in 1805. An army is also obliged to engage when shut up in a post. An army may give battle to effect its junction with another army, &c.

The preparations for battle admit of infinite variety. By a knowlege of the detail of battles, the precept will accompany the example. The main general preparations are, to profit by any advantage of ground; that the tactical form of the army be in some measure adapted to it; and that such form be, if possible, a form tactically better than the enemy’s; and, in forming the army, to have a most careful attention to multiply resources, so that the fate of the army may not hang on one or two efforts; to give any particular part of the army, whose quality is superior to such part in the enemy’s army, a position that ensures action; and finally, to have a rear by nature, or if possible, by art, capable of checking the enemy in case of disaster.

The dispositions of battles admit likewise of an infinite variety of cases; for even the difference of ground which happens at almost every step, gives occasion to change the disposition or plan; and a general’s expedience will teach him to profit by this, and take the advantage the ground offers him. It is an instant, a coup d’œil which decides this: for it is to be feared the enemy may deprive you of those advantages or turn them to his own profit; and for that reason this admits of no precise rule, the whole depending on the time and the occasion.

With regard to battles, there are three things to be considered; what precedes, what accompanies, and what follows the action. As to what precedes the action, you should unite all your force, examine the advantage of the ground, the wind, and the sun, (things not to be neglected) and chuse, if possible, a field of battle proportioned to the number of your troops.

You must post the different kinds of troops advantageously for each: they must be so disposed as to be able to return often to the charge; for he who can charge often with fresh troops, is commonly victorious. Your wings must be covered so as not to be surrounded, and you must observe, that your troops can assist each other without any confusion, the intervals being proportioned to the battalions and squadrons.

Great care must be taken about the regulation of the artillery, which should be disposed so as to be able to act in every place to the greatest advantage; for nothing is more certain than that, if the artillery be well commanded, properly distributed, and manfully served, it will greatly contribute to gaining the battle; being looked upon as the general instrument of the army, and the most essential part of military force. The artillery must be well supplied with ammunition, and each soldier have a sufficient number of cartridges. The baggage, provisions, and treasure of the army, should, on the day of battle, be sent to a place of safety.

In battle, where the attacks are, there is also the principal defence. If an army attacks, it forms at pleasure; it makes its points at will: if it defends, it will be sometimes difficult to penetrate into the designs of the enemy, but when once found, succour succeeds to the discovery. Ground and numbers must ever lead in the arrangement of battles; impression and resource will ever bid fairest for winning them.

The most remarkable on record are

B. C.

1225. The Theban war of the Seven Heroes against Eteocles.

1184. Troy taken after ten years siege.

1048. Jerusalem taken by David from the Jebusites.

750. War of the Romans against the Sabines.

743. The first Messinian war begins and continues 19 years, to the taking of Ithome.

721. Samaria taken.

685. The second Messinian war begins, continues 14 years to the taking of Ira, after 11 years siege.

624. Scythians make war in Asia Minor.

612. Nineveh destroyed by the Medes.

596. The war of the Persians against the Scythians, who are expelled by Cyaxeres.

587. Jerusalem taken by Nebuchadnezzar after a siege of 18 months.

548. War of Cyrus against Crœsus.

509. Civil war at Rome, the Tarquins expelled, monarchy abolished, and consuls chosen.

504. The Athenians take and burn Sardis.

490. Battle of Marathon.

480. Battle of Thermopylæ.

Battle of Salamis.

479. Platea - Same day Persians defeated at both places.

Mycale

470. Cyprus, Persians defeated.

Eurymedon, Persians defeated.

465. Third Messinian war begins, continues ten years.

448. First sacred war concerning the temple of Apollo at Delphi.

439. War between Corinth and Corcyra.

431. The Peloponnesian war begins the 7th of May, lasts 27 years.

409. Carthage makes war on Sicily.

405. Battle of Egospotamos—the usurpation of Dyonisius.

404. Lysander takes Athens—end of the Peloponnesian war—30 tyrants reign.

401. Battle of Cunaxa—the younger Cyrus killed—the glorious retreat of the 10,000, and expulsion of the 30 tyrants.

396. Agesilaus carries the war into Persia.

395. The Corinthian war—Athens, Corinth, Thebes, Argos, against Lacedæmon.

394. Battle of Cnidus—Lacedæmonians under Pisander defeated by Conon.

A few days after Agesilaus defeats the allies at Choronea.

