Fought during the War of the Spanish Succession, the Battle of Blenheim saw the first major defeat of the French army in over 50 years. The Duke of Marlborough and Eugene of Savoy led British, Dutch and Austrian troops in a surprise attack on the French on the Danube in... More
English King John’s obsession with regaining lost French territories resulted in a 12-year war, which culminated in the confrontation at Bouvines in northern France. The campaign strategy had been sound; a planned pincer movement between John’s army, advancing from his Aquitaine stronghold, while his allies, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto... More
The Battle of Brandywine, in Pennsylvania, was fought between the American army of General George Washington and the British army of General Sir William Howe on 11 September 1777. Washington mobilized his defensive forces in Chadd’s Ford, with the area’s high ground and dense woodland offering concealment. He posted troops... More
The first major Protestant victory of the Thirty Years’ War, the Battle of Breitenfeld saw King Gustav II Adolf (Gustavus Adolphus) of Sweden’s army defeat Catholic League forces under Johan Isaclaes, Graf von Tilly. When the armies met, cavalry flanked Tilly’s infantry, but Gustav kept his lines separated from his... More
After leaving Auburn, Virginia, II Corps of the Union army engaged with Confederate soldiers near Bristoe Station, Virginia, on 14 October. Early on 14 October, Confederate forces, under Major General A.P. Hill, left their temporary base in Greenwich and prepared to attack the ‘unsuspecting’ marching Union Army. Hill’s infantry lost... More
The Budapest Offensive was Soviet Russia’s campaign to disable Hungary, the last Nazi ally, in 1944–45. Following the occupation of Romania in summer 1944, Soviet forces swept westwards into Hungary and southern Bulgaria. Budapest was isolated in December, and after a devastating siege the city fell on 13 February 1945.... More
The Battle of Bushy Run, which took place during Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763–66), was fought between 400 British troops, under Colonel Henry Bouquet, and 100–500 Native Americans. In spring 1763, Native American warriors besieged British settlements in Pennsylvania, as part of a general uprising of Native American tribes against British colonists.... More
The British offensive at Cambrai aimed to capture the local logistical hub for the Hindenburg line. The Mark IV tank played a pivotal role in the planned attack because of the gentle local topography and lack of artillery damage this relatively quiet stretch of the front line had sustained. Over... More
Following a number of failed attempts to recapture Guadalcanal from the Allies, a Japanese supply convoy was assembled for deployment of reinforcement troops, led by a separate group whose task was to provide artillery bombardment of Henderson Field airfield. Only the leading convoy was spotted by Allied aircraft and a... More
At 4.00 am on the morning ofn 19 October, 1864, Major General Sheridan was returning from a visit to Winchester, Virginia, when he heard the sound of battle in the direction of Cedar Creek. He had left his camp at Cedar Creek because he believed that, after a series of... More
Early on a foggy morning on 19 October 1864, Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early launched a devastating attack against Major General Sheridan’s seven Union divisions, which were encamped at Cedar Creek, near Middletown. Sheridan was absent and Major General Horatio Wright was acting commander. Three Confederate Cavalry divisions proceeded from... More
Between 7.30–9.30 am on 19 October, Confederate divisions advanced northwards, through fog, pushing seven Union divisions to northwest Middletown (near Cedar Creek). Meanwhile, Confederate soldiers formed an attack force to the east, with Generals Getty and Wheaton’s Union divisions facing Generals Pegram and Ramseur. Confederate Generals Kershaw and Evans took... More