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
CAPTAIN.--This title, derived from the French _capitaine_,
literally signifies a head or chief officer,--the officer who
commands a company. In Turkey, the Captain-Bashaw is the High
Admiral.
CARLISLE.--The castle founded by William II, in 1092, was made
the prison of the unfortunate Queen of Scots, 1568. Taken by the
Parliamentary forces in 1645, and by the Pretender in 1745.
CARRICKFERGUS.--This town surrendered to the Duke of Schomberg,
August 28th, 1689. William III landed here June 14th, 1690, to
reduce the adherents of James II. This place is memorable for
the expedition of the French Admiral Thurot, when its castle
surrendered to his force of 1000 men, in 1760.
CARTHAGE.--Founded by Dido. Taken by the Roman General Scipio, and
burnt to the ground B.C. 146. The flames of the burning city raged
for 17 days, and thousands of the inhabitants perished in them
rather than survive the calamities of their country. Afterwards it
was rebuilt, but razed by the Saracens, and now no trace of the
city appears.
CARTHAGENA.--_In Columbia_.--Was taken by Sir Francis Drake in
1584. It was pillaged by the French of £1,200,000 in 1697. It was
bombarded by Admiral Vernon in 1740-1.
“When the forces were landed at Carthagena, the commanders erected
a battery, with which they made a breach in the principal fort,
while Vernon, who commanded the fleet, sent a number of ships into
the harbor to divide the fire of the enemy, and to co-operate with
the army on shore. The breach being deemed practicable, a body of
troops were commanded to storm; but the Spaniards deserted the
forts, which, if possessed of courage, they might have defended
with success. The troops, upon gaining this advantage, were
advanced a good deal nearer the city; but there they met a much
greater opposition than they had expected. It was found, or at
least asserted, that the fleet could not lie near enough to batter
the town, and that nothing remained but to attempt one of the forts
by scaling. The leaders of the fleet and the army began mutually
to accuse each other, each asserting the probability of what the
other denied. At length, Wentworth, stimulated by the admiral’s
reproach, resolved to try the dangerous experiment, and ordered
that fort St. Lazare should be attempted by scalade. Nothing could
be more unfortunate than this undertaking; the forces marching up
to the attack, the guides were slain, and they mistook their way.
Instead of attempting the weakest part of the fort, they advanced
to where it was the strongest, and where they were exposed to the
fire of the town. Colonel Grant, who commanded the grenadiers,
was killed in the beginning. Soon after it was found that their
scaling ladders were too short; the officers were perplexed for
want of orders, and the troops stood exposed to the whole fire
of the enemy, without knowing how to proceed. After bearing a
dreadful fire for some hours with great intrepidity, they at length
retreated, leaving 600 men dead on the spot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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