General Buller’s third attempt to pierce the Boer lines on the Tugela. On February 5, 1900, he seized Vaalkranz, under cover of a feint attack at Brakfontein towards the Boer right. The hill was held by a brigade during the 6th and 7th, but finding further progress impossible, Buller again recrossed the Tugela. The British losses amounted to 374 killed and wounded. Valenciennes (Netherlands War of Independence). Siege was laid to this place in December, 1566, by a force of Spaniards and Germans, mercenaries, under Noircarmes. The operations were somewhat indolently conducted, insomuch that he and his six lieutenants were derided as the “Seven Sleepers,” but towards the end of February Noircarmes began to press on his siege works, and on March 23 his batteries opened fire, the city surrendering on the following day. Valenciennes. Defended by a Spanish garrison under Francisco de Manesses, Valenciennes was besieged June, 1566, by the French, under Turenne and La Ferté. The French encamped in two divisions on the opposite side of the Scheldt, and when the city was on the point of surrendering, La Ferté’s division was attacked by 20,000 Spaniards, under Condé, and totally routed with a loss of 400 officers and 4,000 men, before Turenne could come to his assistance. In consequence of this defeat, Turenne was forced to abandon the siege and retire. Val-ès-Dunes. Fought 1047, between the Normans, under William of Normandy, with aid from Henri I of France, and the rebel Norman Barons. The rebels were totally defeated. Valetta (Wars of the French Revolution). The capital of Malta, held by a French garrison, 60,000 strong, under General Vaubois, was besieged September, 1798, by a force of British and Maltese, under Sir Alexander Ball. Vaubois held out for two years, but on September 5, 1800, was compelled by famine to surrender. The Maltese lost during the siege 20,000 men. Valmy (Wars of the French Revolution). Fought September 20, 1792, between the French, 70,000 strong, under Dumouriez, and the Prussians, under the Duke of Brunswick. The battle consisted in the main of an artillery duel, in which the French had the upper hand, and after nightfall the Prussians retired, recrossing the frontier two days later. Valparaiso. This city, entirely open and undefended, was bombarded March 31, 1866, by the Spanish fleet under Mendez Nuñez. By this disgraceful action Valparaiso was reduced to ashes. Valutinagora (Moscow Campaign).