GLENCOE, MASSACRE OF.—The McDonalds of Glencoe, were cruelly massacred, May 9th, 1691, merely for not surrendering in time after King William’s proclamation perpetrated by the Earl of Argyle’s regiment. 38 men besides women and children perished.
GOOJERAT, BATTLE OF.—India.—Fought February 21st, 1849. Lord Gough with 21,000 men and 100 guns attacked the enemy, numbering 60,000 men, with 59 guns. The Sikh Chief was strongly posted between two river courses which protected his flanks, and yet allowed him good manœuvring space to retire either on the east or west side of the town of Goojerat, which afforded shelter and protection to his rear. The battle began at 7 A.M. After a severe engagement of nine hours, at 4 P.M. the enemy had been driven from every post and was in general retreat, which the field artillery and cavalry converted into a rout and flight. They were pursued for 15 miles, and next day another fresh force took up the direct pursuit. Some of the guns and the whole of the ammunition and camp equipage fell into the hands of the British. The Chief, Shere-Singh, escaped with only 8000 men out of 60,000. The loss on the side of the British was 100 killed and 900 wounded.
GOREE.—Taken by the English Admiral Holmes, in 1693—ceded to France 1678. Again taken by the British, 1758—1779—1800—and 1804.
GOREY, BATTLE OF.—Fought June 4th, 1798, between the King’s troops and the Irish rebels, in which, after a desperate battle, the King’s forces were routed with great slaughter. They lost several pieces of artillery, and retreated to Gorey and afterwards to Arklow.
GORGET.—An ancient breastplate. It was of great size, and gave rise to the modern diminutive breastplate which was in existence at the Restoration. It is now disused.
GRAMPIAN HILLS, BATTLE OF THE.—This was a celebrated engagement between the Scots and Picts—the former under Galgacus, and the latter under Agricola. Fought A.D. 79.
GRAND ALLIANCE.—Signed at Vienna between England and the States General—to which Spain and the Duke of Savoy afterwards acceded, May 12th, 1689.
GRANICUS, BATTLE OF.—Alexander the Great fought and won this battle against the Persians—B.C. 334. The Macedonian troops crossed the Granicus in the face of the Persian army, and totally defeated them. Alexander’s army was only 30,000 foot and 5000 horse and the Persian 600,000 foot, and 60,000 horse.
GRENADES.—A kind of bombshell invented in 1594. It is a small hollow globe or ball of iron, two inches diameter, and filled with fine powder and set on fire by a fusee at a touch-hole. The grenadiers were those soldiers who were armed with a pouch of hand grenades—established in France in 1667—and England in 1685. The latter word is applied now, according to Gay, to the tall soldiers—of which there is generally a company in every regiment.