390. Battle of Attia—Rome taken by the Gauls.

387. War against Cyprus—ends in two years.

371. Leuctra, battle of—Epaminondas, general of Thebes, defeats the Lacedæmonians.

363. Mantinea battle gained by Epaminondas.

360. Methone, the first victory of Philip of Macedon over the Athenians.

357. Second sacred war, on the temple being attacked by the Phoceans, ends in 9 years.

340. Battle of Agrigentum—Timoleon defeats the Carthaginians.

338. Battle of Cheronea.

335. Thebes destroyed by Alexander the Great, when he left only Pindar the poet’s house standing.

334. Battle of Granicus—Alexander.

333. Battle of Issus.

331. Battle of Arbella.

301. Battle of Ipous—Antigonus defeated.

312. Tuscan war commenced.

278. Battle at Delphi. Gauls under Brennus cut to pieces.

264. First Punic war lasts 23 years.

262. Sardis, Antiochus Soter defeated there by Eumenes.

256. Regulus defeated by Xanthippus.

234. Sardinian war continues 3 years.

222. Battle of Sellafia.

218. Second Punic war begins, lasts 17 years.

217. Battle of Thrasymene.

216. Battle of Cannæ.

208. Battle of Mantinea.

202. Battle of Zama.

197. Battle of Cynocephale—Philip defeated.

168. Battle of Pydna. This battle closed the Macedonian empire.

149. Third Punic war.

146. Carthage destroyed by the Romans.

111. Jugurthine war begins, continues 5 years.

105. Battle on the Rhine, the Tuetones defeat 80,000 Romans.

102. Tuetones defeated by C. Marius at Aquæ Sextia.

91. Social war begins, continues three years, finished by Sylla.

89. Mithridatic war begins, continues 26 years.

88. Wars of Marius and Sylla, last six years.

73. War of the Slaves under Spartacus, lasts two years, ended by Pompey and Crassus.

54. England invaded by Julius Cæsar.

48. Battle of Pharsalia.

45. Battle of Munda.

43. Battle of Mutina.

42. Battle of Philippi. Death of Brutus.

31. Battle of Actium. Death of the Republic; beginning of the Empire.

A. D.

10. Varus the Roman general, defeated in Germany.

70. Jerusalem destroyed by Titus, August 31.

73. Byzantium taken by the Romans.

196. Byzantium destroyed by Severus.

269. The Goths conquered by Claudius, who massacres 300,000 of them.

340. Battle of Aquileia, Constantine the younger defeated and killed by Constans.

405. Battle of Fesulæ, Stilicho defeats 200,000 Goths.

410. Rome taken and plundered by the Goths.

440. England ravaged by the Picts and Scots.

455. Rome taken and plundered by the Vandals.

547. Rome re-taken by the Goths.

553. Rome re-conquered by the Emperor.

613. Jerusalem pillaged by the Persians, and 90,000 inhabitants killed.

622. Carthage destroyed by the Saracens.

637. Jerusalem taken by the Saracens.

640. Egypt conquered by the Saracens.

787. Danes, their first descent upon England, at Portland.

895. The Danes under Rollo, make their first descent on France.

1016. Battle of Ashdown, between Canute and Edmund.

1017. Danes under Canute conquer England.

1041. Danes expelled from England.

1066. England invaded by the Normans.

1066. Battle of Hastings, where Harold was slain, and William the Norman became king of England.

1074. The last Danish invasion of England, when they were bribed to depart.

1095. First Crusade—Jerusalem taken and re-taken.

1100. Jerusalem taken by Robert, duke of Normandy.

1147. Second Crusade.

1187. Jerusalem finally conquered by Saladin.

1189. Third Crusade—Siege of Acre.

1192. Battle of Ascalon, in Palestine.

1203. Fourth Crusade.

1204. Constantinople taken by the Latins.

1205. Zenghis Khan, till his death in 1227, gains various battles in Asia.

1215. Prussia subdued by the Mercian Knights.

1214. Battle of Bovines, 25 July.

1217. Battle of Lincoln, 19 May.

1218. The Fifth Crusade.

1219. Prussia revolted to Poland.

1261. Constantinople recovered by the Greeks.

1064. Battle of Lewis, 14 May.

1265. Battle of Evesham, 4 Aug.

1314. Battle of Bannockburn, 25 June.

1333. Battle of Halydown-Hill, 19 July.

1346. Battle of Cressy, 26 Aug.

Battle of Durham, when David, king of Scots, was taken prisoner, 17 Oct.

1347. Calais taken by the English, August 4.

1356. Battle of Poictiers, when the Fr. king and his son were taken prisoners, 19 Sept.

1357. John, king of France, taken prisoner by Edward the Black Prince, brought to England, and ransomed for 3,000,000 crowns, but being unable to pay this sum, he returned to England, and died in prison 1364.

1370. Timour (vulgarly called Tamerlane) appears a warrior, and conquers Asia, reigns 35 years.

1388. Battle of Otterburn, between Hotspur and earl Douglas, 31 July.

1403. Battle of Shrewsbury, 12 July.

1415. Battle of Agincourt, 25 Oct.

1421. Battle of Beauge, 3 April.

1423. Battle of Crevaut, June.

1424. Battle of Ferneuil, 27 Aug.

1429. Battle of Herrings, 12 Feb.

1453. Mahomed II. takes Constantinople, and begins the Turkish Empire in Europe, which put an end to the eastern empire.

Same year, the wars of the two Roses in England commence.

1455. Battle of St. Alban’s, 22 May.

1459. Battle of Blackheath, 23 Sept.

1460. Battle of Northampton, 10 July.

Battle of Wakefield, 24 Dec.

1461. Battle of Tourton, 29 March.

1464. Battle of Hexham, 15 May.

1469. Battle of Banbury, 26 July.

1470. Battle of Stamford, March.

1471. Battle of Barnet, 14 April.

Battle of Tewkesbury, 4 May.

1485. Battle of Bosworth, 22 Aug.

1487. Battle of Stoke, 6 June.

1494. Battle of Formonte, 6 July.

1497. Battle of Blackheath, 22 June.

1513. Battle of Flouden, 9 Sept. when James IV. king of Scots, was killed.

1515. Battle of Marignano, Francis I. gains victory, 14-15-25 Sept.

1516. Egypt conquered by the Turks.

1525. Battle of Pavia, Francis I. loses all but honor, 24 Feb.

1542. Battle of Solway, 24 Nov.

1547. Battle of Pinkey, 20 Sept.

1557. Battle of St. Quintin, 10 Aug.

1558. Calais retaken by the French, January 10.

1596. Cadiz, in Spain, taken by the English.

1632. Battle of Lutzen, Gustavus Adolphus, killed.

1641. Battle of Naseby, June.

1642. Battle of Edgehill, 24 Oct.

1643. Battle of Shatton, 16 May.

Battle of Lansdown, 5 July.

Battle of Roundawaydown, 13th July.

Battle of Newbury, 20 Sept.

1644. Indians, in New England, at war amongst themselves.

1644. Battle of Marston-moor, 2 July.

1650. Battle of Dunbar, 3 Sept.

1651. Battle of Worcester, 3 Sept.

1658. Ostend attempted to be taken by the French, but they were defeated with great loss.

1658. Dunkirk taken by the English, June 24.

1662. Battle of Steinkirk.

1675. Providence, the town of, in Rhode Island, almost destroyed by Indians.

1675. Medfield, town of, in Massachusetts, about half-burnt by the Indians, Feb.

1676. Northampton, and several other towns in Massachusetts, burnt and plundered by the Indians, March.

1679. Battle of Bothwell-bridge, 22 June.

1686. Buda taken from the Turks by the Imperialists.

1690. Battle of Staffarda, Catenat defeats the duke of Savoy.

Port Royal, in Nova Scotia, taken by the Massachusetts forces.

