BADAJOS, SIEGE OF.—This important frontier fortress2 had surrendered to the French, March 11th, 1811, and was invested by the British under Lord Wellington, on March 16th, 1812; and stormed and taken on April following. The siege is one of the most important in the annals of warfare3; for the victory was not only a glorious military achievement in itself, but it obliged the French, who had entered Portugal for the purpose of plunder4, to commence a precipitate5 retreat from that kingdom. For particulars, see Life of Wellington, and Napier’s Peninsular War.
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BADEN, TREATY OF.—Between France and the Emperor, September 7th, 1814. It was erected6 into a grand duchy of the Rhenish Confederation in 1806. Its territorial7 acquisitions, by its alliance with France, was guaranteed by the Vienna Congress of 1815.
BALAKLAVA, BATTLE OF.—Fought October 25th, 1854. If the exhibition of the most brilliant valour, of the excess of courage, and of a daring which would have reflected lustre8 on the best days of chivalry9 can afford full consolation11 for the disaster of to-day, we can have no reason to regret the melancholy12 loss which we sustained in a contest with a savage13 and barbarous enemy.
I shall proceed to describe, to the best of my power, what occurred under my own eyes, and to state the facts which I have heard from men whose veracity14 is unimpeachable15, reserving to myself the exercise of the right of private judgment16 in making public and in suppressing the details of what occurred on this memorable17 day. Before I proceed to my narrative19, I must premise20 that a certain feeling existed in some quarters that our cavalry21 had not been properly handled since they landed in the Crimea, and that they had lost golden opportunities from the indecision and excessive caution of their leaders. It was said that our cavalry ought to have been man?uvred at Bouljanak in one way or in another, according to the fancy of the critic. It was affirmed, too, that the Light Cavalry were utterly22 useless in the performance of one of their most important duties—the collection of supplies for the army—that they were “above their business, and too fine gentlemen for their work;” that our horse should have pushed on after the flying enemy after the battle of the Alma, to their utter confusion, and with the certainty of taking many guns and prisoners; and, above all, that at Mackenzie’s farm first, and at the gorge23 near Inkermann, subsequently, they had been improperly24 restrained from charging, and had failed in gaining great successes, which would have entitled them to a full share of the laurels25 of the campaign, solely26 owing to the timidity of the officer in command. The existence of this feeling was known to many of our cavalry, and they were indignant and exasperated27 that the faintest shade of suspicion should rest on any of their corps28. With the justice of these aspersions they seemed to think they had nothing to do, and perhaps the prominent thought in their minds was that they would give such an example of courage to the world, if the chance offered itself, as would shame their detractors for ever.
In my last I mentioned that several battalions29 of Russian infantry30 had[42] crossed the Tchernaya, and that they threatened the rear of our position and our communication with Balaklava. Their bands could be heard playing at night by the travellers along the Balaklava road to the camp, but they “showed” but little during the day, and kept up among the gorges31 and mountain passes through which the roads to Inkermann, Simpheropol, and the south-east, of the Crimea wind towards the interior. The position we occupied, in reference to Balaklava was supposed by most people to be very strong—even impregnable. Our lines were formed by natural mountain slopes in the rear, along which the French had made very formidable entrenchments. Below those entrenchments, and very nearly in a right line across the valley beneath, are four conical hillocks, one rising above the other as they recede32 from our lines; the furthest, which joins the chain of mountains opposite to our ridges33 being named Canrobert’s Hill, from the meeting there of that General with Lord Raglan after the march to Balaklava. On the top of each of these hills the Turks had thrown up earthen redoubts, defended by 250 men each, and armed with two or three guns—some heavy ship guns—lent by us to them, with one artilleryman in each redoubt to look after them. These hills cross the valley of Balaklava at the distance of about two and a half miles from the town. Supposing the spectator, then, to take his stand on one of the heights forming the rear of our camp before Sebastopol, he would see the town of Balaklava, with its scanty36 shipping37, its narrow strip of water, and its old forts on his right hand; immediately below he would behold39 the valley and plain of coarse meadow land, occupied by our cavalry tents, and stretching from the base of the ridge34 on which he stood to the foot of the formidable heights at the other side; he would see the French trenches41 lined with Zouaves a few feet beneath, and distant from him, on the slope of the hill; a Turkish redoubt lower down, then another in the valley, then, in a line with it, some angular earthworks, then, in succession, the other two redoubts up to Canrobert’s Hill. At the distance of two or two and a half miles across the valley there is an abrupt42 rocky mountain range of most irregular and picturesque43 formation, covered with scanty brushwood here and there, or rising into barren pinnacles44 and plateaux of rock. In outline and appearance this portion of the landscape is wonderfully like the Trosachs. A patch of blue sea is caught in between the overhanging cliff’s of Balaklava as they close in the entrance to the harbour on the right. The camp of the Marines, pitched on the hill sides more than 1000 feet above the level of the sea, is opposite to you as your back is turned to Sebastopol and your right side towards[43] Balaklava. On the road leading up the valley, close to the entrance of the town, and beneath these hills, is the encampment of the 93rd Highlanders.
The cavalry lines are nearer to you below, and are some way in advance of the Highlanders, but nearer to the town than the Turkish redoubts. The valley is crossed here and there by small waves of land. On your left the hills and rocky mountain ranges gradually close in towards the course of the Tchernaya, till at three or four miles’ distance from Balaklava, the valley is swallowed up in a mountain gorge and deep ravines, above which rise tiers after tiers of desolate46 whitish rock, garnished47 now and then by bits of scanty herbage, and spreading away towards the east and south, where they attain48 the Alpine49 dimensions of the Tschatir Dugh. It is very easy for an enemy at the Belbek, or in command of the road of Mackenzies’s farm, Inkermann, Simpheropol, or Bakshiserai, to debouch50 through these gorges at any time upon this plain from the neck of the valley, or to march from Sebastopol by the Tchernaya, and to advance along it towards Balaklava, till checked by the Turkish redoubts on the southern side, or by the fire from the French works on the northern side—i.e., the side which, in relation to the valley to Balaklava, forms the rear of our position. It was evident enough that Menschikoff and Gortschakoff had been feeling their way along this route for several days past, and very probably at night the Cossacks had crept up close to our picquets, which are not always as watchful52 as might be desired, and had observed the weakness of a position far too extended for our army to defend, and occupied by their despised enemy, the Turks.
At half-past seven o’clock this morning, an orderly came galloping54 in to the head-quarters camp from Balaklava, with the news, that at dawn a strong corps of Russian horse, supported by guns and battalions of infantry had marched into the valley, and had already nearly dispossessed the Turks of the redoubt No 1, (that on Canrobert’ Hill, which is farthest from our lines), and that they were opening fire on the redoubts Nos. 2, 3, and 4, which would speedily be in their hands unless the Turks offered a stouter57 resistance than they had done already.
Orders were despatched to Sir George Cathcart, and to H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, to put their respective divisions, the Fourth and the First, in motion for the scene of action; and intelligence of the advance of the Russians was also furnished to General Canrobert. Immediately on receipt of the news, the General commanded General Bosquet to get the Third Division under arms, and sent a strong body[44] of artillery35 and some 200 Chasseurs d’Afrique to assist us in holding the valley. Sir Colin Campbell, who was in command of Balaklava, had drawn58 up the 93rd Highlanders a little in front of the road to the town, at the first news of the advance of the enemy. The Marines on the heights got under arms; the seamen59’s batteries and Marines’ batteries, on the heights close to the town, were manned, and the French artillerymen and the Zouaves prepared for action along their lines. Lord Lucan’s little camp was the scene of great excitement. The men had not had time to water their horses; they had not broken their fast from the evening of the day before, and had barely saddled at the first blast of the trumpet60, when they were drawn up on the slope behind the redoubts in front of their camp to operate on the enemy’s squadrons. It was soon evident that no reliance was to be placed on the Turkish infantry or artillerymen. All the stories we had heard about their bravery behind stone walls and earthworks proved how differently the same or similar people fight under different circumstances. When the Russians advanced, the Turks fired a few rounds at them, got frightened at the distance of their supports in the rear, looked round, received a few shots and shell, and then “bolted,” and fled with an agility61 quite at variance62 with common-place notions of Oriental deportment on the battle-field. But Turks on the Danube are very different beings from Turks in the Crimea, as it appears that the Russians of Sebastopol are not at all like the Russians of Silistria.
Soon after eight o’clock, Lord Raglan and his staff turned out and cantered towards the rear of our position. The booming of the artillery, the spattering roll of musketry, were heard rising from the valley, drowning the roar of the siege guns in front before Sebastopol. As I rode in the direction of the firing, over the thistles and large stones which cover the undulating plain that stretches away towards Balaklava, on a level with the summit of the ridges above it, I observed a French light infantry regiment63 (the 27th, I think) advancing with admirable care and celerity from our right towards the ridge near the telegraph-house, which was already lined by companies of French infantry, while mounted officers scampered64 along its broken outline in every direction.
General Bosquet, a stout56 soldierlike-looking man, who reminds one of the old genre65 of French Generals as depicted66 at Versailles, followed, with his staff and a small escort of Hussars, at a gallop53. Faint white clouds rose here and there above the hill from the cannonade below. Never did the painter’s eye rest on a more beautiful scene than I beheld68 from the[45] ridge. The fleecy vapours still hung around the mountain tops, and mingled69 with the ascending71 volumes of smoke; the patch of sea sparkled freshly in the rays of the morning sun, but its light was eclipsed by the flashes which gleamed from the massess of armed men below.
