FUENTES DE ONORE

BATTLE OF.—Napier thus describes this great battle: “On May 2nd, 1811, Me ina cro ed the Agueda with 40,000 infantry, 5000 cavalry, and about thirty pieces of artillery, to relieve Almeida. He expected every day to be superseded in his command, and he wished to make a last effort for his own military character. Wellington could muster no more than 32,000 men, of which force only 1200 were cavalry. He, however, determined to fight rather than give up the blockade of Almeida; after much fighting night came on and put an end to the battle. Next day Me ina was joined by Be ières, with a body of the Imperial Guard, and on the 5th the enemy made the grand attack. The battle raged throughout a vast plain, and in all the Peninsular War there was never so dangerous an hour for England. The fight lasted till evening, when the lower part of the town was abandoned by both sides—the British keeping the chapel and crags, and the French retiring a cannon shot from the stream.” Fought, May 5th, 1811. G GALWAY.— Ireland. —In 1690, Galway declared for King James, but it was invested and taken by General Ginckel, immediately after the memorable battle of Aughrim, July 12th, 1691. GENERAL.—This rank has been given to commanders from very remote antiquity. In the French army, Montmorency was the first officer who was so called, in 1203. Cardinal Richelieu was the first who took the title Generali imo , having coined the word when he a umed supreme command of the French armies in Italy, in 1629. GENOA.—Bombarded by the French, in 1684, and by the British, in 1688 and 1745. Taken by the Imperialists, December 8th, 1746. Sustained a siege from the British fleet and Austrian army, when it capitulated, May, 1800. Surrendered to the French, after the battle of Marengo. Next surrendered to the combined English and Sicilian armies, April 8th, 1814, but was transferred to the Kingdom of Sardinia, in 1826. The city seized by insurgents, who, after a murderous struggle, drove out the garrison, and proclaimed a Republic, April, 1850, but in the end the insurgents surrendered to General Marmora. GERMANIC CONFEDERATION.—When Napoleon determined that the German or Holy Roman Empire should no longer exist, but that a Confederation of States should be in its stead, the proposal was adopted by the Allied Sovereigns, in 1815, which has continued ever since. GETTYSBURG.— United States. —This battle was fought between the Confederates of the Southern States, and the Northern army. General Lee was defeated by the United States’ troops. This battle immediately followed the surrender of Vicksburg to General Grant. Fought on the 4th July, 1863. GHENT.—Taken by the Duke of Marl borough, in 1706. Several times taken and retaken during the Napoleon wars. The peace of Ghent, between Great Britain and America, signed here, December 24th, 1814.