Battle of Boyne, Ireland, 1 July.

Casco fort, New Hampshire, taken by the French and Indians.

1691. York-town, in the province of Maine, burnt and plundered by the Indians, Jan. 25.

Battle of Aughrim, Ireland, 22d July.

1700. Port Royal, in Nova Scotia, retaken by the French.

1703. Deerfield in Massachusetts, burnt, and the inhabitants carried off by the French and Indians, as prisoners, February.

1704. Battle of Blenheim, 13 Aug.

1705. Battle of Cassano, passage of the Adda, by prince Eugene.

1706. Battle of Turin, prince Eugene defeats the French.

Battle of Ramillies, on Whitsunday.

Charleston, South Carolina, invaded by the French, who were repulsed with loss.

1708. Battle of Oudenard, 30 June.

Battle of Wynendale, 28 Sept.

1709. Battle of Malplaquet, Eugene defeats Villeroy.

Battle of Blarignies, 14 Sept.

Battle of Pultowa, Charles XII. defeated.

Canada unsuccessfully attacked by the New-Yorkers.

1710. Port Royal, in Nova Scotia, re-taken by the English, when it received the name of Annapolis.

1711. Canada attacked by the British troops and those of New England.

1712. Indian war in North Carolina.

1715. Battle of Dumblain, 12 Nov.

1717. Indians instigated by a Jesuit to make incursions upon the colony of Massachusetts.

1734. Dantzic taken by the Swedes.

1743. Dettingen, the battle of, won by the English and allies, in favour of the queen of Hungary, 26th June.

1744. Battle of Fontenoy, 30 Apr.

1745. Louisburgh taken by the Massachusetts forces, June 17.

Battle of Preston-pans, 21 Sept.

1746. Battle of Falkirk, 17 Jan.

Battle of Culloden, 16 Apr.

Madras taken from the English.

1747. Battle of Laffeldt, 20 July.

1749. Louisburg given up to the French.

1755. Fort Du Quesne, (now Pittsburgh) battle of, July 9.

1756. Oswego taken by the English.

Grenada, the island of, taken by Admiral Rodney, Feb.

Battle of Lobositz, 1 Oct.

1757. Battle of Rosbach, 5 Nov.

Battle of Reichenberg, 21 April.

Battle of Gros Jegerndorff, 30 Aug.

Battle of Breslau, 22 Nov.

Battle of Lissa, 5 Dec.

Battle of Hastenbeck, 26 July.

Battle of Kolin, 13 June.

Battle of Prague, 6 May.

1758. Fort Du Quesne (Pittsburg) taken by General Forbes.

Hanover desolated by the French.

Louisburgh re-taken, July 22.

Dresden taken by the Prussians.

Battle of Sandershausen, 23 July.

Battle of Crevelt, 23 June.

Battle of Meer, 5 Aug.

Battle of Zorndorff, 25 Aug.

Battle of Sandershagen, 10 Oct.

Battle of Munden, 11 Oct.

Battle of Hochkirken, 14 Oct.

1759. Battle of Kunersdorf, 12 Aug.

Niagara taken by the English, July 24.

Ticonderoga taken by the English.

Quebec taken by the English, September 13.

Canada taken by the English, September 13.

Arcot, Carnatic, taken by the English from the Hindoos.

Frankfort upon the Oder, the Prussians and Russians, 20,000 men on field of battle.

Dresden taken by the Imperialists.

Crown Point taken from the English.

Battle of Bergen, 13 April.

Battle of Zullichau, 23 July.

Battle of Coefeld, 1 Aug.

Battle of Minden, 1 Aug.

Battle of Torgau, 8 Sept.

Battle of Pretsch, 29 Oct.

Battle of Plains of Abraham, 13 Sept. Wolf killed.

Battle of Maxen, 20 and 21 Nov.

1760. Montreal taken by the English.

Battle of Cosdorff, 20 Feb.

Battle of Quebec, 28 April.

Battle of Grabensteyn, 4 June.

Battle of Corbach, 24 June.

Battle of Emsdorff, 9 July.

Battle of Warburg, 31 July.

Battle of Strehlen, 2 Aug.

Battle of Leignitz, 15 Aug.

Battle of Torgau, 2 Nov.

Dresden taken by the Prussians again.

Chamblee taken from the French by the British, Sept. 7.

1761. Cherokee Indians in Carolina, defeated by the Americans under Col. Grant.

Dominica taken by the English.

Battle of Langensaltz, 15 Feb.

Battle of Grümberg, 21 March.

Battle of Vellinghausen, 16 July.

Battle of Kirkdenckern, 15 July.

Battle of Einbeck, 24 Aug.

1762. Battle of Dobeln, 12 May.

Battle of Wilhelmstahl, 24 June.

Battle of Fulda, 23 July.

Battle of Friedberg, 30 Aug.

Battle of Freyberg, 10 and 29 Oct.

1773. Dantzic taken by the Prussians.

1774. Fort William and Mary, in New-Hampshire, seized by the inhabitants, who possessed themselves of a quantity of powder and military stores, Dec. 14.

1775. Cedars, fort at the, given up to the British by Major Rutherfield, March 15.

Engagement at Concord and Lexington. The grenadiers and light infantry of the British army at Boston, under colonel Smith, 10th foot, and Major Pitcairn, detached to destroy the magazines at Concord, 20 miles from Boston, 18-19 April.

Another detachment march under earl Percy, of 16 companies of infantry and a corps of marines, 19 April.

At Lexington, 15 miles from Boston, fell in with the continentals about five in the morning. The British fire on them and a skirmish is continued to Concord; the British are forced to retreat to Boston, driven before the Americans like sheep; the British lost 114 killed, and 127 wounded, beside 52 missing: the Americans had 62 men killed and wounded; about the third recovered of their wounds.

Ticonderoga taken by Ethan Allen, “in the name of Great Jehovah and the continental Congress,” containing 120 pieces of iron ordnance, between 6 and 24 pounders, 50 swivels, 2 ten inch mortars, 1 howitzer, 1 cohorn, 10 tons of leaden ball, 3 carts laden with flints, 30 new field carriages, a quantity of shells, 100 stand of small arms, 10 casks gun-powder, 2 pieces of brass artillery, 3 May.