Looking to the left towards the gorge, we beheld six compact masses of Russian infantry, which had just debouched from the mountain passes near Tchernaya, and were slowly advancing with solemn stateliness up the valley. Immediately in their front was a regular line of artillery, of at least twenty pieces strong. Two batteries of light guns were already a mile in advance of them, and were playing with energy on the redoubts, from which feeble puffs72 of smoke came at long intervals73. Behind these guns, in front of the infantry, were enormous bodies of cavalry. They were in six compact squares, three on each flank, moving down en échelon towards us, and the valley was lit up with the blaze of their sabres, and lance points, and gay accoutrements. In their front, and extending along the intervals between each battery of guns, were clouds of mounted skirmishers, wheeling and whirling in the front of their march like autumn leaves tossed by the wind. The Zouaves close to us were lying like tigers at the spring, with ready rifles in hand, hidden chin deep by the earthworks which run along the line of these ridges on our rear, but the quick-eyed Russians were man?uvring on the other side of the valley, and did not expose their columns to attack. Below the Zouaves we could see the Turkish gunners in the redoubts, all in confusion as the shells burst over them. Just as I came up, the Russians had carried No. 1 redoubt, the farthest and most elevated of all, and their horsemen were chasing the Turks across the interval74 which lay between it and redoubt No. 2. At that moment the cavalry, under Lord Lucan, were formed in glittering masses—the Light Brigade, under Lord Cardigan, in advance; the Heavy Brigade, under Brigadier-General Scarlet75, in reserve. They were drawn up just in front of their encampment, and were concealed76 from the view of the enemy by a slight “wave” in the plain. Considerably77 to the rear of their right, the 93rd Highlanders were drawn up in line, in front of the approach to Balaklava. Above and behind them, on the heights, the Marines were visible through the glass, drawn up under arms, and the gunners could be seen ready in the earthworks, in which were placed the heavy ships’ guns. The 93rd had originally been advanced somewhat more into the plain, but the instant the Russians got possession of the first redoubt they opened fire on them from our own guns which inflicted78 some injury, and Sir Colin Campbell “retired79” his men to a better position. Meantime the enemy advanced his cavalry[46] rapidly. To our inexpressible disgust we saw the Turks in redoubt No. 2 fly at their approach. They ran in scattered80 groups across towards redoubt No. 3, and towards Balaklava, but the horse-hoof of the Cossack was too quick for them, and sword and lance were busily plied81 among the retreating herd82. The yells of the pursuers and pursued were plainly audible. As the Lancers and Light Cavalry of the Russians advanced they gathered up their skirmishers with great speed and in excellent order—the shifting trails of men, which played all over the valley like moonlight on the water, contracted, gathered up, and the little peloton in a few moments became a solid column. Then up came their guns, in rushed their gunners to the abandoned redoubt, and the guns of No. 2 redoubt soon played with deadly effect upon the dispirited defenders83 of No. 3 redoubt. Two or three shots in return from the earthworks, and all is silent. The Turks swarm84 over the earthworks, and run in confusion towards the town, firing their muskets85 at the enemy as they run. Again the solid column of cavalry opens like a fan, and resolves itself into a “Long spray” of skirmishers. It laps the flying Turks, steel flashes in the air, and down go the poor Moslem86 quivering on the plain, split through fez and musket-guard to the chin and breast-belt. There is no support for them. It is evident the Russians have been too quick for us. The Turks have been too quick also, for they have not held their redoubts long enough to enable us to bring them help. In vain the Turkish gunners in the earthen batteries which are placed along the French entrenchments strive to protect their flying countrymen; their shot fly wide and short of the swarming87 masses. The Turks betake themselves towards the Highlanders, where they check their flight and form into companies on the flanks of the Highlanders. As the Russian cavalry on the left of their line crown the hill across the valley, they perceive the Highlanders drawn up at the distance of some half mile, calmly awaiting their approach. They halt, and squadron after squadron flies up from the rear, till they have a body of some 1500 men along the ridge—Lancers, and Dragoons, and Hussars. Then they move en échelon in two bodies, with another in reserve. The cavalry who have been pursuing the Turks on the right are coming up to the ridge beneath us, which conceals88 our cavalry from view. The heavy brigade in advance is drawn up in two lines. The first line consists of the Scots Greys, and of their old companions in glory, the Enniskillens; the second of the 4th Royal Irish, of the 5th Dragoon Guards, and of the 1st Royal Dragoons. The Light Cavalry Brigade is on their left, in two lines also. The silence is oppressive; between the cannon67 bursts one can[47] hear the champing of bits and the clink of sabres in the valley below. The Russians on their left drew breath for a moment, and then in one grand line charged in towards Balaklava. The ground flies beneath their horses’ feet; gathering89 speed at every stride, they dash on towards that thin red streak90 topped with a line of steel. The Turks fire a volley at eight hundred yards and run. As the Russians come within six hundred yards, down goes that line of steel in front, and out rings a rolling volley of Minié musketry. The distance is too great; the Russians are not checked, but still sweep onwards through the smoke, with the whole force of horse and man, here and there knocked over by the shot of our batteries above. With breathless suspense91 every one awaits the bursting of the wave upon the line of Gaelic rock; but ere they come within two hundred and fifty yards, another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifle, and carries terror into the Russians. They wheel about, open files right and left, and fly back faster than they came. “Bravo Highlanders! well done!” shout the excited spectators; but events thicken. The Highlanders and their splendid front are soon forgotten, men scarcely have a moment to think of this fact, that the 93rd never altered their formation to receive that tide of horsemen. “No,” said Sir Colin Campbell, “I did not think it worth while to form them even four deep!” The ordinary British line, two deep, was quite sufficient to repel92 the attack of these Muscovite cavaliers. Our eyes were, however, turned in a moment on our own cavalry. We saw Brigadier-General Scarlett ride along in front of his massive squadrons. The Russians—evidently corps d’elite—their light blue jackets embroidered93 with silver lace, were advancing on their left, at an easy gallop, towards the brow of the hill. A forest of lances glistened94 in their rear, and several squadrons of grey-coated dragoons moved up quickly to support them as they reached the summit. The instant they came in sight the trumpets95 of our cavalry gave out the warning blast which told us all that in another moment we should see the shock of battle beneath our very eyes. Lord Raglan, all his staff and escort, and groups of officers, the Zouaves, French generals and officers, and bodies of French infantry on the height, were spectators of the scene as though they were looking on the stage from the boxes of a theatre. Nearly every one dismounted and sat down, and not a word was said. The Russians advanced down the hill at a slow canter, which they changed to a trot96, and at last nearly halted. Their first line was at least double the length of ours—it was three times as deep. Behind them was a similar line, equally strong and compact. They evidently[48] despised their insignificant97 looking enemy, but their time was come. The trumpets rang out again through the valley, and the Greys and Enniskilleners went right at the centre of the Russian cavalry. The space between them was only a few hundred yards; it was scarce enough to let the horses “gather away,” nor had the men quite space sufficient for the full play of their sword arms. The Russian line brings forward each wing as our cavalry advance, and threatens to annihilate98 them as they pass on. Turning a little to their left, so as to meet the Russian right, the Greys rush on with a cheer that thrills to every heart—the wild shout of the Enniskilleners rises through the air at the same instant. As lightning flashes through a cloud, the Greys and Enniskilleners pierced through the dark masses of Russians. The shock was but for a moment. There was a clash of steel and a light play of swordblades in the air, and then the Greys and the redcoats disappear in the midst of the shaken and quivering columns. In another moment we see them emerging and dashing on with diminished numbers, and in broken order, against the second line, which is advancing against them as fast as it can to retrieve99 the fortune of the charge. It was a terrible moment. “God help them! they are lost” was the exclamation100 of more than one man, and the thought of many. With unabated fire the noble hearts dashed at their enemy. It was a fight of heroes. The first line of Russians, which had been smashed utterly by our charge, and had fled off at one flank and towards the centre, were coming back to swallow up our handful of men. By sheer steel and sheer courage Enniskillener and Scot were winning their desperate way right through the enemy’s squadrons, and already grey horses and red coats had appeared right at the rear of the second mass, when, with irresistible101 force, like one bolt from a bow, the 1st Royals, the 4th Dragoon Guards, and the 5th Dragoon Guards rushed at the remnants of the first line of the enemy, went through it as though it were made of pasteboard, and dashing on the second body of Russians as they were still disordered by the terrible assault of the Greys and their companions, put them to utter rout51. The Russian Horse in less than five minutes after it met our dragoons was flying with all its speed before a force certainly not half its strength. A cheer burst from every lip—in the enthusiasm, officers and men took off their caps and shouted with delight, and thus keeping up the scenic103 character of their position, they clapped their hands again and again. Lord Raglan at once despatched Lieutenant104 Curzon, Aide-de-Camp, to convey his congratulations to Brigadier-General Scarlett, and to say “Well done.” The gallant105 old[49] officer’s face beamed with pleasure when he received the message. “I beg to thank his Lordship very sincerely,” was his reply. The cavalry did not long pursue their enemy. Their loss was very slight, about thirty-five killed and wounded in both affairs. There were not more than four or five men killed outright106, and our most material loss was from the cannon playing on our heavy dragoons afterwards, when covering the retreat of our light cavalry.
In the Royal Horse Artillery we had a severe, but I am glad to say a temporary loss. Captain Maude, who directed the service of his guns with his usual devotedness107 and dauntless courage, was struck in the arm by a shell which burst at his saddle bow and killed his horse. To the joy of all the army, it is ascertained108 that he is doing well on board ship. After the charge, Captain the Hon. Arthur Hardinge came galloping up to Lord Raglan with the news of what the cavalry had done.
At ten o’clock the Guards and Highlanders of the First Division were seen moving towards the plains from their camp. The Duke of Cambridge came up to Lord Raglan for orders, and his Lordship, ready to give the honour of the day to Sir Colin Campbell, who commands at Balaklava, told his Royal Highness to place himself under the direction of the Brigadier. At forty minutes after ten, the Fourth Division also took up their position in advance of Balaklava. The cavalry were then on the left front of our position, facing the enemy; the Light Cavalry Brigade was on the left flank forward; the Heavy Cavalry Brigade en échelon in reserve, with guns on the right; the 4th Dragoons and 5th Dragoons and Greys on the left of the brigade, the Enniskillens and 3rd Dragoons on the right. The Fourth Division took up ground in the centre; the Guards and Highlanders filed off towards the extreme right, and faced the redoubts, from which the Russians opened on them with such guns as had not been spiked109.
At fifty minutes after ten, General Canrobert, attended by his staff and Brigadier-General Rose, rode up to Lord Raglan, and the staffs of the two Generals and their escorts mingled together in praise of the magnificent charge of our cavalry, while the chiefs apart conversed110 over the operations of the day, which promised to be one of battle. The Russian cavalry, followed by our shot, had retired in confusion, leaving the ground covered with horses and men. In carrying an order early in the day Mr. Blunt, Lord Lucan’s interpreter, and son of our Consul111 in Thessaly, had a narrow escape. His horse was killed, he seized a Russian charger as it galloped112 past riderless, but the horse carried him almost into[50] the Russian cavalry, and he only saved himself by leaping into a redoubt among a number of frightened Turks who were praying to Allah on their bellies113. At fifty-five minutes after ten, a body of Cavalry, the Chasseurs d’Afrique, passed down to the plain, and were loudly cheered by our men. They took up ground in advance of the ridges on our left.
And now occurred the melancholy catastrophe114 which fills us all with sorrow. It appears that the Quartermaster-General, Brigadier Airey, thinking that the Light Cavalry had not gone far enough in front when the enemy’s horse had fled, gave an order in writing to Captain Nolan, 15th Hussars, to take to Lord Lucan, directing his Lordship “to advance” his cavalry nearer to the enemy. A braver soldier than Captain Nolan the army did not possess. He was known to all his arm of the service for his entire devotion to his profession, and his name must be familiar to all who take interest in our cavalry for his excellent work, published a year ago, on our drill and system of remount and breaking horses. I had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and I know he entertained the most exalted115 opinions respecting the capabilities116 of the English horse soldier. Properly led, the British Hussar and Dragoon could in his mind break square, take batteries, ride over columns of infantry, and pierce any other cavalry in the world as if they were made of straw. He thought that they had not had the opportunity of doing all that was in their power, and that they had missed even such chances as they had offered to them,—that, in fact, they were in some measure disgraced. A matchless horseman and a first-rate swordsman, he held in contempt, I am afraid, even grape and canister. He rode off with his orders to Lord Lucan. He is now dead and gone. God forbid I should cast a shade on the brightness of his honour, but I am bound to state what I am told occurred when he reached his Lordship. I should premise that as the Russian cavalry retired, their infantry fell back towards the head of the valley, leaving men in three of the redoubts they had taken, and abandoning the fourth. They had also placed some guns on the heights over their position on the left of the gorge. Their cavalry joined the reserve, and drew up in six solid divisions, in an oblique117 line across the entrance to the gorge. Six battalions of infantry were placed behind them, and about thirty guns were drawn up along their line, while masses of infantry were also collected on the hills behind the redoubts on our right. Our cavalry had moved up to the ridge across the valley, on our left, as the ground was broken in front, and had halted in the order I have already mentioned. When Lord Lucan received the order from Captain Nolan[51] and had read it, he asked, we are told, “Where are we to advance to?” Captain Nolan pointed118 with his finger to the line of the Russians, and said, “There are the enemy, and there are the guns, sir, before them; it is your duty to take them,” or words to that effect, according to the statements made since his death. Lord Lucan, with reluctance119, gave the order to Lord Cardigan to advance upon the guns, conceiving that his orders compelled him to do so. The noble Earl, though he did not shrink, also saw the fearful odds120 against him. Don Quixote in his tilt121 against the windmill was not near so rash and reckless as the gallant fellows who prepared without a thought to rush on almost certain death. It is a maxim122 of war, that “cavalry never act without a support,” that “infantry should be close at hand when cavalry carry guns, as the effect is only instantaneous, and that it is necessary to have on the flank of a line of cavalry some squadrons in column, the attack on the flank being most dangerous. The only support our light cavalry had was the reserve of heavy cavalry at a great distance behind them, the infantry and guns being far in the rear. There were no squadrons in column at all, and there was a plain to charge over, before the enemy’s guns were reached, of a mile and a half in length.
