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
In the outskirts of the town a battle took place September 19, 1799,
between 35,000 British and Russians under the Duke of York, and the
French under Vandamme. The Russians on the right met with disaster,
their commander, Hermann, with nearly all his division, being taken
prisoners, but the British repulsed the French attack with heavy loss.
The victory, however, was not of much advantage to the allies, who were
forced to continue their retreat to Zijp. The French lost about 3,000
killed and wounded, and the British 500 only, but the Russian casualties
amounted to 3,500, while they also lost 26 guns.
Bergfried (Campaign of Friedland).
Fought February 3, 1807, when Leval’s division of Soult’s corps forced
the bridge of Bergfried, and carried the village, driving out the
Russians after a short and sharp encounter, with a loss of about 1,200
men. The French lost 700.
Béthune (War of the Spanish Succession).
This small fortress, held by a French garrison of 3,500 under M. du Puy
Vauban, was invested July 14, 1707, by the Imperialists, with 30
battalions under Count Schulemburg. Vauban made a most skilful and
gallant defence, lasting 35 days, when, the garrison being reduced to
1,500 men, he was compelled to surrender. This little place cost the
allies 3,500 in killed and wounded.
Betioca (South American War of Independence).
Fought 1813, between the Colombian patriots under Simon Bolivar, and the
Spanish royalists, Bolivar gaining a complete victory.
Betwa, The (Indian Mutiny).
Fought April 1, 1858, between 1,200 British under Sir Hugh Rose, forming
part of the force besieging Jhansi, and 20,000 rebels, chiefly belonging
to the Gwalior contingent, under Tantia Topi. The enemy was thrown into
confusion by a charge of cavalry on the flank, and, being then attacked
with the bayonet, broke and fled, leaving 1,000 dead on the field and
all their guns.
Beylan (Mehemet Ali’s First Rising).
Fought 1831, between the Syrians and Egyptians under Ibrahim Pasha, and
the Turks, the latter being completely defeated.
Beymaroo (First Afghan War).
Fought November 23, 1841, when a detachment of General Elphinstone’s
force, under Brigadier Shelton, attempted to dislodge a large body of
Afghans, posted near Beymaroo village. The detachment had one gun only,
which, being well served, did considerable execution, but it broke down,
whereupon the Afghans attacked, and a charge of Ghazis caused a panic
and a disorderly flight to the British camp.
Bezetha (Jewish War).
Fought October, 66, when the Romans under Cestius Gallus were attacked
by the populace of Jerusalem, and driven out of their camp, with a loss
of 6,000 men and all their baggage and siege train.
Bhurtpur (Second Mahratta War).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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