Crown Point taken by the Americans, May 14.

Bunker’s-hill, the British began the attack about noon; the British lost 1440 men killed, 857 wounded; among the killed were 26 commissioned officers, and 81 among the wounded. The Americans had 452 men killed, 301 wounded and missing; among the killed was the gallant Dr. Warren, who commanded the American forces. The American fire was conducted with great judgment; and the British were blockaded in Boston, 17 June.

Charlestown, Massachusetts, burnt by the British, June 17.

Stonington, Connecticut, set on fire by the British, Sept. 3.

Canada invaded by the American forces, October.

Chamblee taken by the Americans commanded by Col. Brown and Major Livingston, October 18.

Falmouth, New England, destroyed by the British forces, October 18.

Chamblee fort, in Canada, attacked by the Americans, Oct. 20.

Chamblee taken by Montgomery, 124 barrels gun-powder, 6564 musket cartridges, 150 stand French made arms, 3 mortars, 61 shells, 83 stand English arms; and other valuable military and naval stores, 3 Nov.

Montreal taken by the Americans, Nov. 12.

St. John’s taken by Montgomery, 17 brass ordnance, 2 eight inch howitzers, 22 iron ordnance, shot, shells, powder, 800 stand small arms, and naval stores, 13 Nov.

Storm of Quebec, Montgomery falls, Arnold wounded, the Americans obliged to retreat, but encamp on the Plains of Abraham, 31 Dec.

Great Bridge in Virginia, battle of, in which the British were defeated, Dec.

1776. Norfolk, in Virginia, burnt by order of Lord Dunmore the British governor, and great damage sustained, Jan. 1.

Chamblee fort retaken by the British, Jan 18.

Highlanders, and regulators of N. Carolina, defeated with great loss near Moore’s Creek bridge, by Gen. Moore, Feb. 27.

Dorchester Point fortified in the night, so as to render Boston no longer tenable by the British, March 4.

Boston evacuated precipitately, the British leaving behind their arms, military stores and provisions; sir Archibald Campbell, with 1700 men, enters the harbor, and are made prisoners by general Washington, 18 March.

Crown Point re-taken by the British.

British attack on the Cedars, Arnold capitulates; Americans treated with barbarity; congress annuls the capitulation in consequence, 26 May.

British tories defeated at Moore’s creek, in North Carolina, by colonel Caswell, and the tory leader Macleod killed.

Portsmouth, Virginia, destroyed by the British, June 1.

General sir H. Clinton attacks Sullivan’s island, in concert with Sir P. Parker, and is defeated by general Lee, 15 June.

Montreal retaken by the British, June 15.

Charleston, S. C. attacked by a squadron of ships under Sir Peter Parker, and a body of troops under Generals Clinton and Cornwallis, who were defeated with great slaughter, June 25.

Battle of Long Island, or Flat bush; the American lines attacked by sir William Howe, with 20,000 men, and the American army suffers great loss from an injudicious disposition of the forces; the retreat however was conducted with admirable skill, in thirteen hours 9000 men with artillery, and all their equipage, crossed an arm of the sea a mile wide, in the face of a superior and victorious army. In this action the Americans had 2000 men killed and wounded, and 1000 taken prisoners. 26 Aug.

Fort on Sullivan’s Island, unsuccessfully attacked by the British, June 28.

New-York surrendered to the British forces, Sept. 15.

General Arnold opposes the force sent by Carleton from Canada against Ticonderoga, but is defeated on Lake Champlain; he makes an admirable retreat to Crown point, 11 Oct.

Battle of White Plains; generals Knyphausen, Cornwallis, and Percy, commanded columns; Howe commander in chief of the British, with 15,000 effectives; general Washington commander in chief of the American army, consisting of 5000 regulars, and 11,000 militia; the British attack the American entrenchments but are defeated, 28 Oct.

Fort Washington, near King’s Bridge, taken by the British, with a loss of 1000 men! 15 Nov.

Fort Lee, near New-York, taken by the British, Nov. 18.

Newport, R. Island, taken by the British, Dec. 7.

General Washington surprises the Hessians at Trenton; general William Irvine commanding the advance; general Cadwallader, the second column, and general Washington the principal division, general Greene and general Sullivan formed his suite; the enemy and their artillery were captured, 26 Dec.

Strength of British and American armies in 1776. British. Americans. Aug. 24000 16000 Nov. 26900 4500 Dec. 27000 3300

1777. Princetown, battle of, when the Americans under General Washington, defeated the British with great loss, Jan. 2.

Providence, the island of, taken by Commodore Hopkins, March.

Danbury, town of, in Connecticut, burnt by the British, and large quantities of continental stores destroyed, April 26.

Ticonderoga taken by the British, 5 July.

Action at Hubberton, the British general Frazer attacks the retreating Americans under colonel Francis, and defeats them, 6 July.

Fairfield, in Connecticut, burnt by the British, July 7.

Bennington battle, 16 Aug.

General Stark defeats the Hessian general Baum, and colonel Breyman, on Walloon Creek, 16 Aug.

Fort Stanwix, alias Fort Schuyler, the siege of, raised by Sir John Johnson and Lieut. Col. St. Leger, Aug. 22.

Eutaw Springs, the battle of, in which General Green defeats the British, Sept. 8.

Battle of Brandywine; the dispositions of the British were masterly in this action; the American army discomfitted and make a precipitate but circuitous retreat, 11 Sept.

Massacre at the Paoli, by sir Charles Grey, 20 Sept.

Philadelphia taken by the British under General Howe, Sept. 26.

Battle of Germantown; 800 English, 900 Americans killed and wounded; the British lost general Agnew and colonel Bird; the Americans, colonel Haslet, of Delaware state, a gallant officer, 4 Oct.

Battle of Stillwater, about 600 men killed on each side; no victory; the action as intrepid as any known for the numbers; Burgoyne retreats and entrenches himself at Saratoga, 17 September.