At ten minutes past eleven, our Light Cavalry brigade advanced. The whole brigade scarcely made one effective regiment, according to the numbers of continental123 armies; and yet it was more than we could spare. As they rushed towards the front, the Russians opened on them from the guns in the redoubt on the right, with volleys of musketry and rifles. They swept proudly past, glittering in the morning sun in all the pride and splendour of war. We could scarcely believe the evidence of our senses! Surely that handful of men are not going to charge an army in position? Alas124! it was but too true—their desperate valour knew no bounds, and far indeed was it removed from its so-called better part—discretion. They advanced in two lines, quickening their pace as they closed towards the enemy. A more fearful spectacle was never witnessed than by those who, without the power to aid, beheld their heroic countrymen rushing to the arms of death. At the distance of 1200 yards the whole line of the enemy belched125 forth126, from thirty iron mouths, a flood of smoke and flame, through which hissed127 the deadly balls. Their flight was marked by instant gaps in our ranks, by dead men and horses, by steeds flying wounded or riderless across the plain. The first line is broken, it is joined by the second, they never halt or check their speed an instant; with diminished ranks, thinned by those thirty guns, which[52] the Russians had laid with the most deadly accuracy, with a halo of flashing steel above their heads, and with a cheer which was many a noble fellow’s death-cry, they flew into the smoke of the batteries, but ere they were lost from view the plain was strewed128 with their bodies and with the carcasses of horses. They were exposed to an oblique fire from the batteries on the hills on both sides, as well as to a direct fire of musketry. Through the clouds of smoke we could see their sabres flashing as they rode up to the guns and dashed between them, cutting down the gunners as they stood. We saw them riding through the guns, as I have said; to our delight we saw them returning, after breaking through a column of Russian infantry, and scattering129 them like chaff130, when the flank fire of the battery on the hill swept them down, scattered and broken as they were. Wounded men and dismounted troopers flying towards us told the sad tale—demi-gods could not have done what we had failed to do. At the very moment when they were about to retreat an enormous mass of Lancers was hurled131 on their flank. Colonel Shewell, of the 8th Hussars, saw the danger, and rode his few men straight at them, cutting his way through with fearful loss. The other regiments132 turned and engaged in a desperate encounter. With courage too great almost for credence134, they were breaking their way through the columns which enveloped135 them, when there took place an act of atrocity136 without parallel in the modern warfare of civilized137 nations. The Russian gunners, when the storm of cavalry passed, returned to their guns. They saw their own cavalry mingled with the troopers who had just ridden over them, and, to the eternal disgrace of the Russian name, the miscreants138 poured a murderous volley of grape and canister on the mass of struggling men and horses, mingling139 friend and foe140 in one common ruin. It was as much as our Heavy Cavalry brigade could do to cover the retreat of the miserable141 remnants of that band of heroes as they returned to the place they had so lately quitted in all the pride of life. At thirty-five minutes past eleven not a British soldier, except the dead and dying, was left in front of these bloody142 Muscovite guns.
Captain Nolan was killed by the first shot fired, as he rode in advance of the Hussars, cheering them on. Lord Lucan was slightly wounded. Lord Cardigan received a lance thrust through his clothes. Major Halkett, of the 4th Light Dragoons, was killed. Lord Fitzgibbon of the 8th Hussars, was desperately143 wounded, and has since, I fear, died.
In our cavalry fight we had 13 officers killed or missing, 156 men killed or missing: total 169; 21 officers wounded, 197 men wounded;[53] total 218. Total killed, wounded, and missing, 387. Horses killed or missing, 394; horses wounded 126; total 520.
BALKAN, PASSAGE OF THE.—This adventurous144 experiment was deemed impracticable by a hostile army, until effected by the Russian army under Diebitsch, whose march through the Balkan mountains is a memorable achievement of the late great Russian and Turkish war. The passage was completed July 26th, 1829. An armistice145 was the consequence; and a treaty of peace was signed at Adrianople in September following.
BALLINAHINCH, BATTLE OF.—This sanguinary engagement was fought, June 13th, 1798, between the Earl of Moira, afterwards Marquis of Hastings, and a large body of insurgent146 Irish. In this battle a large part of the town was destroyed and the royal army suffered very severely147.
BALTIC EXPEDITIONS.—There were three—1st, under Lord Nelson and Admiral Patton, April 2nd, 1801, when Copenhagen was bombarded and 28 Danish ships taken or destroyed. 2nd, under Admiral Gambier and Lord Cathcart, July 27th, 1807, where 18 sail of the line, 15 frigates149, and 31 brigs and gunboats surrendered to the British. 3rd, during the Crimean war, under Admiral Sir Charles Napier, accompanied by a French fleet, the bombardment of Bummersund and burning Abo were some of the more important actions of the expedition.
BALTIMORE, BATTLE OF.—Fought September 12th, 1814, between the British army, under General Ross, and the Americans; the British in making an attack upon the town were unsuccessful, and after a desperate engagement were repulsed151 with great loss. The gallant General who led the enterprise was killed.
BANGALORE, SIEGE OF.—This siege was commenced by the British, under Lord Cornwallis, March 6th, and the town was taken March 21st, 1791. Bangalore was restored to Tippoo, in 1792, when he destroyed the strong fort, deemed the “Bulwark152 of Mysore.”
BANNOCKBURN, BATTLE OF.—This battle is called the “Marathon of Scotland.” It was fought June 25th, 1314, between King Robert Bruce of Scotland and Edward II, of England. The army[54] of Bruce consisted of 30,000 Scots, that of Edward consisted of 100,000 English, of whom 52,000 were archers153. The English crossed a rivulet154 to the attack, and Bruce having dug deep pits, which he afterwards covered, the English cavalry fell into them and were thrown into confusion. The rout was complete—the king narrowly escaped being taken, and 50,000 English were killed or taken prisoners.
BANTRY BAY.—A French fleet, with succors155 to the adherents156 of James II, was in this bay attacked by Admiral Herbert, May, 1689. Here a French squadron anchored for a few days, in December, 1796. The mutiny of Bantry Bay is famous in naval157 history—17 of the mutineers were condemned158 to death, and 11 executed afterwards at Portsmouth, January, 1802.
BAREILLY.—India.—This place is famous in the great Indian Mutiny.—The following is a description of the attack on the British troops, by a body of Ghazees, or Fanatics159, May 5th, 1859, from Dr. Russell’s correspondence.
“As soon as the Sikhs got into the houses, they were exposed to a heavy fire from a large body of matchlockmen concealed around them. They either retired of their own accord, or were ordered to do so; at all events, they fell back with rapidity and disorder102 upon the advancing Highlanders. And now occurred a most extraordinary scene. Among the matchlockmen, who, to the number of seven or eight hundred, were lying behind the walls of the houses, was a body of Ghazees, or Mussulman fanatics, who, like the Roman Decii, devote their lives with solemn oaths to their country or their faith. Uttering loud cries, ‘Bismillah, Allah, deen, deen!’ one hundred and thirty of these fanatics, sword in hand, with small circular bucklers on the left arm, and green cummerbungs, rushed out after the Sikhs, and dashed at the left of the right wing of the Highlanders. With bodies bent160 and heads low, waving their tulwars with a circular motion in the air, they came on with astonishing rapidity. At first they were mistaken for Sikhs, whose passage had already somewhat disordered our ranks. Fortunately Sir Colin Campbell was close up with the 42nd; his keen, quick eye detected the case at once. “Steady, men, steady; close up the ranks. Bayonet them as they come on.” It was just in time; for these madmen, furious with bang, were already among us, and a body of them sweeping161 around the left of the right wing, got into the rear of the regiment. The struggle was short, but sanguinary. Three of them dashed so suddenly at Colonel[55] Cameron, that they pulled him off his horse ere he could defend himself. His sword fell out of its sheath, and he would have been hacked162 to pieces in another moment, but for the gallant promptitude of Colour Sergeant163 Gardiner, who, stepping out of the ranks, drove his bayonet through two of them in the twinkling of an eye. The third was shot by one of the 42nd. Brigadier Walpole had a similar escape; he was seized by two or three of the Ghazees, who sought to pull him off his horse, while others cut at him with their tulwars. He received two cuts on the hand, but he was delivered from the enemy by the quick bayonets of the 42nd. In a few minutes the dead bodies of one hundred and thirty-three of these Ghazees, and some eighteen or twenty wounded men of ours, were all the tokens left of the struggle.”
BARNET, BATTLE OF.—This battle was fought between the houses of York and Lancaster, when Edward IV gained a decisive and memorable victory over the Earl of Warwick, on Easter day, April 14th, 1471. The Earl of Warwick, who has been styled in history “The King Maker,” his brother, the Marquess of Montacute, and 10,000 of his army were slain164. At the moment Warwick fell, he was leading a chosen body of troops into the thickest of the slaughter165, and his body was found covered with wounds after the battle.
BARRACKS.—This word is not found in our early dictionaries. In the Dictionaire de l’Académie, it is thus defined, “Baraque—Hutte que font les soldats en campagne pour se mettre à couvert.”
BARROSA OR BAROSSA, BATTLE OF.—Fought between the British army, commanded by Major General Graham, afterwards Lord Lynedoch, and the French, under Marshal Victor. After a long conflict, the British achieved one of the most glorious triumphs of the Peninsular war. Although they fought to great disadvantage, they compelled the enemy to retreat, leaving nearly 3000 dead, 6 pieces of cannon and an eagle, the first that the British had taken. The loss of the British was 1169 men in killed and wounded.
BASQUE ROADS.—This was the place of a heroic achievement by the British. Four French ships of the line were, while riding at anchor, attacked by Lord Gambier and Lord Cochrane, and all, with a number of merchant ships, destroyed, April 12th, 1809.
BATAVIA.—Capital of Java.—Fortified by the Dutch in 1618—12,000[56] Chinese massacred here in one day, 1740.—Taken by the English January, 1782.—Again by the British under General Sir S. Auchmuty, August 8th, 1811.
BATTERIES.—Introduced, after the use of cannon, by the English along the coasts. Perhaps the most celebrated166 batteries on record are those of the French at the siege of Gibraltar, September, 1782.
BATTERING-RAM167.—This was the instrument by which the ancient Romans levelled the walls of cities. It consisted of a long beam with a head of iron, like that of a ram, hence the name, and sometimes it was so ponderous168 that 150 or 200 men at once worked it.
BATTLE-AXE.—A weapon of the Celtae.—The battle-axe guards, or beaufetiers, who are vulgarly called beef-eaters, and whose arms are a sword and lance, were first raised by Henry VII, in 1482.
BATTLEFIELD, BATTLE OF.—Near Shrewsbury, England.—This engagement was fought between Henry IV and Percy, surnamed Hotspur. The victory was gained by Henry, whose usurpation169 of the throne had laid the foundation of the factions170 of the houses of York and Lancaster, and the civil wars that ensued. It was fought July 21st, 1403.
BAUTZEN, BATTLE OF.—Between the allied171 army, under the Sovereigns of Russia and Prussia, and the French, commanded by Napoleon; the allies were defeated, and this battle, followed by that of Wurtzchen, compelled them to pass the Oder, and led to armistice, which, however, did not produce peace. Fought May 20th, 1813.
BAYLEN, BATTLE OF.—The French, consisting of 14,000 men, commanded by Generals Dupont and Wedel, were defeated by the Spaniards under Pena, Compigny and other Generals, whose forces amounted to 25,000. The French had nearly 3000 killed and wounded, and the division of Dupont, which consisted of about 8000 men, was made prisoners of war. Fought July 19th, 1808.
BAYONNE.—In the neighbourhood of this town there was much desperate fighting between the French and English armies, December 10th, 11th, and 13th, 1813. Bayonne was invested by the British, January 14th, 1814, during which the French made a sally and attacked the English with success, but were at length driven back. The loss of the[57] British was considerable, and Lieut.-General Sir John Hope was wounded and taken prisoner. It was here that the bayonet was first made, in or about A.D. 1670. According to the Abbé Langlet, it was first used by the French in battle, 1693, “with great success against an enemy unprepared for the encounter with so formidable a novelty.” Adopted by the British, September 26th, 1693.
BEACHY HEAD, ENGAGEMENT OF.—Memorable for the defeat of the British and Dutch combined fleet, by the French. The British, whose ships were commanded by the Earl of Torrington, suffered very severely in the unequal contest, June 30th, 1690. The Dutch lost two Admirals and 500 men, the English two ships and 400 men. Several of the Dutch ships were sunk to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy. The Admirals on both sides were blamed; on the English side for not fighting, on the French, for not pursuing the victory.
