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 slain. At the moment Warwick fell, he was leading a chosen body of troops into the thickest of the slaughter, 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 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 celebrated batteries on record are those of the French at the siege of Gibraltar, September, 1782.
BATTERING-RAM.—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 ponderous 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 usurpation of the throne had laid the foundation of the factions of the houses of York and Lancaster, and the civil wars that ensued. It was fought July 21st, 1403.
BAUTZEN, BATTLE OF.—Between the allied 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.