British entrenchments near Lake George attacked by general Gates, and the British completely beaten; the British general Frazer, and the Hessian colonel Breyman killed; Arnold who commanded on the right, was wounded in the tendon Achilles; Gates took 200 prisoners and 9 brass field pieces. Burgoyne makes a precipitate retreat to Saratoga, where he capitulates on the 17th of October, surrendering 5790 men, and 35 pieces of field artillery, &c. 17 Oct.

Esopus, in New-York, was totally destroyed by the British, with great quantities of stores, October 15.

Kingston, in Ulster county, New-York, burnt by the British, October 15.

Action at Red Bank, the Hessian general Donop killed, and the British attack frustrated, and the ship of war Augusta blown up, 22 Oct.

Forts Montgomery and Clinton taken by the British, October.

Martha’s Island, pillaged by the British, who carried off 300 oxen, and 2000 sheep.

Attack of Mud Fort, (now Fort Mifflin) by Cornwallis; gallantly defended by Col. Samuel Smith, 15 Nov.

Strength of British and American armies in 1777. British. Americans. March, 27000 4500 June, 30000 8000

1778. Battle of Savannah, 15 Jan.

Battle of Monmouth, the British retreat by forced marches to New York, 28 June.

Wyoming, out of 417 Americans stationed there, 360 were inhumanly butchered by a party of Tories and Indians, commanded by Col. John Butler, July 1.

Dominica taken by the French under the Marquis de Bouille, when 164 pieces of cannon and 24 brass mortars were found therein, Sept. 7.

Attack of Savannah, 28 Dec.

1779. Sunbury taken by Gen. Provost, Jan. 9.

Briars creek, American general Ashe defeated, 3 March.

Portsmouth, in Virginia, invaded again by the British, under Sir George Collier and General Matthews, who burnt vast quantities of property there, May 10.

Stoney Point and Verplanks taken by the British under general Vaughan, 30 May.

Stonoferry, in Carolina, the battle of, June 20.

Grenada taken by the French, July 6.

Norwalk, in Connecticut, burnt by the British, July 7.

General Wayne storms and takes Stony Point, 16 July.

Pawlus-hook taken by the Americans under General Lee, when 30 of the British were killed, and 160 made prisoners, July 19.

A conflagrating war carried into Connecticut, by governor Tryon and general Garth, New Haven taken; Fairfield, Norwalk, and Greenfield burnt to the ground, July.

Newhaven, town of, ravaged by the British, July.

General Lincoln attacks the British under colonel Maitland, 27 June.

Attack of the British lines at Savannah, by Lincoln and D’Estaign, who are repulsed and raise the siege, 9 Oct.

Fort of Omoa, key to the Bay of Honduras, taken by the British from the Spaniards, Oct. 20.

1780. Fort on Sullivan’s Island taken by the British, May 6.

Wachaws, North Carolina, where Colonel Tarleton surprised 300 Americans, of whom he killed by far the greatest number, May.

Charleston, South Carolina, taken by the British, after a siege of several weeks, by Gen. Clinton, 12 May.

Elizabethtown, New-Jersey, taken by the British, June 7.

Springfield attacked and burnt by the British from New York; the British severely handled and forced to retire, 23 June.

General Sumpter, after three repulses storms and takes the British post at Rocky Mount, on the Catawba river; but abandons it and attacks the post at Hanging Rock, 30 July.

Battle of Camden, Gates against Cornwallis, both armies set out at midnight, and their advanced guards began the action at 2 o’clock in the morning, 16 Aug.

Tarleton attacks Sumpter on the Wateree, a skirmish without any other effect than the display of enterprise and intrepidity on both sides, 18 Aug.

Augusta, Georgia, attacked by American general Clark, without success, 14 Sept.

Tarleton attacks Sumpter at Black Rock, on the Tyger river, and is defeated; both commanders severely wounded, Oct.

Battle of King’s Mountain, in which a party of American mounted riflemen collected from Kentucky, Georgia, and the Carolinas, attack and kill the tory leader Ferguson, and take 800 of his party prisoners, 7 Oct.

Clermont, S. C. taken by Colonel Washington, Dec. 4.

1781. Richmond, in Virginia, destroyed by the British under General Arnold, Jan. 5.

Hillsborough, in Carolina, the royal standard erected there by Lord Cornwallis, Feb. 20.

Colonel Henry Lee, with his legion, attacks a body of tories upon the Haw river, within a mile of Tarleton’s encampment, and cuts them to pieces, 25 Feb.

Battle of Guilford court house; general Greene commanded the Americans; general Cornwallis the British; a hard fought battle, the Americans defeated, but the victory was fatal to the victors, 15 March.

Fort Watson, South Carolina, taken by the Americans, April 15.

Camden, battle at, in South Carolina, between General Green and Lord Rawdon, when the Americans retreated, April 25.

Petersburgh, in Virginia, the shipping and stores destroyed at, by Phillips and Arnold, April 26.

Fort Motte, in South Carolina, taken by the Americans, May 12.

Camden, S. C. burnt by the British, May 13.

Fort Granby, in South Carolina, taken by the Americans, May 15.

Fort Cornwallis, at Augusta, taken by the Americans under Gen. Marion and Col. Lee, June 5.

Augusta, Georgia, taken by Col. Pickens and Lee, 5 June.

Battle of the Cowpens, general Morgan defeats Tarleton, whose whole force is cut to pieces; the British had 600 men killed on the field; the Americans 12 killed and 60 wounded, 7 June.

Battle of Ninety-six. 19 June.

Grotton, in Connecticut, burnt by Gen. Arnold, Sept. 6.

Battle or Hobkirks hill, general Greene and lord Rawdon, 8 Sept.

Eutaw Springs, the British under general Stewart, defeated by general Greene; the standard of the 3d British regiment, or old Bulfs, taken by the Americans; the American colonel Washington wounded and taken by the British, 8 Sept.

New London, Connecticut, burnt by Benedict Arnold, Sept. 13.

Battles of Porto Novo and Mooteapollam, E. Indies.

