PALESTRO, BATTLE OF.—Fought, 29th May, 1859, between the Austrians and the French. “On the 29th May, was fought the battle of Palestro. The Austrian avant-garde, 1500 strong, occupied the villages of Palestro and Vinzaglio. They were carried by the Allies at the point of the bayonet, and two cannons, the first captured since the opening of the war, were taken. The next morning the Austrians advanced to retake Palestro. Having cannonaded the village, a body of Austrians advanced to cut off the communication between the Piedmontese troops and the river. Perceiving this, the Zouaves, who had arrived during the night, threw themselves, in spite of a murderous fire, on the Austrians, take eight guns and put the Austrians to flight. During this engagement the King of Sardinia headed an attack on a battery. The Emperor of the French, a few days[228] afterwards, complimenting him on his bravery, told him that if he wished to be King of Italy, he must take rather more care of his august person. This engagement inspired the Austrians with a great dread of the Zouaves, whom they call the quei terribili zuai.”
PAMPELUNA, BATTLE OF.—Taken by the French on their invasion of Spain; invested by the British; hence very bloody engagements, July 27th and 29th, 1813. It surrendered to the British same year.
PARMA, BATTLES OF.—The confederates, England, France and Spain, fought against the Emperor of Austria, June 29th, 1734. Both sides claimed the victory. A second battle, called the great battle of Parma, in which the French, under Marshal McDonald, were defeated by the celebrated Suwarrow, with the loss of 20,000 men and four Generals, July 12th, 1799.
PATAY, BATTLE OF.—This battle was fought, June 10th, 1429. Joan of Arc was present in this battle. The French signally defeated the English; the consequence of which was that Charles VII of France entered Rheims in triumph, and was crowned July 17th, same year—Joan of Arc assisting in the ceremony in full armour and holding the sword of state.
PAVIA, BATTLE OF.—Fought, February 24th, 1525, between the French and Imperialists, when the former were defeated and their King, Francis I, after fighting with heroic bravery and killing seven men with his own hand, was obliged to surrender himself a prisoner of war. He wrote to his mother a letter acquainting her with the melancholy news in these expressive words—“Tout est perdu, Madame, hors l’honneur.”
PEAFFENDORF, BATTLE OF.—Fought, August 15th, 1760, between the Imperialists and Prussians; the Austrians were totally defeated by the King of Prussia, who, by this victory, prevented the Austrian army from forming a junction with the Russians.
PHALANX.—This word originally signified a battalion or squadron. The Greek Phalanx consisted of 8000 men, in a square battalion, with shields joined and spears crossing each other. The celebrated Phalanx of Epaminondas, or the Theban Phalanx, was wedge shaped, and by it he[229] achieved his two great victories. The modern square is based on the Grecian Phalanx, which was itself, as well as the Roman Orb, taken from the Theban. The renowned Macedonian Phalanx of Alexander the Great’s father, Philip, was instituted B.C. 360. This consisted of 16,000 picked men divided into four equal parts of 4000 each. They performed their evolutions upon the enomoty or single file, whether it were required to extend or deepen the line, and there was an interval between every two sections for the convenience of man?uvring.
PHARSALIA, BATTLE OF.—Fought, May 12th, 48 B.C., between Julius C?sar and Pompey.
“The battle commenced about daybreak, and before noon the army of Pompey was utterly defeated. Pompey himself, early in the battle, seemed entirely to have lost his presence of mind, and fled in despair to his tent, there to await the result. C?sar, determined to make the most of his advantage, notwithstanding the weariness of his troops, did not permit the pursuit to slacken till the army of Pompey was entirely scattered. A considerable body of them had taken refuge in an adjacent mountain. By cutting off all hope of succor, C?sar induced them to surrender. He received their submission with the greatest gentleness, and forbade his soldiers from offering violence to their vanquished countrymen. This was the most complete victory C?sar ever obtained. His loss did not exceed 200, while that of Pompey was 10,000, and 24,000 surrendered themselves prisoners of war. On passing over the battle field, so thickly strewn with Romans, C?sar is said to have been affected even to tears, while he exclaimed to one near him, “They would have it so.”
PHILIPPI, BATTLE OF.—Fought, October, 42 B.C., between Octavius C?sar and Marc Antony, on the one side, and Brutus and Cassius on the other.
