Читать книгу The Battles of the World or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events онлайн

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Henry IV. of Germany A.D. 1080 Napoleon April 5, 1814 Baliol of Scotland “ 1306 Charles X. of France Aug. 2, 1830 Charles V. of Germany “ 1556 Louis Philippe “ Feb. 24, 1848 James II. of England “ 1688 Ferdinand of Austria. Dec. 2, 1848 Philip V. of Spain “ 1724

ABOUKIR.—Commonly called the Battle of the Nile. Fought between the French and English fleets August 1st, 1798. (See Nile.)

ABRAHAM, HEIGHTS OF.—Commonly called the Taking of Quebec, or the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Fought September 13th, 1759. (See Quebec.)

ACAPULCO SHIP.—This was the celebrated prize. A Spanish galleon, from Acapulco, laden with gold and precious wares, and estimated by some annalists at £1,000,000 sterling and upwards, taken by Lord Anson, who had previously acquired in his memorable voyage booty amounting to £600,000. Admiral Anson arrived at Spithead, in the Centurion, with his immense gains, after having circumnavigated the globe, June 15th, 1744.

ACRE, ST. JEAN D’—anciently Ptolemais. This city was taken by Richard I and other Crusaders in 1192, after a siege of two years, with the loss of 6 archbishops, 12 bishops, 40 earls, 500 barons, and 300,000 soldiers. It was retaken by the Saracens, when 60,000 Christians perished, A.D. 1291. Acre was attacked by Bonaparte, in July, A.D. 1798, and was relieved by Sir Sidney Smith, who gallantly resisted twelve attempts during the memorable siege of the French, between March 1st, and May 27th, 1799, when, baffled by the British squadron on the water, and the Turks on shore, Bonaparte relinquished his object and retreated. St. Jean d’Acre is a pachalic, subject to the Porte, seized upon by Ibrahim Pacha, who had revolted, July 2nd, 1832. It became a point in the Syrian war in 1840. It was stormed by the British fleet under Sir Robert Stopford, and taken after a bombardment of a few hours—the Egyptians losing upwards of 2,000 in killed and wounded, and 3,000 prisoners; while the British had but 12 killed, and 42 wounded, November 3, 1840.