HOCHKIRCHEN, BATTLE OF.—Between the Prussian army, commanded by Frederick II, and the Austrians, commanded by Count Daun. The King was surprised in his camp and defeated by the Imperial General. In this battle, an illustrious Scotsman, Field-Marshal Keith, in the service of Prussia, was killed; and such was the respect and admiration which his name inspired, that Counts Daun and Lacy, the Austrian Generals, shed tears on beholding the corpse, and ordered its interment with military honours. Fought, October 14th, 1758.
HOCHENLINDEN, BATTLE OF.—Fought November 3rd, 1800, between the Austrian and French armies—the latter commanded by General Moreau. The Austrians were defeated with dreadful slaughter, losing 10,000 men in killed and wounded, and 10,000 more in prisoners. The forces of each army were nominally equal at the commencement of the battle.
HOMELDEN, BATTLE OF.—Between the Scots, headed by the Earl of Douglas, and the Percys, in which the Scots were defeated. Douglas and many of the nobility were taken prisoners in this battle. Fought in 1403.
HORATII AND CURIATII, COMBAT BETWEEN THE.—Fought B.C. 669. The forces of the two states met about five miles from Rome. While the armies were awaiting the signal for the battle, the Alban General, stepping into the space between them, proposed to decide the dispute by single combat. To this proposition Tullus agreed. There were in each army three twin brothers, all remarkable for their courage, strength, and activity, and to them it was resolved to commit the management of the combat. The Roman brothers were called Horatii and the Albans Curiatii. The champions met. Victory, which for a time, appeared doubtful, at last seemed to decide against the Romans. Two of their champions lay dead on the field, and the third seemed, by flight, to beg for mercy. Defeat was however only apparent. It soon became evident that this flight of the surviving Roman was pretence in order that, by separating his antagonists, he might have an opportunity of engaging them singly. Turning suddenly upon the foremost of the Curiatii, he laid him dead at his feet. The second instantly shared his fate. Fatigued and disabled by his wounds, the third slowly advanced to offer an easy victory. He was slain almost unresisting, while the conqueror exclaimed “Two have I already sacrificed to the Manes of my brothers; a third will I offer up to my country.”
HUSSAR.—This kind of soldier originated in Poland and Hungary, and as they, being light cavalry, were more suited for hasty attacks than a set battle, they are supposed to have taken their name from the huzzas or shouts which they made at their first onset. Pardon says that they were oddly clothed, having the skins of tigers, &c., hanging on their backs, against bad weather, and wore fur caps, with a cock’s feather. Introduced into the British service in the last century.
I.
INKERMANN, BATTLE OF.—One of the most brilliant achievements in the history of the British Army. Fought on the 5th of November, 1854.
“Two days after the repulse of the enemy’s sortie, by Sir De Lacy Evans’ division, General Dannenberg, with a large Russian reinforcement, arrived at Baktchi-Serai from Odessa, which place he left on the 19th of October. In order that his men might reach the scene of action with the greatest practicable rapidity, and in good condition, every available cart and rustic conveyance was pressed into the service. They were thus comparatively fresh and vigorous after so rapid a march. On the 3rd of November, one division, under General Soimonoff, entered Sebastopol. The remainder, under General Pauloff, encamped at Tchorgoun, a short distance to the east.