The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-14

The first Christmas battle of which we
nave any record was fought at Clifton
Moor in 1745, between our forces and those
OF the Pretender. The conflict was a
bloody one, and both sides lost heavily;
but the rebels were beaten off, only to
gain in point of numbers until they were
crushed at Culloden the following year.
Savendroog was stormed during Christ
mas week, 1891 although the news did not
reach England until the New Year, and
during the war with France we utilized
the season great deal for fighting.
Christmas day, 1893, was made memorable
by the arrival of the tidings that Toulon
had been successfully stormed and cap
tured, and Yuletide festivities Immediate
ly gave way to national reJoicings.
Not till 1903 did we fight another Christ
mas battle, but in the meantime the
French had celebrated the season by
completely routing the Austrians on the
memorable field of Mincio In 1900: and at
the end of December, 1906, they fought a
drawn battle with the European allies at
Pultusk In 1908 however the brill ant
action at Sahagun came off during
Christmas week. and is celebrated for the
excellent work done by our cavalry, which
defeated a far larger force of the enemy,
In 1913 our troops in the Peninsula spent
Christmas In forcing the passage of the
Nive. The actual battle was fought on
Dec. 10. but for over a fortnight after
ward Wellington's men kept up heavy
Diminishing with the French and beat
them back.
During Christmas week Qs71) two bat
ties were fought which deserve mention
here. Appa Sahib, a treacherous Indian
Rajah, rose in revolt against the British
power and collected an overwhelming
force, which he hurled against our slen-
der one. The first battle came off at
Mehadpore on Dec. q, and the enemy was
repulsed with loss, only to return REIN
forced and attack us at Nagpore on
Christmas eve. We had $4,000 men all
told, and the enemy were about four
times that number; nevertheless, our
troops not only held their own. but gained
a brilliant victory and quelled the rising.
Not till Queen Victoria came to tho
throne did we participate IN another Yule-
tide campaign, but the festivities OF lS43 as
far as our army WAS concerned, were dis
turhed by the Mahratta war, Sir Hngh
Cough was at the head of our Indian army,
and two pitched battles were fought with
the enemy on the same day, he himself
defeating their force of 1900 men, inelud-
ing 5000 cavalry and 100 guns. at Maharai-
pore and Gen. Grey making short work OF
another body of 1900 Mahrattas at Pun
MAR.
Two years later Sir Hugh Cough was
again at work putting down the Sikhs, and
curiousy enough, the two battles he
fought with them both took place during
kee. where the enemy were beaten back
and would have suffered a DISASTROUS de- !.
feat had not night put an end to the strug-
gle. day later, Dec. q. the battle was
renewed at Ferozeshah and lasted coniin-
uously until Christmas morning. Thou
sands of Sikhs fell, and when the fightirg
was over no fewer than 2.4i5 men and lis
officers belonging to the British army lay
dead on the field.
In 1856 we were fighting the Persians at
Christmas, the memorable battle # Bush
ire just having been concluded and Dec. %
found our troops in hot pursuit of the re-
firing foe.
On Christmas day. 1873, Lord Roberts
was fighting the Afghans, and on Christ
mas Eve the following year Sir William
Lockhart entered Cabul at the head o. his
victorious army after having avenged the
murder of Sir Louis Cavagnari
Gen. Gorden's last Christmas was spent
in warfare, for at that tme-n lSs4--he
was hemmed in at Khartoum by the Nah
DIS forces. and died fighting early in the
following January But this Is not the
only Christmas battle that has been fought
in the Soudan and In which Englishmen
have been engaged, for in 1888 the Dervish
army was routed by Gen. Grenfell at Sua-
kim during Christmas week.