Note 161 — BATTLE OF INKERMANN. November 5th., 1854.

In the “Curiosities of War,” are shown the numerous battles which have been fought on Sundays, especially on Palm, Easter, and Whit Sundays. From the Wars of the Roses to the time of Wellington, Sunday has been memorable in English military annals. It is a stern necessity, that offers so strong a contrast to the prayer which then is ascending from ivied village church or stately city fane, to preserve us “from battle and murder, and from sudden death.” The Peninsular War was fruitful in Sunday fighting, and the following instances in that and more recent campaigns are here inserted, as being intimately connected with the “Medals of the British Army.”—The second battle in Portugal, that of Vimiera, was fought on Sunday, 21st. August, 1808. The battle of Fuentes d’Onor was gained on Sunday, the 5th. of May, 1811. On Sunday evening, 10th. January, 1812, Lord Wellington issued the brief and determined order, that “Ciudad Rodrigo must be carried by assault this evening, at seven o’clock.” The battle of Orthes was fought on Sunday, the 27th. of February, 1814, and that of Toulouse—the last general action of the Peninsular War—occurred on Easter Sunday, the 10th. of April following. The Battle of Waterloo was also decided on Sunday, the 18th. of June, 1815. The second Burmese War afforded two examples:—Easter Sunday the 11th. April, 1852, the attack on the lines of defence at Rangoon; and the attack and capture of Pegu, on Sunday, the 21st. of November, 1852. The victory of Inkermann, as above narrated, was achieved on Sunday, the 5th. of November, 1854. And it was on Sunday, the 10th. of May, 1857, that the terrible Indian Mutiny broke out at Meerut.