“In the meantime, Brutus and Cassius, the principal conspirators against C?sar, having retired into Greece, persuaded the Roman students at Athens to declare for the cause of freedom. In Syria and Macedonia they succeeded in raising large armies, and soon found themselves in a condition to support a contest on which the empire of the world depended. While at Sardis, Brutus and Cassius are said to have had a serious misunderstanding, the effect of a jealousy which had been industriously raised between them. But no bad consequences arose from it, for immediately joining their armies, they hastened to oppose Antony and Octavius, who[230] were rapidly advancing to meet them. Once more the empire of the world was about to be decided by a single battle. It was a time of fearful suspense. Should the arms of Brutus be successful, the Roman people might again form a free republic. On the other hand, should Octavius triumph, they had to fear a worse tyranny than ever had been exercised by Julius C?sar. Brutus and Cassius took their station each on a little hill near the city of Philippi. Behind them was the sea, by which they might obtain supplies, and between them and the plain on which the Triumviri had encamped their army, was an impassable morass. In this favorable position, it was their policy to delay a battle as long as possible. On the contrary, the Triumviri, not being able to obtain supplies by sea, and conscious that their army could not long be sustained by the resources of the surrounding country, were eager immediately to engage. A road was constructed by them through the morass which separated the armies. The tall reeds of the morass having concealed the soldiers while making the road, Brutus and Cassius were in some measure taken by surprise when the enemy advanced over it, and the impatience of their own soldiers prevented a longer delay.
A battle therefore ensued. Antony led his forces against that part of the army commanded by Cassius, and in a short time put his cavalry to flight. Cassius did all that the courage of a single man could do to rally his troops, but in vain. Supposing the battle to be entirely lost, and determined not to fall into the hands of the enemy, he returned into his tent and killed himself. Brutus still kept possession of the camp, and did all in his power to encourage his men. Still he determined for the present to avoid seeking another battle. His design was to starve the enemy, whom he know to be in great want of provisions. After a respite of twenty days, he was, however, forced to give in to the impatience of his men, and try the fate of a battle. In the engagement that followed, wherever Brutus commanded in person, he had the advantage. But the troops of Cassius being seized with a panic, communicated their terror to the rest, and soon the whole army gave way. In the midst of his bravest officers Brutus fought with undaunted courage. The son of Cato, and the brother of Cassius, fell fighting at his side. At last, however, yielding to the necessity of the case, Brutus fled. Octavius and Antony, secure of the victory, thought only of getting Brutus into their power. He was on the point of being overtaken, when Lucilius, his friend, determined to save his life by the sacrifice of his own. Giving himself up to a band of Thracians,[231] he told them he was Brutus, and requested to be conducted into the presence of their General. Antony seeing the Thracians approach, and being informed of the prisoner’s capture, prepared himself for an interview with his enemy. But Lucilius, advancing with a cheerful air, said, “It is not Brutus that is taken. Fortune has not yet had the power to commit so great an outrage upon virtue. As for my life, it is well lost in preserving his honor. Take it, for I have deceived you.” Antony, struck with such fidelity, pardoned him, and gave him his friendship. Meanwhile Brutus, with a few friends had escaped over a rivulet, and night coming on, they concealed themselves under a rock. An officer whom Brutus had sent out to ascertain the extent of their defeat, did not return, and he rightly judged that he had fallen into the hands of the enemy. Before the first battle, Brutus had told Cassius that if he was defeated, he would not fall alive into the power of Octavius, and he now prepared to end his misfortunes with his life. After calling to mind with great tenderness many of his friends, who had fallen in the battle, he bade farewell to all present, one by one, saying aloud, that he was happy in never having been betrayed by any one whom he had trusted as a friend. Soon after, falling upon his sword, he expired in the forty-third year of his age.”