1782. Floating batteries, the, destroyed before Gibraltar, Sept. 13.

Surrender of Yorktown, by Cornwallis, with his whole army, consisting of 7000 men, to the united armies of America and France, under the command of general Washington, which closed the battles of the American revolution, 17 Oct.

Mohawk river, battle at, when Colonel Willet defeated the British, Oct. 24.

1790. The Miami Indians defeat General Harmar with great loss, September 30.

1791. The Indians defeat Gen. St. Clair with great loss, Nov. 4.

Bangalore, battle of, Cornwallis captures the place.

1792. Ostend taken possession of by the French under Dumourier, Dec.

Nice taken by the French under General Anselm, Sept. 29.

Savoy, part of the king of Sardinia’s dominions, taken by the French under General Montesquieu, Oct.

Battle of Jemappe, Dumourier, French 40,000, Clairfayt, Austrians 28,000, Nov. 5.

Frankfort treacherously given up to the Austrians, when 1300 Frenchmen were massacred by the Hessians, and several whose lives were spared had their hands cut off, Dec. 2.

1793. Neuingen, the battle of, between the combined armies and General Dumourier, when the French were defeated with great loss, March 20.

Battle of Tirlemont, Clairfayt defeats Dumourier, March 18.

Battle of St. Amand, in which Dampierre the French commander was killed by a cannon ball, in an engagement near the woods of Rhemes and Vicoigne, when the allies were defeated with great loss; General Clairfayt and Duke of York commanded the coalesced army, May 8.

Famars, battle of, between the French and combined powers, when the former were defeated, by Cobourg and Duke of York, May 23.

Carlberg, the battle of, when the French under Custine, defeated the Prussians, May 18.

Arlon, French and Austrians, latter defeated, 9 June.

Valenciennes, taken by the combined powers, and soon after retaken, June.

Marseilles, which had revolted against the convention, subdued Aug. 24.

Verdun, the French garrison, taken by the Prussians, and retaken soon after, Sept. 2.

Battle of Weissemberg, (or attack and repulse of,) Aug. 27.

Battle of Hondschoote, French under Houchard commander, Marshal Freytag taken, duke of York escapes, Sept. 6.

Dunkirk besieged by the combined army under the Duke of York, August 25, who were repulsed with great slaughter, Sept. 7, following.

Battle of Dunkirk, Duke of York and Marshal Freytag defeated by the French under Houchard and Jourdan, 32 24-pounders, and 68 other pieces of cannon taken by the French, Sept. 8.

Battle of Pirmasens, on the Rhine, Duke of Brunswick victorious over the French.

Battle of Saorgia, King of Sardinia beaten, Sept. 20.

Spaniards defeated at Perpignan under Ricardos.

Boufflers, from 8 in the morning to 7 at night, Austrians retreat under cover of night.

Battle of Maubeuge, Cobourg Austrian, Jourdan French, lasted two days, from day light ’till night.

Jeremie fort, St. Domingo, taken by the British, Oct.

Limbach, battle of, when the French were victorious, Sept. 14.

Maubeuge, the battle of, between the Austrians and the French, when the former were defeated with great loss, Oct. 15 & 16.

Toulon surrendered to the English Admiral Lord Hood, who took possession of the town and shipping in the name of Louis XVII. when the tree of liberty, which had been erected there, was converted into a gibbet for the republicans. On December 19, following, the republicans attacked the town in a most vigorous manner; when the combined forces, finding that all future resistance was useless, after having set fire to the shipping, arsenals, &c. made a precipitate retreat.

Tirlemont, battle of, when after a contest of several days, the French under Dumourier were defeated.

Battle of Deuxponts, Hoche and Wurmser, Hoche victorious at 4 o’clock, afternoon, loss of Austrians 6000, French 2000, 21 Nov.

Hagenau, Hoche gains a victory, 8-9 Dec.

Action five days at Weissemberg, and Austrians driven from Balberotte, 31 Dec.

1794. Noimoutier, the island of, taken from the Insurgents of La Vendee, by the arms of the French Republic, Jan 3.

Battle between Russians and Poles, former defeated, 4 Jan.

Fort Vauban taken by the French, Jan. 7.

Battle of Villers en Couchée, 24 April.

Battle of Cateau.

Moucron, battle of, when the allied forces under Clairfayt were totally defeated by the French under Pichegru, April 26.

Courtray, the same, 11 May.

Tournay, battle of, between the French and English, when the former were defeated, May 10; again between the French and combined powers, when the latter were defeated with great loss, May 17 & 18 following.

Lannoy, Pichegru defeats duke of York, 18 May, takes 60 pieces; here the duke won the race, but lost the battle.

Turcoing, Pichegru and Clairfayt, a victory on neither side, though a desperate battle, 22 May.

Coilloure, the Spanish garrison of, also Port Vendre, Fort St. Elmo, &c. with 8000 prisoners, taken by the French under Gen. Dugoumier, May.

Battle of Espierres, 25 May.

Hoogleden, Macdonald defeats Clairfayt, 13 June.

Charleroy, a garrison consisting of 3000 Austrians, surrendered to the French under Gen. Jourdan, June 25.

Battle of Fleurus, Jourdan victorious over Cobourg, began at 3 o’clock in the morning; the French three times fell back from the powerful artillery of the Austrians, and returned fresh to the fight. The French word of battle was, no retreat to day, for 9 hours victory indecisive; when Jourdan collecting his corps de reserve, Lefebvre leading the cavalry, the Austrians were put to the route. In this action reconnoitering with balloons was practised with the greatest effect, the combined forces lost about 8000 men killed and 15000 prisoners, June 28. In consequence of this victory, Le Chateau de Namur soon after submitted to the French republic.

Battle of Bellgarde, in the Eastern Pyrennees, Spaniards defeated, French general Mirabel, killed, 13 July.

Fontarabia, the key of Spain, was taken by the French, July.

Chandernagore taken from the French by the British, July.

Indians defeated by Gen. Wayne, Aug. 20.

Juliers, the fortress of, submitted to the French, when all the provinces west of the Rhine fell into their hands.

