Dictionary of Battles: From the Earliest Date to the Present TimeHarbottle, Thomas Benfield
History
Dictionary of Battles: From the Earliest Date to the Present Time
Harbottle, Thomas Benfield
Battles
Fought 1653 between 40,000 Poles under John II, and the Wallachians
under Bogdan. The Poles, who were waiting to intercept the passage of
the Wallachians, were thrown into disorder by a furious charge headed by
Bogdan in person, and almost completely annihilated.
Bautzen (Campaign of Leipzic).
Fought May 20 and 21, 1813, between 150,000 French under Napoleon, and
the Prussians and Russians, 100,000 strong, under Blucher and Count
Wittgenstein. The allies were strongly posted in and around Bautzen,
while their front was protected by the Spree. On the 20th Napoleon
forced the passage of the Spree, and seized Bautzen after severe
fighting, driving the allies from their first line of defence. On the
22nd he attacked the second line, while a flank march of Ney’s corps
drove in their right flank, and captured all their positions. The allies
retired in good order, lack of cavalry preventing Napoleon from pushing
his advantage. The allies lost 15,000 killed and wounded in the two
days; the French, 1,300.
Bavay (Gallic War).
Fought B.C. 57 between the Romans, 50,000 strong, under Cæsar, and a
large force of Gauls, drawn from the Nervii, Viromandui, Atrebates and
other tribes. The Gauls attacked as the Romans were pitching their camp
on the banks of the Sambre, but, although surprised, the legionaries
stood their ground, and utterly routed their assailants. The Nervii, in
particular, were practically annihilated.
Baylen (Peninsular War).
Fought July 19, 1808, between 15,000 Spaniards under Castaños, and
20,000 French under Dupont. The French were totally defeated with a loss
of over 2,000 men, and Dupont surrendered with his whole army.
Baza (War of Granada).
This fortress, one of the outposts of Granada, was besieged by
Ferdinand, with 95,000 Spaniards, in June 1489, and was defended by a
strong Moorish garrison under Sidi Yahye. The town was very strong, and
was gallantly defended, and the siege lasted until December, when the
place was surrendered on honourable terms.
Beachy Head (War of the Revolution).
A naval action fought June 30, 1690, between a combined English and
Dutch fleet of 73 sail under Torrington, and a French fleet of 78 ships
under de Tourville, which had been despatched to create a diversion in
favour of James II in Ireland. The allies were defeated, the Dutch
losing six and the British one ship.
Beaugé (Hundred Years’ War).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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