Beaune-la-Rolande. A village in the Loiret, France. Here the French army of the Loire under Gen. d’Aurelle de Paladines was defeated by the Germans under Prince Frederick Charles, in an attempt to march in the direction of Fontainebleau, to relieve Paris, November 28, 1870. The French loss was reported by the Germans to be 1000 dead and 4000 wounded, with more than 1700 prisoners. Their own loss was also heavy.
Beauvais (Northern France). The ancient Bellovaci, formerly capital of Picardy. When besieged by Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, with 80,000 men, the women under Jeanne Fourquet or Lainé, also called de la Hachette, from her using that weapon, particularly distinguished themselves, and the duke raised the siege, July 10, 1472. In memory of this, the women of Beauvais walk first in the procession on the anniversary of their deliverance.
Bebra. A sort of javelin, used by the ancient Germans; it was an imitation of the [pilum] of the Romans.
Bec de Corbin (Fr.). A kind of halbert formerly used by the body-guards of the kings of France.
Bechlis. Light cavalry of the Turks, composed of picked men and horses.
Bedaines (Fr.). Stone bullets which were thrown from catapults during the Middle Ages.
Bednore, or Nuggur. A large city of Mysore, India. In 1763 it was taken and pillaged by Hyder Ali, who subsequently made it the seat of his own government. It was taken by the British under Gen. Matthews in 1783, but was soon retaken by Tippoo, at the head of a vastly superior force, when Gen. Matthews and all the principal British officers were put to death.
Bedouins. Wandering tribes of Arabs, living on the plunder of travelers, etc. They profess a form of Mohammedanism, and are governed by sheikhs. They are said to be descendants of Ishmael.
Beds. Are receptacles for ordnance of large calibre,—mortar-beds serve the same purpose as gun-carriages. They are made of solid timber, consisting generally of two pieces fastened together with strong iron bolts and bars. Their sizes depend on the kind of mortar they carry. The beds for the smaller mortars are made of one solid block only. The reason that a bed is used for a mortar instead of a wheel-carriage is on account of the high elevation at which a mortar is usually fired, when the recoil, instead of forcing the piece backwards, tends to force it downwards, and this tendency becomes so great at the higher angles that no wheel-carriage could long sustain the shock.
Beeren, Gross. A village of Prussia, 11 miles east-southeast of Potsdam, well known as the scene of a great victory gained by the Prussians over the French on August 22-23, 1813.