The battles of the world

by J. Douglas Borthwick

KERTCH.—An expedition undertaken against this place during the late Russian war was completely successful. “Notwithstanding the recall of the expedition to Kertch in the early part of the month, the Allied Generals were resolved to carry out the project of a descent upon that part of the coast; and, on the 22nd of May, another expedition departed: the English force under Sir George Brown, and the French under General D’Autemarre. The two Admirals, Sir Edmund Lyons and Bruat, accompanied the land forces. The troops engaged numbered 15,000, with five batteries of artillery. It was apprehended that a serious resistance would probably be made at Kertch, and that the fleets would have difficulty in forcing the straits into the Sea of Azov, if they were exposed to the fire of the powerful batteries of Kertch and Yenikale. In order, then, that the town might be attacked from the land side, Sir George Brown landed his force at Kamiesch Bournu, a few miles to the south of Kertch, and advanced overland. The enemy, however, had no intention of risking a contest, and evacuated the town, destroying the magazines, and blowing up the fortifications. When the troops entered Kertch, they found it deserted by nearly all the inhabitants; and the ships in the straits hurredly endeavouring to escape into the Sea of Azov. In this attempt they were frustrated by the activity of the allied fleets; and the Admirals, finding the depth of water more than they had anticipated, started in full pursuit, capturing and burning every vessel they could approach. Yenikale was, like Kertch, deserted by its garrison; and in a few hours the Allies were in undisturbed and bloodless possession of the two towns commanding the outlet of the Sea of Azov, and the fleets were in full chase of the Russian navy in those waters.”

KIEL, TREATY OF.—Between Great Britain, Sweden and Denmark, signed January 14th, 1814.

KILCULLEN, BATTLE OF.—Fought May 23rd, 1798, between a vast body of insurgent Irish and the British forces, commanded by General Dundas. The latter were defeated. General Dundas, however, subsequently beat the rebels near Kilcullen bridge, when 3000 were slain, and hundreds wounded and taken prisoners.

KILDARE.—The great rebellion commenced here in May 23rd, 1798. On that night Lieutenant Gifford, of Dublin, and a number of gentlemen were murdered. Quelled in the following year.

KILLALA.—A French force landed here, August 22nd, 1798. They were joined by the Irish insurgents, and the actions of Castlebar, Colooney and Ballyhannack followed. At the battle of Killala the insurgents were defeated with great slaughter, by the Royalist forces, September 23rd, 1798.

KILLIECRANKIE, BATTLE OF.—Fought July 17th, 1689, between the forces of William III and the adherents of James II. “General Mackay, the officer sent against Claverhouse, had about 3000 foot and some companies of horse under his command. But they were mostly all raw recruits, and entire strangers to the Highland way of fighting. At the head of the wild and gloomy pass of Killiecrankie, Mackay found himself in front of the rebels. He drew up his men, three deep, along the side of the narrow valley into which the pass opens. The Highlanders occupied the hill on the north side of the valley. At this time, the bayonet screwed into the muzzle of the musket, so that troops could not fire with bayonets fixed. The Highlanders, in dense masses broke down from the hill. Firing their guns once, they dropped them, and then with target on the left arm, and flashing broadsword they rushed, wildly yelling, on the enemy. Mackay’s troops fired a volley, which did little harm to the loose array of their leaping, bounding foes, and before they could screw in their bayonets, the Highlanders were among them. An empty musket without a bayonet could do little against the sweeping broadsword. A panic seized Mackay’s raw levies, and they broke and fled, pursued and cut down by the savage Highlanders.

Claverhouse never knew that he had won a victory. He fell at the beginning of the action, pierced by a musket ball which entered beneath his arm. When one in a pack of hungry wolves is killed, the rest turn upon him and eat him up. Claverhouse’s own men, true to their savage instinct of plunder, stripped his body, and left it naked upon the field, where it was with difficulty distinguished from the other bodies of the fallen!”

KOLIN, OR KOLLIN, BATTLE OF.—In this engagement the famous Austrian General Daun, gained a celebrated victory over Frederick the Great of Prussia, June 18th, 1757. Next year he obliged the Prussians to raise the siege of Olmutz and to retreat to Moravia.

KONIAH, BATTLE OF.—Fought on the Plains of Koniah, formerly Jornium, between the army of the Sultan of Turkey and the Pacha of Egypt, in which, after a most bloody action which continued all the day, the Turkish army was defeated, and the Grand Vizier himself wounded and taken prisoner, December 31st, 1833.

KOWNO, BATTLE OF.—Fought between the French and Russian armies, in which the French were defeated with great slaughter, and the loss of upwards of 6000 prisoners, 21 pieces of cannon; many thousands on both sides were slain. Fought, December 14th, 1812.