BEAGUE, BATTLE OF.—In Anjou, France.—Fought April 3rd, 1421, between the English and French.—The former commanded by the Duke of Clarence, the latter by the Dauphin of France, who was aided by a body of 7000 Scots, under the Earl of Buchan. The English were defeated with the loss of 1500 men killed, and the Duke himself was killed by a Scotch172 Knight173.
BELGRADE, BATTLE OF.—Fought in 1456, between the German and Turkish armies, in which the latter was defeated with the loss of 40,000 men. Belgrade was taken by Solyman, 1522, and retaken by the Imperialists in 1688, from whom it again reverted174 to the Turks in 1690. Again taken by Prince Eugene, in 1717, and kept till 1739, when it was ceded175 to the Turks, after its fine fortifications had been demolished177. It was again taken in 1789, and restored at the peace of Reichenbach, 1790. The Servian insurgents178 had possession of it in 1806. The most memorable siege which it sustained was undertaken in May, 1717, by Prince Eugene. On August 5th of that year, the Turkish army, 200,000 strong, approached to relieve it, and a sanguinary battle was fought, in which the Turks lost 20,000; after the battle Belgrade surrendered. This city is called “The Key of Eastern Christendom,” and “The Bulwark of Christian179 Europe.”
BELLAIR, BATTLE OF.—In America.—This town was attacked[58] by the British forces, under command of Sir Peter Parker; but after an obstinate180 engagement, in which the result was a long time doubtful, they were repulsed with considerable loss, and their gallant commander was killed. August 30th, 1814.
BENDER.—Is memorable as the asylum181 of Charles XII of Sweden, after his defeat at Pultowa, by the Czar Peter the Great, July 8th, 1709. The celebrated peace of Bender was concluded 1711. It was taken by storm by the Russians in 1770, and again in 1789.—Restored by the peace of Jassey, but retained at the peace of 1812.
BERESINA, BATTLE OF.—Fought November 28th, 1812, and resulted in the total defeat of the French main army, by the Russians, on the banks of the Beresina, followed by their disastrous182 passage of it when escaping out of Russia. The French lost upwards183 of 20,000 men in this battle, and in their retreat, which was attended by the greatest difficulty, calamity184 and suffering, the career of their glory was closed in that campaign.
BERGEN, BATTLES OF.—Between the French and allies; the latter defeated April 14th, 1759. The allies again defeated by the French, with great loss, September, 1799. In another battle, fought October 2nd, same year, the allies lost 4000 men, and on the 6th, they were again defeated before Alkmaer, losing 5000 men. On the 20th, the Duke of York entered into a convention, by which he exchanged his army for 6,000 French and Dutch prisoners in England.
BERGEN-OP-ZOOM.—This place, the works of which were deemed impregnable, was taken by the French, September 10th, 1747, and again in 1794. Here a gallant attempt was made by the British under General Sir T. Graham (afterwards Lord Lynedoch) to carry the fortress by storm, but it was defeated. After forcing an entrance, their retreat was cut off, and a dreadful slaughter ensued; nearly all were cut to pieces or made prisoners. March 8th, 1814.
BERLIN DEGREE.—A memorable interdict185 against the commerce of England. It declared the British Isles186 in a state of blockade, and all Englishmen found in countries occupied by French troops were to be taken prisoners of war. It was issued by Napoleon from the court of the Prussian King, shortly after the battle of Jena, November 21st, 1806.
[59]
BERWICK.—Many bloody contests, were fought here between the English and Scots. It surrendered to Cromwell in 1648, and afterwards to General Monk187.
BEYROOT.—This place is celebrated for the total defeat of the Egyptian army, by the allied English, Austrian and Turkish forces. The Egyptians lost 7000 in killed, wounded and prisoners, and 20 cannons188. Fought October 10th, 1840.
BHURTPORE.—India.—Besieged189 by the British, January 3rd, 1805, and attacked five times up to March 21st, without success. The fortress was taken by General Lake, after a desperate engagement with Holkar, April 2nd, 1805. The defeat of Holkar led to a treaty by which the Rajah of Bhurtpore agreed to pay twenty lacs of rupees, and ceded the territories that had been granted to him by a former treaty, delivering up his son as a hostage, April 10th, 1805. This city was taken by storm, by Lord Combermere, January 18th, 1826.
BIDASSOA, PASSAGE OF THE.—The allied army, under Lord Wellington, effected the passage of this river, October 7th, 1813; and the illustrious British chieftain, having thus completed his glorious career in Spain and Portugal, pursued the enemy into France.
BILBOA, BATTLE OF.—This place, which had been invested by the Carlists under Villareal, and was in considerable danger, was delivered by the defeat of the besiegers by Espartero, assisted by British naval co-operation. Espartero entered Bilboa in triumph next day, Christmas day, December 25th, 1836.
BLACK HOLE OF CALCUTTA.—Surajah Doulah declared war against the English, from motives191 of personal resentment192; and, levying193 a numerous army, laid siege to Calcutta—one of the principal British forts in India—but which was not in a state of strength to defend itself against the attack even of barbarians194. The fort was taken, having been deserted195 by the commander; and the garrison196, to the number of 146 persons, were made prisoners.
They expected the usual treatment of prisoners of war, and were therefore the less vigorous in their defence; but they soon found what mercy was to be expected from a savage conqueror197. They were all crowded together into a narrow prison, called the Black Hole, of about 18 feet square, and received air only by two small windows to the west, which[60] by no means afforded a sufficient circulation. It is terrible to reflect on the situation of these unfortunate men, shut up in this narrow place, in the burning climate of the East, and suffocating198 each other. Their first efforts, upon perceiving the effects of their horrid199 confinement200, were to break open the door of the prison; but, as it opened inwards, they soon found that impossible. They next endeavoured to excite the compassion201 or the avarice202 of the guard by offering him a large sum of money for his assistance in removing them into separate prisons; but with this he was not able to comply, as the viceroy was asleep, and no person dared to disturb him. They were now, therefore, left to die without hopes of relief; and the whole prison was filled with groans203, shrieks204, contest, and despair. This turbulence205, however, soon after sunk into a calm still more hideous206! Their efforts of strength and courage were over, and an expiring languor207 succeeded. In the morning, June 20th, 1750, when the keepers came to visit the prison, all was horror, silence, and desolation. Of 146 who had entered alive, 23 only survived, and of these the greatest part died of putrid208 fevers upon being set free.
BLENHEIM, BATTLE OF.—Fought between the English and confederates, commanded by the Duke of Marlborough, and the French and Bavarians, under Marshal Tallard and the Elector of Bavaria, whom the Duke totally defeated, with the loss of 27,000 men, in killed, and 13,000 prisoners—Tallard being among the number of the latter; the Electorate210 of Bavaria became a prize of the conquerors211. The nation testified its gratitude212 to the Duke of Marlborough by the gifts of the honour of Woodstock and hundred of Wotton, and erected for him one of the finest seats in the kingdom, known as the domain213 and house of Blenheim. This great battle was fought on the 2nd of August, 1704.
BOIS-LE-DUC, BATTLE OF.—Between the British and the French Republican army, in which the former were defeated, September 14th, 1794. Captured by the French, October 6th, following, and surrendered to the Prussian army under Bulow, 1814.
BOLOGNA.—Taken by the French in 1796; by the Austrians in 1799; again by the French, after Marengo, in 1800; and restored to the Pope, in 1815.
BOMBS.—Invented at Venlo in 1495; came into general use in 1634. The Shrapnel shell is a bomb filled with balls and a lighted fuse to make[61] it explode before it reaches the enemy. A thirteen inch bomb-shell weighs 198 lbs.
BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL.—First Attempt.—“At half-past six o’clock, on the morning of 17th October, a gun from the English batteries boomed ominously214 upon the ears of the Russians in Sebastopol. It was the signal for the commencement of the bombardment. It had been announced, on the previous evening, that the morrow was to initiate215 the combat; and already groups of expectant gazers thronged216 every spot which promised to afford a view of the warlike spectacle. For a moment after the signal-gun had despatched its messenger of death, a breathless expectation held the spectators in suspense; and then, from the whole line of attack, from the Quarantine on the far left to the Inkerman battery on the extreme right, a sheet of fire belched forth, and a volley of shot and shell was hurled upon the town. By this time the Russian gunners were at their post, and bravely responded to the challenge. As far as the eye could reach, a dense217 volume of smoke hung suspended in the air; and when it lifted, another and yet another streak of flame poured from the black earthworks, and lit up the white churches and houses of the town. The earth literally218 shook with the concussion219 of the mighty220 conflict. Distinct amid the roar, a sharp whizzing sound, swelling221 as it approached into a crashing rush, like a railway train at inexpressible speed, was heard, and a heavy blow upon the solid earthworks told where had fallen the ball of the renowned222 Lancaster gun. In a couple of hours it was evident that the Round Tower, the most formidable of the Russian works, was seriously damaged. But little impression, however, appeared to have been made on the mass of the enemy’s works. Their fire was splendid, and it was abundantly apparent that the victory was not to be easily achieved. About ten o’clock, a shell fell into one of the French magazines, which exploded, killing223 and injuring more than fifty men. This was a serious blow; and from that time the guns of our allies were evidently feebly served, and inadequate224 to bear their part effectually. For two hours more the terrific cannonade continued, spreading destruction in the ranks alike of the Russians and the Allies; and then, at mid-day, the fleets approached the scene of action, and prepared to take their share in the dangers and glories of the day. The French was the first to take up their position. It had been arranged between the Admirals, with the hearty225 concurrence226 of the land forces, that the French should engage the forts on the south of the harbour, while the English should attack[62] Fort Constantine, and the batteries on the north. A semicircular line, enclosing the mouth of the harbour, would represent the position occupied by the allied fleets. The Vautour, a French frigate148, had the honour of opening the fire, and very shortly afterwards the Charlemagne, Montebello, Jean Bart, and others, joined in the fray227. The sight from the land side now was of the most stupendous character, and the roar deafening228 and incessant229. Enormous volleys from hundreds of guns of the largest size rolled with never-ceasing impetuosity; and the air was loaded with a dense smoke that hid from the anxious gazers the effects of the fire. Occasionally a breeze lifted the murky230 canopy231, and then the eye could catch the prospect232 beyond the frowning earthworks of shattered buildings, and not unfrequently a bright flame where the explosion of a shell had fired a roof, soon to be extinguished by the active enemy. Then, in the far distance, rose the grim outlines of the massive forts, pointing seawards their deadly array of guns; and further yet, a line of noble vessels233 rapidly forming into order of attack, finished the picture. But such glimpses were but momentary235. Again the crimson236 volleys thundered forth, a light smoke poured from the sides of the French steamers, and the reply of the forts sent forth a vaporous veil, which, mingling with the smoke from the earthworks, once more enveloped in obscurity alike the attack and the defence.
It was arranged that the English sailing-vessels should be taken into position by the smaller steamers lashed237 to their sides. In this manner they drew up before the forts: the Queen, Britannia, Trafalgar, Vengeance238, Rodney, and Bellerophon, with the Vesuvius, Furious, Retribution, Highflyer, Spitfire, Spiteful, and Cyclops alongside, arrived at their appointed positions about an hour after the French had commenced firing. The ships in advance were the magnificent steamer the Agamemnon, bearing the flag of Sir Edmund Lyons, the brave second in command; the Sanspareil, Sampson, Tribune, Terrible, Sphynx, and Lynx, and the Arrow gun-boat, accompanied by the sailing vessels, Albion, London, and Arethusa, towed by the Firebrand, Niger, and Triton.
