ISLE OF FRANCE.—Taken, with six French frigates, and many Indiamen, by the British from the French, December 2nd, 1810. The British retain possession of it, and it is now a freed colony.
ISMAEL, SIEGE OF.—In Bessarabia.—After a long siege by the Russians, who lost 20,000 men before the place, the town was taken by storm, December 22nd, 1790, when the Russian General, Suwarrow, the bloodiest and most merciless warrior of modern times, put the brave Turkish garrison, consisting of 30,000 men, to the sword—every man was butchered. Not satisfied with this vengeance, the General ordered the town to be pillaged by his ferocious soldiery, and 6000 women were murdered in cold blood.
ISSUS, BATTLE OF.—Alexander the Great completely defeated Darius in this battle, fought B.C. 333. The Persian army, according to Justin, amounted to 400,000 foot and 100,000 horse, of which 61,000 foot and 10,000 cavalry were left dead on the field, and 40,000 were taken prisoners. The Macedonians lost only 300 foot and 150 horse, according to Diodorus Siculus.
J.
JAFFA.—Celebrated in Scripture as Joppa. Taken by Napoleon, in February, 1799. The French driven out by the British, in June, the same year. Here, according to the account of Sir Robert Wilson, Napoleon massacred 3800 Arab prisoners of war; but this is reasonably doubted.
JANVILLIERS, BATTLE OF.—Between the French and Prussians, which, after a severe engagement, Blucher, who commanded the latter army, was driven back to Chalons with considerable loss. Fought, February 14th, 1814.
JARNAC, BATTLE OF.—The Duke of Anjou, afterwards Henry III of France, defeated the Huguenots, under Louis, Prince of Condé, who was killed in cold blood by Montesquieu. The victor was but seventeen years of age, and on account of his successes and his triumph at Moncontour, the Poles chose him for their king; he had his arm in a sling, and a moment before the battle, his leg was broken by a kick from a horse. Fought, March 13th, 1569.
JAVA.—This island capitulated to the British, August 8th, 1811. The sultan dethroned by the English and the hereditary Prince raised to the throne, June, 1813. Restored to Holland, in 1814.
JEMMAPPES, BATTLE OF.—This was one of the most obstinate and hard-fought battles in modern times; 40,000 French troops forced 28,000 Austrians, who were entrenched in woods and mountains, defended by forty redoubts and an immense number of cannon. The revolutionary general Dumouriez, was the victor in this battle, which lasted four days. According to the most authentic accounts, the loss on the Austrian side was 10,000 men killed, and that of the French 12,000. Fought, November 5th, 1792.