Boxtel, Moreau pursues duke of York, 14, 15, 16, Sept.

Bellegarde taken after an action, the last place possessed by the coalesced powers in France, 18 Sept.

Battle of Warsaw, between the Russians and Poles, in which Kosciusko was taken prisoner covered with wounds, 10 Oct.

Battle of Rerzese, in Poland, in which Suwarrow annihilated the Poles, took all their artillery, 19 Oct.

Berterzel, Moreau, beats the Duke of York; general Fox wins a race here, 19 Oct.

Praga, the suburb of, near Warsaw in Poland, taken by the Russian General Suwarrow, who gave the barbarous orders to his army to give quarters to no one, in consequence of which, upwards of 30,000 Poles, men, women and children, were massacred, Nov. 4.

Nimeguen, port of, evacuated by the British, Nov. 7.

Warsaw, the capital of Poland, taken by the Russians under Suwarrow, Nov. 9.

Maestrecht, the garrison of, consisting of 8000 Austrians, surrendered to the French, Nov. 9.

Battle of the Black Mountain, Eastern Pyrennees, in which Dugomier, commander of the French, gained a complete victory, but fell in the battle; took 50 pieces of cannon and the Spanish founderies of Egui and Orbaycette, 17 Nov.

Another battle, French took tents for 50,000 men, at Figueras, 20 Nov.

Graves, the fortress of, taken by the French, Dec. 30.

1795. Battle of Bommel, in Holland, French under Moreau, took 120 pieces of cannon, 7 Jan.

Grenada, bloody battle fought between the French and English in that island, in which the latter were defeated, March 3.

Battle of Quiberoon, Puissaye defeated by Hoche, 3 Aug.

1796. Battle of Kreutsnach, in which the French general Moreau, defeats the Austrian generals Kray and Wurmser, 4 Jan.

Bonaparte’s first campaign in Italy.

Montenotte, Bonaparte with 56,000 men, defeats Boileau with 84,000, took from the Austrians 40 pieces of cannon, 11 April.

Battle of Fonubio, 7 May.

Battle of Pavia, 17 May.

Milessimo, 11 May.

Dego, the same, 14 April.

Battle of Mondovi, in which the French general Stengel was killed, 22 April.

Battle of Lodi, over Boileau, 11 May.

Passage of the Mincio and battle of Borghetta, 4 June.

Battle of Renchen, Moreau victorious over the Austrians, 28 June.

Battle of Etingen, the corps of Condé cut to pieces, 1 July.

Battle of Neukirchen, Lefebvre defeats the Austrians, 6 July.

Battle of Castiglione lasted five days, Wurmser defeated, 70 field pieces, 15,000 prisoners, and Killed 6000, 2 Aug.

Battle of Peschiera, 6 Aug.

Battle of Roveredo, 6 Sept.

Battle of Bassano, 8 Sept.

Battle of Castellaro, 14 Sept.

Battle of Legonaro, 11 Oct.

Battle of Caldiero, 12 Oct.

Battle of Arcole, 15 Oct.

Battle of Altenkirken, Jourdan defeats Wurmser, 1 June.

Moreau attacks Wurmser and defeats him at Frankenthal, 15 June.

Moreau defeats the Austrians at Nordlingen, 10 Aug.

Jourdan defeated and retreats from Frankfort towards the Rhine, 30 Aug. to 3 Sept.

Desaix defeats the Austrians at Marienburg and covers Moreau’s retreat, 7 Sept.

1797. Battle near Laforma on the Adige, 13 Jan.

Provera beaten and made prisoner at La Favorita, 15 Jan.

Passage of Tagliamento and defeat of the Archduke near Gradisca; who narrowly escapes, 16 Feb.

Battle of Tagliamento, Austrians under arch duke Charles, defeated by Massena, 16 March.

Battle of Neuwied, Hoche defeats the Austrians under Kray, and takes 4000 prisoners, 18 March.

Battle of Tarvis in the Noric Alps, Massena defeats the Austrians, 20 March.

Battle of Lavis, Joubert defeats the Austrians, 22 March.

Battle of Pufero, Austrians defeated by general Guyeux, 23 March.

Battle of Tarvis, fought above the clouds, Austrians defeated by Massena, the imperial cuirassiers annihilated, 25 March.

Battle of the defiles of Neumark, Massena defeats the Austrians, 2 April.

1798. General Berthier, enters and occupies the city of Rome, in consequence of the assassination of general Duphot, and an attempt to assassinate Joseph Bonaparte the French ambassador, 10 Feb.

General Brune takes possession of Fribourg in Switzerland, after a severe action, 3 March.

A revolt in Ireland, several actions between the Irish and British troops with various success, during this month, April.

Action at Killalla, 19 April.

Action at Hacketstown, between the Irish insurgents and British troops; same day actions in Clare, Lucan, Lusk, and Kilcullen, 25 May.

Action at Tarragh, very desperate and bloody; same day the insurgents in Wexford, capture a British detachment, 27 May.

Battle at Enniscorthy, Ireland; same day a desperate action near Limerick, 28 May.

Battle of Arklow, the Irish insurgents defeat the British regulars, 29 May.

Battle of Vinegar Hill, the British under general Fawcett, defeated, 30 May.

Action at Newtownbarry, the British compelled to retreat before the insurgents; the pike the chief weapon of the Irish, 1 June.

The insurgents from Wexford, defeat the British under colonel Walpole, the colonel is killed, and the cannon are taken by the insurgents, 4 June.

Desperate action at New Ross, county Wexford; the British army under general Johnson, severely cut up, their cannon taken, and lord Mountjoy killed. Several actions during this month in which the British are defeated, 5 June.

Battle of Antrim, lord O’Neil killed, with a pike, 7 June.

Battle of Ballinahinch, the British army severely handled by the insurgent general Munroe, who was wounded and taken prisoner and afterwards executed; the British in vengeance burned the town of Saintfield, 12 June.

Insurgents camp at Vinegar hill, stormed by general Lake, and carried with great slaughter, 21 June.

Sir Charles Asgill, defeated by a body of insurgents, under the command of Murphy, an Irish priest, 23 June.