Preceding this imposing239 force, a little steam-tug, the Circassia, commanded by Mr. Ball, led the way, carefully sounding as it went, and marking out the position for the larger ships. Sir Edmund Lyons had already settled the share he was determined240 to take in the day’s adventure, and had selected the enormous fort of Constantine as the object of his special attention. The Terrible and Sampson, dashing through the storm of fire from the casemates of Constantine, anchored opposite two[63] very mischievous241 little batteries, one of which the sailors named the Wasp242, from its power of annoyance243 in comparison with its size, and the other the Telegraph, from its proximity244 to the signal station. In a few moments a vigorous shelling was opened upon these two batteries, which briskly replied. The Agamemnon now opened fire, and never was a cannonade more briskly sustained, or exhibited greater precision of fire. Sir Edmund had anchored his vessel234 at the very edge of the shoal, which extended about 900 yards from the fort. At this distance the Russian fire was most severe. For four hours the gallant crew bore the galling245 shower of missiles which cut through the rigging, pierced the hull246, and sent many a brave fellow to his last account. The Albion and London boldly came within range, but so deadly was the fire, that they soon withdrew, terribly crippled. The Sanspareil admirably seconded the efforts of the Agamemnon, and maintained a telling fire upon the fort. At length that too withdrew, and the dauntless Sir Edmund was left to bear the brunt of the concentrated fire of the Russian guns. His ship was riddled247 with shot, the sails and rigging hanging in shreds248, yet, with a bull-dog pertinacity249, he clung to his opponent. Despatching his lieutenant in an open boat, he summoned the Bellerophon to his aid. His message was characteristically pithy250: “Tell them to come in; these forts will sink me, and I’m d——d if I leave this.” The Bellerophon quickly responded; and throwing a volley into the big fort, passed on to where the Wasp and Telegraph forts were showering their missiles on the gallant Agamemnon. The Wasp was soon silenced by the vigorous shelling of the Bellerophon; and Sir Edmund, freed from the annoyance it had caused, with unabated courage hurled his fire at his huge antagonist251. The Bellerophon, however, suffered fearfully. A shell from the Russian batteries exploded in the fore18 part of the ship, and set fire to the lower deck. For a few moments it seemed as if unavoidable destruction was the fate of the gallant crew. The firing was suspended, and all hands rushed forward to endeavour to extinguish the flames. In this endeavour they were successful; but then a new mischance awaited them. The anchor had dragged on the bottom, and they were fast drifting towards the shoals beneath the forts, where they would have lain a helpless target for the Russian guns. In this emergency, the Spitfire, seeing the critical position of the larger vessel, dashed in, took her in tow, and safely brought her, though much damaged, out of the action.
The “saucy Arethusa,” and her little companion in arms, the Triton steamer, which, lashed to the larger vessel, had boldly entered into the[64] thick of the fight, bore a full share of the damage done that day. As they arrived within the range of the fire, the small steamer, which was then exposed, received a volley. Then, hauling round, the broadside of the frigate was presented to the forts, and the Triton was, to some degree, sheltered by the larger hull of her consort252. The sailors from the steamer hastened on board the Arethusa, to assist in manning her guns, and a glorious broadside was hurled at the Russian fort. Every shot vibrated through the Triton, so great was the recoil253 of the frigate’s guns. Broadside after broadside was gallantly254 delivered, and as promptly255 replied to by the cannon of the fort. Down went the rigging of the Arethusa, ropes hanging in tangled256 masses from her yards, and not unfrequent shots striking her hull. Some passed beyond the frigate, and soon the Triton’s gear aloft, and fallen gaffs, stays, and shrouds257 attested258 the severity of the enemy’s fire. Two shots struck the paddle-wheel, and the commander and carpenter’s mate were wounded by a shell while examining the extent of damage done. At length the Arethusa, nearly sinking, her decks covered with fallen rigging, her cockpit crowded with bleeding men, was compelled to relinquish259 the contest. The Triton gallantly towed her out of range, but in the act, a raking fire of shells was poured upon the deck, killing and wounding all within range of their explosion. With twenty-two holes in her funnel260, she contrived261 to tow the frigate to Constantinople, to be docked for repairs, so extensive were her injuries.
The Labrador steamer had a narrow escape from entire destruction. Towards four o’clock a shell burst in the captain’s cabin, adjoining the powder magazine, and set fire to some ropes. A cry of “fire” was raised, the pumps set to work, and enormous quantities of water poured into the magazine. The fire was fortunately extinguished in time to save the vessel. She was, of course, compelled to withdraw from the attack, her powder being rendered useless.
Admiral Dundas’s flag-ship, the Britannia, which fired from a longer range than the ones we have mentioned, received less damage, though she did not escape quite scatheless262. The enemy’s shot ploughed up the water around, and occasionally a shell or round-shot fell upon the deck or crashed through the rigging. Fortunately, however, only two men were wounded on board this ship.
The French vessels gallantly performed their part in the bombardment. Our allies had adopted the same plan as the English, and lashed small steamers to the large sailing-vessels to bring them into action. Two splendid steamers, the Pluton and the Charlemagne, proudly led the way in,[65] followed by the Montebello, the Jean Bart, and the rest of the squadron. The enemy at Fort Alexander maintained an unflinching resistance, and inflicted severe punishment on the attacking vessels.
Those who witnessed this tremendous bombardment, whether from land or sea, will probably never forget the spectacle. No imaginative description could approach the mingled sublimity263 and horror of the scene. A fleet of noble vessels, powerfully armed, poured forth sheets of flame from every port-hole on the attacking side; and the ponderous forts, from hundreds of embrasures, vomited264 a death-dealing reply. The thunder of artillery was deafening, and the sky darkened with the smoke. Thousands of grim and fierce-looking men, their faces blackened with gunpowder265 and sweat, moved about the decks, and pointed the guns, amid the crash of falling spars and the groans of their wounded messmates. Beyond the town, a sullen266 roar was heard, which might have been the echo of the sea-battle, but which the sailors well knew was the voice of the guns on land, many manned by seamen from the fleets, and responded to by a thousand of the enemy’s pieces. The awful boom of the guns grew in intensity267 as some fresh ship arrived on the scene, and contributed her broadside to the attack.
On the land side the combat was an equal one. Volley replied to volley, and no symptoms appeared to induce the belief that either party was the stronger. Suddenly, about four o’clock, a mighty explosion occurred in the Russian lines, which, for a moment, seemed to quell268 and subdue269 the roar of the thundering cannon. The earth shook, and volumes of fire sprang upwards and cast a lurid270 glare on every object. The very artillery was paused, awe-struck by the catastrophe; and the spectators watched the result in breathless excitement. It seemed as if a subterranean271 fire had forced its way through the surface of the earth to annihilate the presumption272 of competing man. Then the flame sank, the frightful273 shock was passed, and a pillar of dust and rubbish took the place of the mingled fire and smoke. The magazine in the centre of the Redan had exploded, and for a brief space not a gun from that great work replied to our volleys. Then the fire re-opened, and the Russian gunners, nothing daunted274, again hurled their shower of missiles against our works. Shortly afterwards, a small powder-waggon, belonging to the English, was struck by a shell and exploded, fortunately injuring none.
At length twilight275 warned the combatants to cease. At about six o’clock the fleets drew off, and shortly afterwards the batteries suspended their fire. The naval attack, so far as damage to the enemy was concerned, was[66] a failure. Many Russian artillerymen were, doubtless, victims to the accuracy of our aim, and the undaunted pertinacity of our seamen. Nothing, indeed, could exceed the brilliancy of the fire; and our gallant sailors of all ranks nobly maintained their reputation. But when the morrow came, the forts were found to be almost uninjured. Not a gun the less frowned from their embrasures, not a stone seemed to be displaced. The blackened mouths of the casemates, and a multitude of scars, as it were, where the fierce storm of iron had splintered the surface of the granite276, were all the evidence afforded of that desperate assault. The question between wood and granite had been fairly tried, and granite was the victor. The forts were essentially277 unhurt; but scarcely a ship had escaped without serious damage to masts, sails, and rigging. The Albion and Arethusa were compelled to proceed to Constantinople to be docked; the Rodney got fast upon the reef, and her masts were soon shattered by the Russian shell and shot—the little steamer Spiteful gallantly towing her off, with considerable damage to herself and loss of men; and the Bellerophon had about fifteen shots in her hull, and her wheel knocked away. Throughout the English fleet, 44 men were killed, and 266 wounded. The French loss was even greater. The Turkish vessels, which occupied the centre of the line, were too far removed from the intensity of the action to sustain any serious injury to the ships or loss to the crew.”
BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL.—Final Attempt.—“Generals Pelissier and Simpson had arranged to commence the assault at noon on Saturday. Thu French were to commence by an attack on the Malakoff tower. If they established themselves in that work, the English were to throw themselves upon the Great Redan, while simultaneous assaults were to be made on the right on the Little Redan, towards Careening Bay, and on the extreme left on the Central Bastion and Flagstaff Battery. General Bosquet was entrusted278 with the direction of the Malakoff attack, which was to be approached on the left flank by General MacMahon, with a powerful corps of Zouaves, Chasseurs, and regiments of the line; the right attack on the Little Redan was to be led by General Dulac, who had a strong body of Chasseurs, and four line regiments, with another powerful force in reserve. General De la Motterouge, with five regiments, was to assault the middle of the curtain connecting these two works. General De la Salles conducted the assault on the extreme left. Five regiments, composing Levaillant’s division, were[67] in front of the Central Bastion and its lunettes; while to its right, General D’Autemarre, with Niel’s and Breton’s brigades, were to penetrate279 in the track of Levaillant’s division, and seize the Mast Bastion. The Sardinians, anxious to share in the honors of the day, contributed a brigade under the orders of General Cialdini, which was to attack in conjunction with D’Autemare’s division. Finally, ten regiments, under the command of Generals Bouat and Pate280, with some troops from Kamiesch, were held in reserve, ready for immediate38 action. On each attack a competent number of sappers were provided with materials to form bridges, and handy tools; and the gunners had abundant implements281 for the spiking282 of guns; field artillery was also posted in commanding positions to render any assistance the fortunes of the day might render necessary.
The English storming party was comprised of detachments from the Light and Second Divisions. General Codrington, of the Light Division, assisted by General Markham, commanding the Second, had the direction of the assault. The first stormers, 1000 men, were selected in equal numbers from each division, Colonels Unett and Windham leading. The Highland45 brigade and Guards were ordered up to the post as a reserve. General Herbillon, commanding the French corps d’armée on the Tchernaya, had made every preparation to meet any attack which might be made by the Russian army of observation; but the enemy had experienced the prowess of the Allies in the open field too bitterly again to attempt defeat.
Early in the morning, squadrons of cavalry took position on the roads leading from Balaklava and Kadikoi to the camp, to prevent, stragglers and spectators from crowding to the front, and impeding283 the movements of the troops engaged in the assault. Every precaution, too, was observed to prevent the enemy from having any intimation of the movements of the soldiers. Parapets were heightened, and the regiments, French and English, moved up before daylight, with such promptness and secrecy284 that many even in the camp were unaware285 of the nature of the contemplated286 operations.
The plan of attack had originally included the co-operation of the fleet, but a brisk gale287 from the north-west forbade them to leave their anchorage; and except some French and English gunboats, which did good service in throwing shells and rockets into the forts, the sailors were unwillingly288 mere190 spectators of the fray.
Precisely289 at twelve o’clock General MacMahon’s division left the French trenches, which were within a few yards of the Malakoff tower,[68] and advanced rapidly up the rugged290 and steep ascent291. It proved that very great damage had been inflicted on the tower, and nearly all the guns dismounted. In a few minutes, with the loss of only one man, the French had leaped into the work, and the tricolor waved triumphantly292 on the summit of this great fort—the key to the town. The Russians contested their ground with great bravery, renewing again and again their attacks, but every time repulsed with enormous loss. General Bosquet was early wounded, and retired from the field.
