BAYLEN

BATTLE OF.—The French, consisting of 14,000 men, commanded by Generals Dupont and Wedel, were defeated by the Spaniards under Pena, Compigny and other Generals, whose forces amounted to 25,000. The French had nearly 3000 killed and wounded, and the division of Dupont, which consisted of about 8000 men, was made prisoners of war. Fought July 19th, 1808. BAYONNE.—In the neighbourhood of this town there was much desperate fighting between the French and English armies, December 10th, 11th, and 13th, 1813. Bayonne was invested by the British, January 14th, 1814, during which the French made a sally and attacked the English with succe , but were at length driven back. The lo of the British was considerable, and Lieut.-General Sir John Hope was wounded and taken prisoner. It was here that the bayonet was first made, in or about A.D. 1670. According to the Abbé Langlet, it was first used by the French in battle, 1693, “with great succe against an enemy unprepared for the encounter with so formidable a novelty.” Adopted by the British, September 26th, 1693.