Sir Charles Asgill, attacks the Irish insurgents on Kilconnel Hill, and defeats them, but with the loss of 1000 men; the insurgents lose as many with all their cannon, and their leader Murphy falls in battle, 26 June.

Several actions in this month between the revolted Irish and British troops, July.

A French army under general Humbert, lands in Ireland, and takes possession of Kilalla, 22 Aug.

Humbert attacks Lake at Castlebar, and defeats him, taking six pieces of British artillery, 27 Aug.

Battle of Underwalden in Swisserland, between the adherents of the aristocracy of Berne and the French, under Schauenburg; the town of Stantz was burnt to the ground, 9 Sept.

The Irish insurgents defeat a British force at Rathfarnham, 18 Oct.

Desperate action at Kilcock, the British troops suffer from the pike, 28 Oct.

General Mack commences hostilities in Italy against the French, by an attack on five different points of the French lines, in the Roman territory, 22 Nov.

Battle of Porto Fermo, on the Adriatic, the French defeat the Neapolitans and take their cannon and baggage, 28 Nov.

Macdonald defeats the Neapolitans at Civita Castellano, 5 Dec.

Again defeats Mack at Calvi, 8 Dec.

Championnet defeats Mack in a general action, 11 Dec.

Macdonald defeats the Neapolitans under Dumas. The fruit of these battles, was 12,000 prisoners, 99 pieces of cannon, 21 standards, 3000 horses, and all the baggage of the Neapolitan armies.

Egypt conquered by the French.

1799. Battle of el Arish, Bonaparte defeats the Mamalukes, 9 Feb.

Jaffa taken by storm, by generals Lasnes and Bonaparte, 5 March.

Battle of Sadaseer, near Periptnam, first action on the invasion of Mysore, 5 March.

Battle of Luciensteig, Massena forces that place with dreadful slaughter; and thus gains the key of Tyrol and the Grisons, 7 March.

Battle at Loubi, on the river Jordan, near Nazareth; Bonaparte, Murat, and Junot commanded, 8 March.

Kleber defeats the Syrians at Led-Jarra, 10 March.

Battle of Esdrelon, near Mount Tabor, 17 March.

General Desolles scales the Julian Alps, takes the intrenched defiles of Tauffers in the rear, and gains a complete victory over Laudohn, 17 March.

Ostrach, Jourdan with 40,000 men, is attacked by the archduke with 80,000, and is forced to retreat, 21 March.

Samanhout, a new and elegant disposition, infantry squares formed the two flanks, cavalry in a square the centre; the troops to oppose were Mamalukes and horsemen. Davoust commanded the French horse, Friant and Belliard the two squares of infantry, 22 March. Several battles at Biramba, Bardis, Girgé, gained by Desaix in this month.

Stockach, Jourdan attacks Archduke, but is defeated and forced to retreat; Jourdan’s force under 40,000 men, the Archduke’s above 80,000; the battle was principally fought by infantry and was terrible; 10,000 men lay on the field of battle, 25 March.

Scherer and Moreau attack the Austrians between the Garda and Adige, gain a hard earned victory, fought from day break to 11 at night, 26 March.

Scherer and Moreau attack general Kray before Verona, and are defeated, 30 March.

Battle of Magnan, the French are defeated, 5 April.

Battle Malanelly, E. Indies, 5 April.

Lacourbe defeats Bellegarde in the Engadine, 1 May.

Seringapatam taken by storm, Tippoo put to death, partition of Mysore followed, 4 May.

Attack of St. Jean d’Acre, and Bonaparte forced to raise the siege, 7 May.

Moreau defeats the Russians on the Po, 12 May.

Lecourbe defeats the Austrians on the Reuss, 2 June.

Battle of Zurich, the Austrian Generals Hotze, and Wallis, Kerpen and Hillier wounded; and Judinot and Humbert of the French, 5 June.

Battle of Modena, Macdonald defeats Hohenzollern, 10 June.

Battle of the Trebia, at St. Juliano, Moreau and Suwarrow; the French defeated, 18 June.

Battle of Chebrisa, Bonaparte against the Mamelukes; a new disposition, echellons of squares with artillery and baggage of each square in its centre—and giving a front and flank fire.

Turks land and take Aboukir after a battle very desperate, the Turks defeated, Bonaparte embarks for France, 15 July.

Battle of the Pyramids, the same order of battle—very decided victory over Murad Bey, 21 July.

Second battle of Zurich, most terrible and brilliant, Massena attacks the Archduke; indecisive, 14 Aug.

Suwarrow attacks Joubert at Novi, who is killed, Moreau takes the command but is forced to retreat, a bloody battle, 15 Aug.

Helder, 27 Aug.

Battle of Bergen, in Holland, general Brune attacks Abercrombie, 10 Sept.

Second battle, the British and Russians under the Duke of York, defeated by Brune, and forced to retire within intrenchments, 19 Sept.

Third battle of Zurich, terrible and decisive, one of the most brilliant in history; Massena commanded, the Austrian general Hotze killed, the French triumph, 7 to 24 Sept.

Battle of Fossano, 14 Sept.

Gaeta, Aquila taken by storm, Mack defeated, and the Neapolitans capitulate to Championnet, 1 Oct.

Battle of Bergen, 1 Oct.

Battle of Sand hills near Bergen, 2 Oct.

Battle of Egmont, duke of York again defeated and capitulates, 6 Oct.

Battle of Fossano, French defeated by Melas, 4 Nov.

1800. Egypt conquered by the English.

Moreau crosses the Rhine, and defeats the Austrians at Engen, 2 May.

Battle of Gremback, same, 3 May.

Biberach, same effect, 9 May.

Severe action at Memmingen, Kray forced to retreat, 11 May.

Signal defeat of five Austrian columns, by two French on the Iller, 5 June.

Battle of Hochstedt, the Austrians defeated by Moreau, 18 June.

Action at Ungerhausen, 26 June.

Celebrated battle at Hohenlinden, gained by Moreau, takes 80 pieces of cannon and 10,000 prisoners; action began at day break and ended at 4 o’clock.