The signal was now given by General Pelissier for the commencement of the English assault on the Redan; and the first stormers, led by Major Welsford of the 97th, and Captain Grove293 of the 90th, dashed from the trenches, followed by the remainder of the troops. The great work was distant about 250 yards, and the ground was so broken that it was impossible to preserve order. The enemy, who had been taken by surprise by the suddenness of the French attack upon the Malakoff, were now thoroughly294 aroused and manned every gun. Showers of grape and shell poured among our men as they struggled across the open space; General Shirley, the brigadier of the Light Division, was compelled to retire, and hundreds were shot down. When the foremost men reached the Redan, the ladders were too short to reach the breach295; but spite of every obstacle our brave fellows climbed the broken walls, and poured into the salient angle of the work. Major Welsford was shot down as he entered the Redan. Colonel Windham, with his brigade of the Second Division, followed quickly after, and in a few moments the triangular296 apex297 of the work was thronged with men. Then a now obstacle presented itself. An inner work commanded the position, and a terrible array of embrasures frowned upon the assailers. For the first time English troops quailed298 before an enemy’s fire, and notwithstanding the daring courage of Colonel Windham and the other officers, retreated to such cover as they could obtain, maintaining an ineffective fire from their muskets. In vain Colonel Windham hurried from side to side, crossing with amazing courage the line of fire, and endeavored to form his men for another assault. The few who answered his appeal were swept away by the terrible fire of the enemy. For nearly two hours was the little band exposed to such a fearful risk; and from some unaccountable remissness299 no reinforcements were sent. Three messengers were sent by Colonel Windham, but all were wounded in the attempt to reach General Codrington. At length the dauntless Colonel resolved to go himself; and passing across the open space, succeeded in obtaining the desired help. It was too late; the men inside[69] the work, unable longer to hold their position, were in full retreat; and the Russians, pouring out of their cover, charged them with the bayonet, till the ditch was filled with the bodies of the English soldiers.
While the English attack was thus disastrous, the French assaults on the Little Redan and the Central Bastions were equally unsuccessful. The division of Dulac and De la Motterouge three times carried the works to which they were exposed, only to be repulsed by the heavy fire of the inner defences, and of the steamers, which ran up, and poured their broadsides into the ranks. General De la Salles, on the extreme left, attacked with great energy the Central Bastion; but the intense fire to which his division was exposed, daunted his men, many of whom were fresh troops, unused to the stern realities of battle; and after a sanguinary struggle, he was forced to abandon the attempt. General Pelissier having obtained possession of the Malakoff, suspended farther attacks; and, at length, night closed in, leaving the armies in anxious expectation of the events of the morrow.
It was the intention of General Simpson to renew the assault on the Redan with the Highlanders and Guards on the next morning. When daylight broke, a few soldiers crept forward to seek for wounded comrades, and found the work was deserted! In a brief space, flames arose from every quarter of the town; and long lines of troops could be seen passing to the north forts. Then tremendous explosions rent the air—the great forts on the south side were exploded; and, covered by a conflagration300 which effectually prevented pursuit, Prince Gortschakoff evacuated301 the town. A few hours later, and the ships in the harbor—the steamers excepted (and a few days afterwards they, too, shared the same fate)—burst into flames, or were scuttled302, and sank slowly beneath the waters of the once crowded inlet of the sea, where had ridden the fleet with which Russia hoped to rule the Euxine, and from which had darted303 forth the murderers of Sinopé.
In this final assault the English lost no fewer than 29 officers and 356 men killed, and 124 officers and 1762 men wounded; 1 officer and 175 men were missing; total of casualties, 2447. The French suffered a loss of 5 generals killed, 4 wounded, and 6 hurt; 24 superior officers killed, 20 wounded, and 2 missing; 116 subaltern officers killed, 224 wounded, and 8 missing; 1489 sub-officers and soldiers killed, 4259 wounded, and 1400 missing; total, 7551. The Russians admit a loss on the last day of the assault of 2684 killed, 7263 wounded, and 1754 missing. Between the battle of the Tehernaya and the opening of the final bombardment, they lost 18,000 men.
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Thus did Sebastopol fall! The strongest fortress in the world, garrisoned304 by the most colossal305 military power, after a siege unexampled in modern history had succumbed306 to the efforts of the armies of the Western Powers. Three great battles had been fought beneath its walls, and four bombardments of hitherto unknown fierceness had been directed against its bastions. The siege occupied very nearly twelve months; and more than 100,000 men must have perished by wounds and disease in and before its walls.
The besieging307 army had, in its different attacks, about 800 guns mounted, which fired more than 1,600,000 rounds, and the approaches, dug during 336 days, of open trenches through a rocky ground, to an extent of fifty-four English miles, were made under the constant fire of the place, and with incessant combats by day and night. During the siege we employed no less than 80,000 gabions, 60,000 fascines, and nearly 1,000,000 earth bags.
To the French unquestionably is due the honor of its capture; but who can forget the courage which the English exhibited, the fortitude308 they displayed, or the sufferings they endured? The first victories of that eventful year are claimed by British valour, and if, at the last, they failed, let us remember there are some tasks no ability can execute, some difficulties no skill can surmount309, and some opposition310 no valour can subdue.”
BORODINO, OR MOSKWA, BATTLE OF.—This battle is one of the most sanguinary in the annals of the world. It was fought September 7th, 1812, between the French and Russians, commanded on the one side by Napoleon and on the other by Kutusoff, 240,000 men being engaged in the battle. Each party claimed the victory, because the loss of the others was so immense, but it was rather in favour of Napoleon, for the Russians subsequently retreated, leaving Moscow to its fate. Among the principal persons of the Russians who fell on this sanguinary field, may be mentioned Prince Bagration and General Touczkoff. Many Russian generals were wounded. Their loss amounted to the awful sum total of 15,000 men killed and more than 30,000 wounded. The French were supposed to have at least 10,000 men killed and 20,000 wounded; of these last few recovered. There were 8 French generals slain, the most distinguished311 of whom were Montbrun and Caulaimcourt, whose brother was the grand equerry to Napoleon Bonaparte.
BOROUGH209 BRIDGE, BATTLE OF.—Fought between the Earls[71] of Hertford and Lancaster and Edward II. The king, at the head of 30,000 men, pressed Lancaster so closely that he was taken, and executed, 1322.
BOSCOBEL.—Here Charles II concealed himself in an oak tree after the fatal battle of Worcester, September 3rd, 1651. The whole army of the Prince was either killed or taken prisoners by Cromwell, and Charles ultimately escaped with great difficulty.
BOSTON.—Here the first resistance was made to the British authority by the American Colonies, in 1773. Besieged by the British next year, and two houses destroyed. In June 1775, the scene of a battle between the royal and the independent troops. Finally evacuated by the King’s troops, April, 1776.—See Bunker’s Hill.
BOSWORTH, BATTLE OF.—This battle was the thirteenth and last, between the houses of York and Lancaster.—Fought August 22nd, 1485. The crown of Richard III was found in a hawthorn312 bush, on the plain where the battle was fought, and so eager was Henry of Richmond to be crowned, that he had the ceremony performed on the very spot, with that very crown. “Richard advanced to meet his rival as far us the town of Bosworth. Henry, who had been joined by some of the Stanleys, and whose army now counted six thousand men, had reached the neighbouring town of Atherton. Next morning, the 22nd of August, 1485, both armies were set in battle-array on the moor313 called Redmore. Richard was dismayed when he saw the Stanleys opposed to him; but he soon displayed his wonted courage. Observing part of his troops inactive and others wavering, he resolved to make one desperate effort and conquer or fall, and crying out “Treason, treason!” and giving his horse the spurs, he rushed to where he saw Richmond. He killed his standard-bearer and made a furious stroke at Henry himself, which was warded314 off by Sir William Stanley, and Richard was thrown from his horse and slain. Lord Stanley taking up the crown which he wore, placed it on the head of Richmond, and shouts of “Long live King Henry!” were instantly raised all over the field. The loss on Richard’s side in this decisive battle was three hundred, that on Henry’s only one hundred men. The body of Richard was stripped, and being thrown across a horse, was conveyed to Leicester and there interred315, and many years after his coffin316 could be seen used as a horse-trough.” “Sic transit317 gloria mundi.”
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BOULOGNE.—France.—Taken by the British in 1542, restored 1550—attacked by Lord Nelson, who disabled ten vessels and sunk five, August 3rd, 1801. In another attempt he was repulsed with great loss, August 18th, following. The flotilla of Boulogne consisted of 160,000 men and 10,000 horses, with 1300 vessels and 17,000 sailors. Napoleon attempted by it to invade England, but could not succeed, and at last gave up the idea.
BOXTEL, BATTLE OF.—Fought September 17th, 1794, between the British and allied army, commanded by the Duke of York, and the army of the French Republic. The latter attacked the allies and obtained the victory after an obstinate engagement, taking 2000 prisoners and 8 pieces of cannon, and the Duke retreated across the Meuse.
BOYNE, BATTLE OF THE.—Fought July 1st, 1689, between the Prince of Orange, afterwards William III of England, and James II of England. James was defeated. “Early next morning, the 1st of July, 1689, the English prepared to pass the river in three divisions. The right forced the passage at the ford10 of Slane; the centre led by the old warrior318 Duke Schomberg, passed opposite the Irish camp; it was vigorously opposed, but it finally forced the Irish to fall back to the village of Donóre, where James stood viewing the battle. William, meantime, had passed at the head of the third division, composed of cavalry, and driven off the enemy’s horse. The French General Lausun immediately urged James to set out with all speed for Dublin, lest he should be surrounded. He forthwith quitted the field; the Irish army poured through the pass of Duleék and formed at the other side, and then retreated in good order. Its loss had been 1500 men, that of the victors was about 500, among whom were Duke Schomberg, and Walker, the brave Governor of Derry.”
BRECHIN.—Scotland.—Edward III besieged it in 1333. A battle was fought here between the forces of the Earls of Huntly and Crawford. The latter defeated in 1452.
BREDA.—Taken by Prince Maurice in 1590. By the Spaniards in 1625. By the Dutch in 1637. By the French 1793, and again by the Dutch in the same year.
BREST.—Besieged by Julius C?sar B.C. 54. Possessed55 by the English, A.D. 1378. Given up 1391. Lord Berkely and a British[73] force repulsed here, with terrible loss, in 1694. Here was the French fleet rendezvous319, which was afterwards defeated by Lord Howe, 1st June, 1794.
BRETIGNY, PEACE OF.—Between France and England, ending in the release of King John, who was then a prisoner in London, May 8th, 1360.
BRIAR’S CREEK320, BATTLE OF.—One of the battles between the revolted Americans and the British, in 1779. The former, under General Ashe, 2000 strong, were totally defeated by the English, under General Prevost, March 16th, 1779. Again, 3rd May following, another defeat happened to the Americans.
BRANDYWINE, BATTLE OF.—Fought between the British royalist forces and the revolted Americans, in which the latter (after a fight, sometimes of doubtful result, and which continued the entire day) were defeated with great loss, and Philadelphia fell into the possession of the victors, September 11th, 1777.
BRESLAU, BATTLE OF.—Between the Austrians and Prussians, the latter under Prince Bevern, who was defeated, but the engagement was most bloody on both sides; fought November 22nd, 1757. Breslau was taken, but was regained321 the same year. This city was besieged by the French and surrendered to them January 5th, 1807, and again in 1813.
BRIENNE, BATTLE OF.—Fought February 1st and 2nd, 1814, between the allied armies of Russia and Prussia and the French. The allies were defeated with great loss; this was one of the last battles in which the French achieved victory previous to the fall of Napoleon.
BRIDGE OF BOATS OF XERXES.—This bridge was connected from shore to shore in the following manner: They connected vessels of different kinds, some long vessels of fifty oars40, others three banked galleys322, to the number of 360 on the side of the Euxine sea, and thirteen on that of the Hellespont. When these vessels were firmly fixed323 together they were secured by anchors of great length on the upper side, because of the winds which set in from the Euxine; on the lower toward the ?gean sea, on account of the south and south-east winds. They left openings in three places, sufficient to afford a passage for light vessels which might[74] have occasion to sail into the Euxine or from it—having performed this they extended cables from the shore stretching them on large capstans of wood. Then they sawed out rafters of wood making their length equal to that space required for the bridge—these they laid in order across the extended cables and then bound all fast together. Then they placed unwrought wood regularly upon the rafters; over all they threw earth, and fenced both sides in, that the horses and other animals might not be frightened by looking down into the sea.
BRIGADE.—A party or division of troops or soldiers, whether cavalry or infantry—regular, volunteer or militia324, commanded by a brigadier. A brigade of artillery consists of six pieces, with usually about 140 men; a brigade of sappers consists of eight men.
BRIGADIER.—A general officer who commands a brigade, whether of horse or foot, and ranks next to a major-general—commonly called a brigadier-general.
BRUSSELS.—Bombarded by Marshal Villeroy, in 1695—taken by the French 1746. Again by Dumouriez, in 1792; near it is the celebrated field of Waterloo.