PIGEON HILL.—Famous as the scene of a skirmish between the British Regulars and Volunteers and the Fenian bandits, who attempted to invade Canada during the past summer. The following gives honor to whom honor is due, and is written by a gentleman who can be relied on:
“If any evidence were required, more than we possess, of the essentially weak and contemptible character of the Fenian organization, the circumstances attending the operations of Her Majesty’s forces and our own volunteers on Saturday, June 9th, in the neighborhood of Pigeon Hill, would furnish it. As one who accompanied that expedition, and had an opportunity of observing all that passed, I shall be happy to furnish you with a few details. I arrived at St. Armand’s Station between 11 and 12 o’clock, just at the moment that two waggons from Pigeon Hill arrived, bringing five Fenian prisoners, who had been taken that morning by different parties, whose names I need not mention, as I cannot give all with accuracy. I must confess that my astonishment was great when I saw them. Three were little scamps—such as one sees about the streets of all great cities, as news-boys, &c. One was a tolerably stout, resolute looking-fellow, the other a mild-looking young man, much better dressed,[232] who, I am sorry to say, stated himself to have been born in Yorkshire, though hailing from Montpelier, Vt. Shortly after they were lodged in the guard-house, another prisoner, an able-bodied hard-looking customer, about 28 or 30 years of age, was brought in. He had a tremendous black eye, which he told me he received in a brawl with his own companions the night previous. Leaving these in the custody of the St. Armand volunteers, the column of attack started for Pigeon Hill about 2 P.M. The Granby and Waterloo volunteers, commanded by Captain Millar, formed the advance guard, being followed by two 12-pounder Armstrong guns of Captain Balfour’s battery, with their complements of artillerymen, commanded by Captain Phipps, R.A. These were followed by two companies of the Rifle Brigade, under Major Nixon, who, I understand, commanded the whole column, and two companies of the 25th regiment—another company of that regiment forming the rear guard. Between the main body and the rear guard, the supply waggon and a farmer’s waggon, carrying the Surgeon’s apparatus and medical comforts, were placed.
The officers and men were in the highest spirits, only fearing lest the redoubtable Fenians should seek shelter too promptly in Uncle Sam’s dominions, the line being only half a mile from their camp. The day was very fine, a bright sun, tempered by a cool breeze, having dried up the roads, and made marching pleasant. And I may here remark a circumstance creditable to the pluck and training of our volunteers, that, although several soldiers of the line and rifles were knocked up, and obliged to fall out, the volunteers, though forming the advance guard and obliged to keep in advance of the powerful artillery horses, had not a man who manifested the least fatigue. At Holt’s Corner a short halt took place, and a prisoner was brought up from the south road, leading to Highgate, by a farmer I understood, of the name of Reynolds, who with his son and hired man, had just captured him while reconnoitering. He was mounted upon a handsome horse, and had rather a gentlemanly and refined appearance. He was speedily dismounted, being succeeded in his saddle by Captain Hallowes of the 25th Regiment, and conducted to the rear in charge of a guard from that regiment. Another prisoner was met squatted in a single waggon between the feet of two farmers of Stanbridge who had captured him—a very low and unintellectual type of humanity. Just before the column reached Pigeon Hill there was a cry, “Incline to the right,” and that splendid body of horsemen, the Guides, under Captain D. L. Macdougall, dashed past in single file, and took their place in front. They had no opportunity that day, more is the pity, to “flesh their maiden swords”[233] upon any considerable body of the Fenians. But they rode round by the Cook’s Corner road, and thus, at a later period of the day, cut off the retreat of some who would have escaped, and took two of the scoundrels prisoners. If the Fenians had a good sight of them, they must have felt inclined to keep out of their way. In turning to the right at the tavern at Pigeon Hill, the whole column descended the hill on the road leading directly to the line—the artillery taking the lead. The guns were placed in position on a high point overlooking the whole valley, and about half-a-mile within the line. One company of the 25th remained with the guns, and the remainder of the infantry, in two lines, with the rifles thrown out in front as skirmishers, descended into the valley in the direction of the woods, which were about three-fourths of a mile distant. The last red coat disappeared among the trees, and we remained in anxious expectation awaiting the result. Meantime the farmer’s family before whose door the guns were placed, and who had suffered sore annoyance for several days from the constant demand of the ragamuffins for food, gladly brought to their deliverers such simple refreshment as could be hastily prepared. Presently a single rifle shot was heard, echoing loudly through the woods—two more followed, then a dropping fire of twenty-five or thirty shots and all was silent.
At the first report the whole party sprang to their feet, the gunners placed themselves by their pieces, and the officers of artillery prepared to point them upon any body of the enemy that might break cover. And much were all disappointed when the firing ceased.
