The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military eventsBorthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
History
The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events
Borthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
Battles; Military history
Sir John Sinclair, cousin to the Earl, knelt beside him, supported
his bloody head, and asked, “Cousin, how fares it with you?”
“Indifferently,” said he. “Thanks be to God, there are but few
of my ancestors who have died in their beds. I bid you revenge
my death, for my heart grows every moment more faint. Lift up my
banner, which is on the ground, from the death of the valiant
squire who bore it. Shout ‘Douglas!’ and tell neither friend nor
foe but what I am with you.” Having spoken thus he expired. His
orders were obeyed. They cast a mantle over his body, took his
banner from the dead hand of the squire, raised it, and shouted,
“Douglas!” The Scots came thronging up to the cry. They levelled
their lances, and pushed with such courage that the English were
soon driven beyond the spot where the Douglas lay. Again the shout
of “Douglas!” rose more vehement and loud. The Scots in a dense
mass renewed the onset, bore the enemy before them, and broke them
so completely that they never rallied again. Percy himself was made
prisoner. He and his pennon, too, had to go to Scotland.
Thus the dead Douglas won the field. The Scots laid the body of
their leader in a coffin, which they placed on a car, and began
their march home. They came without interruption to Melrose, and
there, in the fair abbey, the Douglas was laid. The banner, about
which his dying charge had been given at Otterburn, was hung above
the place of the warrior’s rest.”
OUDENARDE, BATTLE OF.--Fought, July 11th, 1708, between the Allies,
commanded by Marlborough, and Prince Eugene and the French. The
French were defeated, and completely routed, with great loss. The
result of this victory was, that the French King entered into a
negotiation for peace.
OULART, BATTLE OF.--Fought, May 27th, 1798, between a body of 3000
Irish insurgents and the King’s troop, a small number. In this
engagement the North Cork Militia were cut to pieces--the Lieut.
Colonel, one Sergeant and three Privates alone remaining.
OURIQUE, BATTLE OF.--Fought, July 25th, 1139. Alfonso, Count of
Portugal, encountered five Saracen Kings and an immense army of
Moors on the plains of Ourique. After a glorious victory, he was
hailed King by his soldiers on the spot. He afterwards entered
Lisbon in triumph, and overthrew the Moorish dominion in Portugal.
This was, perhaps, the greatest battle recorded in the History of
Portugal.
P.
PALESTRO, BATTLE OF.--Fought, 29th May, 1859, between the Austrians
and the French.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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