BUCHAREST, TREATY OF.—A treaty of peace between Russia and Turkey, signed May 28th, 1812.
BUDA.—Once called the Key of Christendom. It was taken by Soleyman II at the memorable battle of Mohatz, when the Hungarian King Louis was killed, and 200,000 of his subjects carried away as slaves, 1526. Buda was sacked a second time, and Hungary annexed325 to the Ottoman Umpire, 1540. Retaken by the Imperialists, and the Mohammedans delivered up to the fury of the soldiers, 1626.
BUENOS AYRES, BRITISH DESCENTS UPON.—A British fleet and army, under Sir Home Popham and General Beresford, took the city, with slight resistance, in 1806, but it was retaken August 12th, after six weeks’ possession. Monte-Video was taken by storm by Sir Samuel Auchmuty, February 3rd, 1807, but evacuated July 7th following. The British suffered a dreadful repulse150 here in an expedition of 8000 men, under general Whitelock (who was disgraced) July 6th, 1807. On entering the town they were attacked by a superior force with musketry and grape from every quarter, and perished in great numbers, but at last they were allowed to re-embark in their vessels.
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BULL RUN.—This battle was fought between the Northern States of America and the Confederate States of the South, July 21st, 1861. The union army was signally defeated, and fell back on Washington in confusion. Their loss amounted to 481 killed, 1011 wounded, and 700 prisoners. The rebel or Southern loss was 269 killed and 1483 wounded.
BUNKER’S HILL, BATTLE OF.—Fought between the English and her revolted colonists326, June 16th, 1775. On the evening of that day, 1000 men, under the command of Colonel Prescott, of Massachusetts, Colonel Stark327, from New-Hampshire, and Captain Knowlton, from Connecticut, were despatched on this service. They were conducted, by mistake, to Breed’s Hill, which was nearer to the water and to Boston, than Bunker’s. At twelve o’clock they began to throw up entrenchments, and by dawn of day had completed a redoubt eight rods square. As soon as they were discovered, they were fired upon from a ship of war and several floating batteries lying near, and from a fortification in Boston opposite the redoubt. The Americans, nevertheless, encouraged by General Putnam, who often visited them on the hill, continued to labor328 until they had finished a slight breastwork extending from the redoubt eastward329 to the water. And in the morning they received a reinforcement of 500 men.
The temerity330 of the provincials331 astonished and incensed332 General Gage133, and he determined to drive them immediately from their position. About noon, a body of 3000 regulars, commanded by General Howe, left Boston in boats, and landed in Charlestown, at the extreme point of the peninsula. Generals Clinton and Burgoyne took their station on an eminence333 in Boston, commanding a distinct view of the hill. The spires334 of the churches, the roofs of the houses, and all the heights in the neighborhood, were covered with people, waiting, in dreadful anxiety, to witness the approaching battle.
The regulars forming at the place of landing, marched slowly up the hill, halting frequently to allow time to the artillery to demolish176 the works. While advancing, the village of Charlestown, containing about 400 houses, was set on fire by order of General Gage. The flames ascended335 to a lofty height, presenting a sublime336 and magnificent spectacle. The Americans reserved their fire until the British were within 10 rods of the redoubt; then taking a steady aim, they began a furious discharge. Entire ranks of the assailants fell. The enemy halted and returned the fire; but that from the redoubt continuing incessant and doing great[76] execution, they retreated in haste and disorder down the hill, some even taking refuge in their boats.
The officers were seen running hither and thither337, collecting, arranging and addressing their men, who were at length induced again to ascend70 the hill. The Americans now reserved their fire until the enemy had approached even nearer than before, when a tremendous volley was at once poured upon them. Terrified by the carnage around them, they again retreated with precipitation, and such was the panic, that General Howe was left almost alone on the hillside, his troops having deserted him, and nearly every officer around him being killed.
At this moment, General Clinton, who had observed from Boston the progress of the battle, feeling that British honor was at stake, hastened with a reinforcement to the assistance of his countrymen. By his exertions338, the troops were a third time rallied, and were compelled by the officers, who marched behind them with drawn swords, to advance again towards the Americans. The fire from the ships and batteries was redoubled, and a few pieces of cannon had been so placed as to rake the interior of the breastwork from end to end.
The provincials, having expended339 their ammunition340, awaited in silence the approach of the regulars. The latter entered the redoubt. The former, having no bayonets, defended themselves, for a short time, with the butt-end of their muskets. From this unequal contest they were soon compelled to retire. As they retreated over Charleston Neck, the fire from the floating batteries was incessant; but a few only were killed. The enemy had sustained too much injury to think of pursuit.
In this desperate and bloody conflict, the royal forces consisted, as has been stated, of 3000 men, and the provincials of 1500. Of the former, 1054 were killed and wounded; of the latter 453. This disparity of loss, the steadiness and bravery displayed by their recent undisciplined levies341, occasioned among the Americans the highest exultation342, and, in their view, more than counterbalanced the loss of position.
BURGOS, SIEGE OF.—Lord Wellington entered Burgos after the battle of Salamanca (fought July 22nd, 1812), on September 19th. The castle was besieged by the British and Allies, and several attempts were made to carry it by assault, but the siege was abandoned, October 21st, the same year; the castle and fortifications were blown up by the French, June 12th, 1813.
BURMESE WAR.—The first dispute with the Burmese took place[77] in 1795, but it was amicably343 settled by General Erskine. Hostilities344 were commenced in 1824, when the British took Rangoon. After some time peace was declared, February 24th, 1826, when the British received Arracan as a compensation. A naval force arrived before Rangoon, October 29th, 1851, and after the non compliance345 of certain British demands by the viceroy, war was declared. On the 5th April, 1852, Martaban was stormed by the British Indian army, and on the 14th of the same month Rangoon itself fell into their hands. Then followed the storming of Bassein, May 19th, 1852, and the capture of Pegu, June 4th, 1852. On the 28th December following, Pegu was annexed to the Indian Government by a proclamation of the Governor-General.
BURLINGTON HEIGHTS, BATTLE OF.—Between the British and the United States’ forces—an obstinate and memorable engagement, contested with great valour on both sides. The Americans were routed, and the British carried the heights, June 6th, 1813.
BUSACO OR BUZACO, BATTLE OF.—This sanguinary engagement was fought, September 27th, 1810, between the British, under Lord Wellington, and the French army, commanded by Massena. The latter was repulsed with great slaughter, losing one general, and 1000 men killed, two generals and about 3000 men wounded, and several hundred prisoners; the loss of the British and their allies did not exceed 1300 in the whole. The British subsequently retreated to the lines of Torres Vedras, which were too strong for Massena to attempt to force, and the two armies remained in sight of each other to the end of the year.
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1 fidelity | |
n.忠诚,忠实;精确 | |
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2 fortress | |
n.堡垒,防御工事 | |
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3 warfare | |
n.战争(状态);斗争;冲突 | |
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4 plunder | |
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5 precipitate | |
adj.突如其来的;vt.使突然发生;n.沉淀物 | |
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6 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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7 territorial | |
adj.领土的,领地的 | |
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30 infantry | |
n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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31 gorges | |
n.山峡,峡谷( gorge的名词复数 );咽喉v.(用食物把自己)塞饱,填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 );作呕 | |
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32 recede | |
vi.退(去),渐渐远去;向后倾斜,缩进 | |
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33 ridges | |
n.脊( ridge的名词复数 );山脊;脊状突起;大气层的)高压脊 | |
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34 ridge | |
n.山脊;鼻梁;分水岭 | |
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35 artillery | |
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队) | |
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36 scanty | |
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
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37 shipping | |
n.船运(发货,运输,乘船) | |
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38 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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39 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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40 oars | |
n.桨,橹( oar的名词复数 );划手v.划(行)( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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41 trenches | |
深沟,地沟( trench的名词复数 ); 战壕 | |
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42 abrupt | |
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的 | |
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43 picturesque | |
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
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44 pinnacles | |
顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 ); 顶点; 尖顶; 小尖塔 | |
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45 highland | |
n.(pl.)高地,山地 | |
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46 desolate | |
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
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47 garnished | |
v.给(上餐桌的食物)加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48 attain | |
vt.达到,获得,完成 | |
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49 alpine | |
adj.高山的;n.高山植物 | |
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50 debouch | |
v.流出,进入 | |
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51 rout | |
n.溃退,溃败;v.击溃,打垮 | |
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52 watchful | |
adj.注意的,警惕的 | |
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53 gallop | |
v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔;飞速发展 | |
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54 galloping | |
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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55 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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57 stouter | |
粗壮的( stout的比较级 ); 结实的; 坚固的; 坚定的 | |
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58 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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59 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
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60 trumpet | |
n.喇叭,喇叭声;v.吹喇叭,吹嘘 | |
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61 agility | |
n.敏捷,活泼 | |
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62 variance | |
n.矛盾,不同 | |
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63 regiment | |
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
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64 scampered | |
v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑,惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65 genre | |
n.(文学、艺术等的)类型,体裁,风格 | |
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66 depicted | |
描绘,描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 ); 描述 | |
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67 cannon | |
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮 | |
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68 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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69 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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70 ascend | |
vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上 | |
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71 ascending | |
adj.上升的,向上的 | |
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72 puffs | |
n.吸( puff的名词复数 );(烟斗或香烟的)一吸;一缕(烟、蒸汽等);(呼吸或风的)呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧 | |
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73 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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74 interval | |
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息 | |
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75 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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76 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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77 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
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78 inflicted | |
把…强加给,使承受,遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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80 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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81 plied | |
v.使用(工具)( ply的过去式和过去分词 );经常供应(食物、饮料);固定往来;经营生意 | |
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82 herd | |
n.兽群,牧群;vt.使集中,把…赶在一起 | |
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83 defenders | |
n.防御者( defender的名词复数 );守卫者;保护者;辩护者 | |
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84 swarm | |
n.(昆虫)等一大群;vi.成群飞舞;蜂拥而入 | |
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85 muskets | |
n.火枪,(尤指)滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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86 Moslem | |
n.回教徒,穆罕默德信徒;adj.回教徒的,回教的 | |
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87 swarming | |
密集( swarm的现在分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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88 conceals | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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89 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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90 streak | |
n.条理,斑纹,倾向,少许,痕迹;v.加条纹,变成条纹,奔驰,快速移动 | |
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91 suspense | |
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
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92 repel | |
v.击退,抵制,拒绝,排斥 | |
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93 embroidered | |
adj.绣花的 | |
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94 glistened | |
v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95 trumpets | |
喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 ); 小号; 喇叭形物; (尤指)绽开的水仙花 | |
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96 trot | |
n.疾走,慢跑;n.老太婆;现成译本;(复数)trots:腹泻(与the 连用);v.小跑,快步走,赶紧 | |
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97 insignificant | |
adj.无关紧要的,可忽略的,无意义的 | |
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98 annihilate | |
v.使无效;毁灭;取消 | |
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99 retrieve | |
vt.重新得到,收回;挽回,补救;检索 | |
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100 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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101 irresistible | |
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 | |
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102 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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103 scenic | |
adj.自然景色的,景色优美的 | |
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104 lieutenant | |
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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105 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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106 outright | |
adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的 | |
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107 devotedness | |
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108 ascertained | |
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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109 spiked | |
adj.有穗的;成锥形的;有尖顶的 | |
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110 conversed | |
v.交谈,谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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111 consul | |
n.领事;执政官 | |
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112 galloped | |
(使马)飞奔,奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 ); 快速做[说]某事 | |
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113 bellies | |
n.肚子( belly的名词复数 );腹部;(物体的)圆形或凸起部份;腹部…形的 | |
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114 catastrophe | |
n.大灾难,大祸 | |
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115 exalted | |
adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的 | |
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116 capabilities | |
n.能力( capability的名词复数 );可能;容量;[复数]潜在能力 | |
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117 oblique | |
adj.斜的,倾斜的,无诚意的,不坦率的 | |
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118 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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119 reluctance | |
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿 | |
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120 odds | |
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别 | |
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121 tilt | |
v.(使)倾侧;(使)倾斜;n.倾侧;倾斜 | |
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122 maxim | |
n.格言,箴言 | |
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123 continental | |
adj.大陆的,大陆性的,欧洲大陆的 | |
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124 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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125 belched | |
v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 );喷出,吐出;打(嗝);嗳(气) | |
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126 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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127 hissed | |
发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 ); 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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128 strewed | |
v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 );散落于;点缀;撒满 | |
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129 scattering | |
n.[物]散射;散乱,分散;在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的;分散在不同范围的;广泛扩散的;(选票)数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式);散布;驱散 | |
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130 chaff | |
v.取笑,嘲笑;n.谷壳 | |
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131 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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132 regiments | |
(军队的)团( regiment的名词复数 ); 大量的人或物 | |
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133 gage | |
n.标准尺寸,规格;量规,量表 [=gauge] | |
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134 credence | |
n.信用,祭器台,供桌,凭证 | |
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135 enveloped | |
v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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136 atrocity | |
n.残暴,暴行 | |
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137 civilized | |
a.有教养的,文雅的 | |
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138 miscreants | |
n.恶棍,歹徒( miscreant的名词复数 ) | |
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139 mingling | |
adj.混合的 | |
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140 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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141 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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142 bloody | |
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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143 desperately | |
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 | |
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144 adventurous | |
adj.爱冒险的;惊心动魄的,惊险的,刺激的 | |
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145 armistice | |
n.休战,停战协定 | |
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146 insurgent | |
adj.叛乱的,起事的;n.叛乱分子 | |
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147 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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148 frigate | |
