Westmorland, or Westmoreland. One of the lake counties of England, bounded by Cumberland on the northwest and north, by Durham and Yorkshire on the east, and by Lancashire on the south and west. Its earliest inhabitants, as far as any traces remain, were principally, though not exclusively, Celts of the Cambrian division. Early in the 2d century this part of England was overrun by the Romans, who established their power by means of numerous forts and well-constructed roads. From the withdrawal of the Romans to the coming in of the Angles and the Danes the history of Westmorland is a complete blank. The invasion of the former people, who appear to have penetrated along the lines of the Roman roads, probably commenced about the close of the 7th century, and soon after the Northmen, when driven from the other parts of England, took refuge in this country. Westmorland, with other northern counties, was either held or claimed during some centuries by Scotland, and thus continued for a long time a cause of contention between the two countries; but in 1237 the king of Scotland was induced to give up his claim to it. From this time to the period of the civil war of the reign of Charles I. Westmorland enjoyed comparative tranquillity. In 1648, Sir Marmaduke Langdale raised a force of upwards of 4000 men, chiefly in Cumberland and Westmorland. They were joined by the Scots, who remained in the latter county until they were compelled to remove out of it for want of provisions; and during their stay, and until the final retreat of the royalists, this district was reduced to extreme distress. In 1715 the adherents of the Stuart family passed through Westmorland on their way to Preston. And again in 1745, Prince Charles, with his Highland followers, marched through the county in his invasion of England. During the retreat of this ill-fated expedition, in December of the same year, the rear of the Highlanders was overtaken by the Duke of Cumberland’s horse on Clifton Moor, when a sharp skirmish ensued, which checked the advance of the English for the moment, and hastened the retreat of the rebels.
Westphalia, or Munster, Peace of. Was signed at Munster and at Osnaburg, between France, the emperor, and Sweden; Spain continuing the war against France. By this peace the principle of a balance of power in Europe was first recognized; Alsace given to France, and part of Pomerania and some other districts to Sweden; the elector palatine restored to the Lower Palatinate; the religious and political rights of the German states established; and the independence of the Swiss Confederation recognized by Germany, October 24, 1648.
West Point. Site of the United States Military Academy, and of a fortress erected during the war of Independence, on the right bank of the Hudson River, 52 miles north of the city of New York. The Military Academy is on a plain 160 to 180 feet above the river, surrounded by the bold scenery of one of the finest river-passes in the world. The forts and a river-chain were taken by the British in 1777, but abandoned after Burgoyne’s surrender, and stronger forts were built, which Gen. Arnold bargained to betray,—a plot foiled by the arrest of Maj. André. For history of the Military Academy at West Point, see [Military Academies].
West Virginia. See [Virginia, West].
Wexford. A maritime county of the province of Leinster, Ireland. The maritime position of Wexford laid it open early to the incursions of the Danes, to whom the name Wexford, or Weisford, is traced by antiquaries. It was the first landing-place of the English in the invasion, and formed part of the tract granted by MacMurrough to the English adventurers whose assistance he had invoked. During the civil wars which followed 1641, Wexford was the scene of frequent contests; and in the more recent insurrection of 1798, it formed the theatre of the only formidable conflicts of the peasantry with the regular troops.
Wheel. See [Ordnance, Carriages For, The Caisson].
Wheel, To. In tactics, to move forward or backward in a circular manner, round some given point. Wheeling is one of the most essential and important operations of the company, necessary in many changes of position, and in the formation of column and of the line.
Wheelings. Different circular motions made by horse and foot, either to the right or left, forward and backward, etc.
Wheel-lock. A sort of lock anciently used on arquebuses. It consisted of a roughened steel wheel, with chain and spring, which, when wound up like a watch, revolved rapidly, and struck fire against a flint held in the cock.
Whinyard. A sword, or hanger, so called by Butler in his “Hudibras.”