Presently the red coats emerged from the woods, marched across a small clearing and disappeared in the woods beyond. After waiting some time longer and the sun beginning to approach the horizon, the horses were put to the guns and waggons and preparations were made for returning to St. Armand. One company of the 25th regained their comrades on the hill. The rest of the force made their way by the Cook’s Corner road back to Pigeon Hill, with the exception of one company of the Rifles, which was detached towards Frelighsburg. The rest of the force reached St. Armand’s Station between 9 and 10 o’clock at night.
The result of this expedition was unsatisfactory, though all concerned did their duty with the utmost alacrity and zeal. But when there was really no enemy to fight, no great victory could be achieved.
It was generally supposed that 2 Fenians only were killed and 16 captured, but I have been since informed that 4 bodies were found in the woods on Sunday.
[234]
Thus ended most ingloriously to those concerned in it this base attempt to desecrate, by unlawful invasion, the soil of Canada, and to detach from their allegiance to their rightful Sovereign a contented, happy and loyal people. I may add, in conclusion, that the inhabitants were most active in searching for and arresting straggling Fenians and bringing them into head-quarters.”
PINKEY, BATTLE OF.—Fought, September 10th, 1547, between the English, under the Earl of Hertford Protector, and the Scots, when the latter were totally defeated. Few victories have been achieved with less loss to the victors; the English loss was no more than 200, whilst the Scots lost the enormous number of 20,000.
PISTOL.—The smallest sort of fire arms. First used by the English cavalry, A.D. 1544.
PLAINS OF ABRAHAM.—See Quebec.
PLASSY, BATTLE OF.—Fought, June 23rd, 1757, between the British, under Lord Clive, and the native Hindoos, under Surajah Dowlah. The Hindoo army consisted of 70,000 men, whilst the British did not exceed 3000, yet the Surajah was signally defeated. This battle laid the foundation of the British power in India.
PLAT?A, BATTLE OF.—Fought, September 22nd, B.C. 479, between Mardonius, General of the Persians, and the Laced?monians and Athenians under Pausanias. The Persian army consisted of 300,000 men, 3000 of which only remained alive after the battle. The Grecians lost only 91 Spartans, 52 Athenians, and 16 Tegeans. Pausanias received one-tenth of all the immense plunder for his uncommon valour, and the rest were rewarded each according to his respective merit.
PLATTSBURG, EXPEDITION TO.—The British squadron against Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain, was designed under General Sir George Prevost, but it was abandoned, after a severe defeat of the naval squadron of England on the Lake, September 11th, 1814.
PODULTZ, BATTLE OF.—Fought, June 28th, 1866, between the Austrians and the Prussians. The Prussians everywhere were victorious. The needle gun of their army was decidedly superior to any other weapon used. The following is the Times account:
“On the northern side of Gitschin and on the Turnau road the Austrians[235] had taken up a position to cover the town against the Prussians, advancing from the direction of Turnau. As the Prussians advanced they saw the village of Podultz close to the road, and on their right, standing at the top of the gentle ascent by which the road rises to the top of the lower spur, on the other side of the road and about 300 yards from it, nearer to the advancing division by 200 yards than Podultz, the village of Diletz, lying in the plain, while high on their right they could see the chimneys of Brada above the thick fir wood which, lying on the hill side, in front of that village, runs down nearly to Podultz, and traced by the different colours of the foliage the ground occupied by its orchards. The three villages and the fir wood were held by Austrian and Saxon troops, supported by seven battalions of artillery, which were placed both on the spur and on the Brada Hill, while behind the spur were hidden three of Austria’s finest cavalry regiments—the Hussars of Radetzky, of Lichtenstein, and of the Austrian Regiment the King of Prussia. As soon as the Prussians came within range the Austrian batteries opened upon them; the Prussian guns replied, and, under cover of their artillery, the columns advanced to the attack of the position. The 8th and 48th Regiments advanced against the village of Diletz, which was garrisoned by the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Saxon battalions, and where, as the prisoners report, the King of Saxony himself took part in the fight. The 12th and 18th Regiments advanced against the village of Podultz. Both attacking columns were exposed to a very hot fire, but after a severe struggle both villages were carried, though that of Podultz, set on fire by a shell, was burning when the Prussians occupied it. General Edelsheim, who commanded the Austrian cavalry, with a desperate valour, attacked the burning village, but the horses would not face the flames, and the Prussian infantry, from