n.护航舰,大型驱逐舰 | |
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149 frigates | |
n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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150 repulse | |
n.击退,拒绝;vt.逐退,击退,拒绝 | |
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151 repulsed | |
v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 );驳斥;拒绝 | |
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152 bulwark | |
n.堡垒,保障,防御 | |
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153 archers | |
n.弓箭手,射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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154 rivulet | |
n.小溪,小河 | |
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155 succors | |
n.救助,帮助(尤指需要时)( succor的名词复数 )v.给予帮助( succor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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156 adherents | |
n.支持者,拥护者( adherent的名词复数 );党羽;徒子徒孙 | |
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157 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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158 condemned | |
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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159 fanatics | |
狂热者,入迷者( fanatic的名词复数 ) | |
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160 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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161 sweeping | |
adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 | |
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162 hacked | |
生气 | |
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163 sergeant | |
n.警官,中士 | |
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164 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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165 slaughter | |
n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀 | |
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166 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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167 ram | |
(random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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168 ponderous | |
adj.沉重的,笨重的,(文章)冗长的 | |
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169 usurpation | |
n.篡位;霸占 | |
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170 factions | |
组织中的小派别,派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
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171 allied | |
adj.协约国的;同盟国的 | |
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172 scotch | |
n.伤口,刻痕;苏格兰威士忌酒;v.粉碎,消灭,阻止;adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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173 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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174 reverted | |
恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 ); 重提; 回到…上; 归还 | |
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175 ceded | |
v.让给,割让,放弃( cede的过去式 ) | |
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176 demolish | |
v.拆毁(建筑物等),推翻(计划、制度等) | |
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177 demolished | |
v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 );推翻;拆毁(尤指大建筑物);吃光 | |
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178 insurgents | |
n.起义,暴动,造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
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179 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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180 obstinate | |
adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的 | |
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181 asylum | |
n.避难所,庇护所,避难 | |
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182 disastrous | |
adj.灾难性的,造成灾害的;极坏的,很糟的 | |
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183 upwards | |
adv.向上,在更高处...以上 | |
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184 calamity | |
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
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185 interdict | |
v.限制;禁止;n.正式禁止;禁令 | |
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186 isles | |
岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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187 monk | |
n.和尚,僧侣,修道士 | |
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188 cannons | |
n.加农炮,大炮,火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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189 besieged | |
包围,围困,围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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190 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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191 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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192 resentment | |
n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
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193 levying | |
征(兵)( levy的现在分词 ); 索取; 发动(战争); 征税 | |
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194 barbarians | |
n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 );外国人;粗野的人;无教养的人 | |
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195 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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196 garrison | |
n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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197 conqueror | |
n.征服者,胜利者 | |
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198 suffocating | |
a.使人窒息的 | |
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199 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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200 confinement | |
n.幽禁,拘留,监禁;分娩;限制,局限 | |
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201 compassion | |
n.同情,怜悯 | |
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202 avarice | |
n.贪婪;贪心 | |
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203 groans | |
n.呻吟,叹息( groan的名词复数 );呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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204 shrieks | |
n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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205 turbulence | |
n.喧嚣,狂暴,骚乱,湍流 | |
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206 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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207 languor | |
n.无精力,倦怠 | |
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208 putrid | |
adj.腐臭的;有毒的;已腐烂的;卑劣的 | |
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209 borough | |
n.享有自治权的市镇;(英)自治市镇 | |
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210 electorate | |
n.全体选民;选区 | |
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211 conquerors | |
征服者,占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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212 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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213 domain | |
n.(活动等)领域,范围;领地,势力范围 | |
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214 ominously | |
adv.恶兆地,不吉利地;预示地 | |
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215 initiate | |
vt.开始,创始,发动;启蒙,使入门;引入 | |
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216 thronged | |
v.成群,挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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217 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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218 literally | |
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
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219 concussion | |
n.脑震荡;震动 | |
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220 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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221 swelling | |
n.肿胀 | |
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222 renowned | |
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的 | |
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223 killing | |
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财 | |
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224 inadequate | |
adj.(for,to)不充足的,不适当的 | |
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225 hearty | |
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 | |
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226 concurrence | |
n.同意;并发 | |
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227 fray | |
v.争吵;打斗;磨损,磨破;n.吵架;打斗 | |
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228 deafening | |
adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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229 incessant | |
adj.不停的,连续的 | |
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230 murky | |
adj.黑暗的,朦胧的;adv.阴暗地,混浊地;n.阴暗;昏暗 | |
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231 canopy | |
n.天篷,遮篷 | |
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232 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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233 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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234 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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235 momentary | |
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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236 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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237 lashed | |
adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 | |
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238 vengeance | |
n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
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239 imposing | |
adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 | |
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240 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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241 mischievous | |
adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的 | |
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242 wasp | |
n.黄蜂,蚂蜂 | |
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243 annoyance | |
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼 | |
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244 proximity | |
n.接近,邻近 | |
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245 galling | |
adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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246 hull | |
n.船身;(果、实等的)外壳;vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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247 riddled | |
adj.布满的;充斥的;泛滥的v.解谜,出谜题(riddle的过去分词形式) | |
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248 shreds | |
v.撕碎,切碎( shred的第三人称单数 );用撕毁机撕毁(文件) | |
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249 pertinacity | |
n.执拗,顽固 | |
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250 pithy | |
adj.(讲话或文章)简练的 | |
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251 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
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252 consort | |
v.相伴;结交 | |
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253 recoil | |
vi.退却,退缩,畏缩 | |
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254 gallantly | |
adv. 漂亮地,勇敢地,献殷勤地 | |
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255 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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256 tangled | |
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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257 shrouds | |
n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 );寿衣;遮蔽物;覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 );保密 | |
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258 attested | |
adj.经检验证明无病的,经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 );证实;声称…属实;使宣誓 | |
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259 relinquish | |
v.放弃,撤回,让与,放手 | |
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260 funnel | |
n.漏斗;烟囱;v.汇集 | |
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261 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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262 scatheless | |
adj.无损伤的,平安的 | |
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263 sublimity | |
崇高,庄严,气质高尚 | |
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264 vomited | |
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265 gunpowder | |
n.火药 | |
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266 sullen | |
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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267 intensity | |
n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度 | |
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268 quell | |
v.压制,平息,减轻 | |
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269 subdue | |
vt.制服,使顺从,征服;抑制,克制 | |
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270 lurid | |
adj.可怕的;血红的;苍白的 | |
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271 subterranean | |
adj.地下的,地表下的 | |
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272 presumption | |
n.推测,可能性,冒昧,放肆,[法律]推定 | |
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273 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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274 daunted | |
使(某人)气馁,威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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275 twilight | |
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
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276 granite | |
adj.花岗岩,花岗石 | |
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277 essentially | |
adv.本质上,实质上,基本上 | |
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278 entrusted | |
v.委托,托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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279 penetrate | |
v.透(渗)入;刺入,刺穿;洞察,了解 | |
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280 pate | |
n.头顶;光顶 | |
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281 implements | |
n.工具( implement的名词复数 );家具;手段;[法律]履行(契约等)v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 );执行;贯彻;使生效 | |
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282 spiking | |
n.尖峰形成v.加烈酒于( spike的现在分词 );偷偷地给某人的饮料加入(更多)酒精( 或药物);把尖状物钉入;打乱某人的计划 | |
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283 impeding | |
a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的,临近的 | |
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284 secrecy | |
n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
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285 unaware | |
a.不知道的,未意识到的 | |
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286 contemplated | |
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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287 gale | |
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
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288 unwillingly | |
adv.不情愿地 | |
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289 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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290 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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291 ascent | |
n.(声望或地位)提高;上升,升高;登高 | |
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292 triumphantly | |
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地 | |
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293 grove | |
n.林子,小树林,园林 | |
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294 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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295 breach | |
n.违反,不履行;破裂;vt.冲破,攻破 | |
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296 triangular | |
adj.三角(形)的,三者间的 | |
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297 apex | |
n.顶点,最高点 | |
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298 quailed | |
害怕,发抖,畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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299 remissness | |
n.玩忽职守;马虎;怠慢;不小心 | |
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300 conflagration | |
n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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301 evacuated | |
撤退者的 | |
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302 scuttled | |
v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 );快跑,急走 | |
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303 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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304 garrisoned | |
卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 ); 派部队驻防 | |
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305 colossal | |
adj.异常的,庞大的 | |
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306 succumbed | |
不再抵抗(诱惑、疾病、攻击等)( succumb的过去式和过去分词 ); 屈从; 被压垮; 死 | |
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307 besieging | |
包围,围困,围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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308 fortitude | |
n.坚忍不拔;刚毅 | |
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309 surmount | |
vt.克服;置于…顶上 | |
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310 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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311 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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312 hawthorn | |
山楂 | |
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313 moor | |
n.荒野,沼泽;vt.(使)停泊;vi.停泊 | |
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314 warded | |
有锁孔的,有钥匙榫槽的 | |
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315 interred | |
v.埋,葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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316 coffin | |
n.棺材,灵柩 | |
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317 transit | |
n.经过,运输;vt.穿越,旋转;vi.越过 | |
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318 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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319 rendezvous | |
n.约会,约会地点,汇合点;vi.汇合,集合;vt.使汇合,使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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320 creek | |
n.小溪,小河,小湾 | |
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321 regained | |
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
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322 galleys | |
n.平底大船,战舰( galley的名词复数 );(船上或航空器上的)厨房 | |
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323 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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324 militia | |
n.民兵,民兵组织 | |
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325 annexed | |
[法] 附加的,附属的 | |
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326 colonists | |
n.殖民地开拓者,移民,殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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327 stark | |
adj.荒凉的;严酷的;完全的;adv.完全地 | |
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328 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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329 eastward | |
adv.向东;adj.向东的;n.东方,东部 | |
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330 temerity | |
n.鲁莽,冒失 | |
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331 provincials | |
n.首都以外的人,地区居民( provincial的名词复数 ) | |
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332 incensed | |
盛怒的 | |
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333 eminence | |
n.卓越,显赫;高地,高处;名家 | |
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334 spires | |
n.(教堂的) 塔尖,尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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335 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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336 sublime | |
adj.崇高的,伟大的;极度的,不顾后果的 | |
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337 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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338 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
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339 expended | |
v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 );使用(钱等)做某事;用光;耗尽 | |
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340 ammunition | |
n.军火,弹药 | |
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341 levies | |
(部队)征兵( levy的名词复数 ); 募捐; 被征募的军队 | |
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342 exultation | |
n.狂喜,得意 | |
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343 amicably | |
adv.友善地 | |
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344 hostilities | |
n.战争;敌意(hostility的复数);敌对状态;战事 | |
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345 compliance | |
n.顺从;服从;附和;屈从 | |
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