behind the blazing houses, fired on the disordered squadrons and killed many troopers. After taking Podultz, the 12th and 18th Regiments pushed past Brada, leaving it to their right, and made for the Lochow Road, in order to cut off the retreat of the Austrians, who were retiring from Lochow on Gitschin. The Austrian cavalry charged the advancing Prussians, but the latter received them without forming square, and the horsemen recoiled, broken by their steady fire. The Austrian troops in Brada, and the Saxons and Austrians in Diletz were quite separated by the capture of the village of Podultz, and the former were almost entirely taken; the latter were cut off from retreat in large numbers, for Von Werder was pressing towards Gitschin, the roads were crowded, and the little river formed on the right of the[236] broken allies a wide extent of marshy ground, which it was almost impossible to cross. The loss of the Saxons between Diletz and Gitschin was tremendous; they fell thickly, and the ground was covered with corpses. The Prussians suffered much, but they fought most bravely, and, with only four regiments, and half as many guns as their opponents, carried a very strong position held by a much superior force; for the Prussians had in the field but 16,000 men, and the allied strength is estimated at 30,000. Under a crushing fire they advanced to the attack of Podultz and Diletz, and the vacancies in the muster-roll show how fearfully they suffered; but every man who fell on the Prussian side was trebly avenged, and a long broad track of fallen enemies marks the line of march of the four regiments who so well fought and won Diletz.
The field of Diletz is almost more thickly strewn with killed and wounded. Here the Prussians lie more thickly than at Lochow, for the more numerous artillery of the defenders ploughed with terrible effect through the dense columns of the assailants as they advanced to the attack. But between Diletz and Gitschin the ground is covered with broken arms, knapsacks, shakos, and fallen men, who are mostly either Saxons or Austrians, for here the needle-gun was more used than artillery.
The Prussians took 7000 prisoners in the two combats, and many officers: and the Austrian loss in killed and wounded is estimated at 3000, so that yesterday evening has withdrawn 10,000 soldiers from under the Austrian colours.”
POICTIERS, 1356.—“Ten years after the victory of Crecy, a similar event took place in one of the south-west districts of France, at Poictiers, the capital of Poiteau. Edward “the Black Prince,” now in the prime of his early manhood, regarding his country as at war with France, sallied forth from the Gascon province in the summer of 1356, on a ravaging expedition, to do his enemy all the damage in his power. He left Bourdeaux with about 12,000 men; ascended the Garonne as far as Agen, and then, turning to the left, entered central France, and overran the fertile provinces of Limousin, Querci, Auvergne, and Berri. It was harvest-time, and everywhere the harvest was seized, the towns plundered, and all captives able to pay a ransom were carried to Bourdeaux. One account states that the English army sent off no fewer than 5000 cartloads of plunder to Bourdeaux. This employment doubtless had its attractions for the army; but its commander seems to have forgotten that he was invading and exasperating a powerful[237] kingdom, whose people and sovereign might be expected to take vengeance for such an inroad as this.
Philip of Valois was now dead, and John, his son, a high-spirited but indiscreet prince, had succeeded him. Hearing of young Edward’s performances in Limousin and Berri, “he instantly declared with an oath,” says Froissart, “that he would forthwith set out after him, and would fight him whenever he could find him. He therefore issued forth a general summons to all his nobles and vassals of every kind, that they should set forth to meet him on the borders of Touraine and Blois, for he was determined to fight the English.”
He soon marched from Paris, having with him a considerable body of troops, and went to Chartres to be nearer the enemy, and to gain quicker intelligence of his proceedings. Here he rested some days, and “great crowds of knights and men at arms daily joined him, from Auvergne, Berri, Burgundy, Lorraine, Hainault, Picardy, and other provinces.” But as yet neither of these two Princes seems to have been well informed of the other’s movements.
“The Prince,” says Froissart, “having with him 2000 men-at-arms and 6000 archers, rode on at his ease, having all things at his command. They found Auvergne, which they were now overrunning, very rich and teeming with abundance; and when they entered any town, they rested there for some days to refresh themselves, consuming what they pleased, and destroying the rest, whether of corn, wine, or other provisions.” “They kept advancing, and found plenty everywhere, for the provinces of Berri, Poiteau, Touraine and Maine,” says Froissart, “were very rich, and full of provisions for an army.”
At Bourges they were stopped by the strength of the plac............