Category: 16th century

Battles of January 20 summaries plus museums, artwork, books, and a song

Battles of January 20 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

Mini-album of the day: Battle of Yungay (4 songs – 2 Latin Pop, two traditional)

1. Battle of Rio de Janeiro (Battle of Uruçumirim)

Date: January 20, 1567

War: The Portuguese conquest of French Antarctica (France Antarctique)

Cause: The Portuguese, led by Estácio de Sá, sought to definitively expel the French colonists and their Tamoio indigenous allies from Guanabara Bay to secure the territory for Portugal.

Result: A decisive Portuguese victory. The French fortification at Uruçumirim was destroyed, effectively ending the French colony of France Antarctique. Estácio de Sá was mortally wounded by a poisoned arrow during the fighting and died a month later.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting/Illustration: Estácio de Sá wounded by an arrow from the Tamoio Indians
    • Artist: Ivan Wasth Rodrigues
    • Year: 1959 (Illustration for historical text)
  • Engraving: Attack on the French Fort (Depictions of the conflict in Guanabara Bay)
    • Artist: Theodor de Bry
    • Year: 1592–1595

Museums & Artifacts

  • Museu Histórico Nacional (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): Holds vast collections related to the colonial period, including weaponry and maps from the 16th century.
  • Monument to Estácio de Sá (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): Located in Aterro do Flamengo, near the site of the battle, containing the crypt of Estácio de Sá.

Location

  • General: Flamengo Beach / Morro da Viúva area, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • Coordinates: 22°55′S 43°10′W

Recommended Book

  • France Antarctique: The French Colony in Brazil by Mario Balbiano di Colarme.

2. Battle of Millstone (Battle of Van Nest’s Mill)

Date: January 20, 1777

War: American Revolutionary War

Cause: Part of the “Forage War” in New Jersey. A British foraging party of roughly 500 men attempted to seize flour and supplies from Van Nest’s Mill.

Result: American victory. New Jersey militia, led by General Philemon Dickinson, crossed an icy river to flank the British, forcing them to retreat and capturing wagons, horses, and cattle.

Paintings & Art

  • Watercolor: Uniforms of the American Revolution (Associated with the Millstone Valley history)
    • Artist: Charles M. Lefferts
    • Year: 1909
  • Modern Art: Skirmish at Millstone (Various local historical illustrations often depicted in NJ historical societies)
    • Artist: Local historical artists
    • Year: Late 20th Century

Museums & Artifacts

  • Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage (Somerville, New Jersey): Located near the action, offering context on the Forage War and winter cantonments.
  • Museum of the American Revolution (Philadelphia, USA): Contains artifacts and exhibits detailing the New Jersey campaign and militia warfare.

Location

  • General: Manville, New Jersey, USA (near the Millstone River).
  • Coordinates: 40°32′28″N 74°35′35″W

Recommended Book

3. Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút

Date: January 20, 1785

War: Tây Sơn Rebellion (Siamese–Vietnamese War)

Cause: Siamese forces invaded southern Vietnam to restore the Nguyen Lord, Nguyễn Ánh, to power. The Tây Sơn leader, Nguyễn Huệ, lured the Siamese navy into an ambush.

Result: A decisive Tây Sơn victory. The Siamese navy was almost completely destroyed in a surprise attack involving hidden infantry and artillery along the Mekong River banks.

Paintings & Art

  • Monument/Relief: Statue of Nguyen Hue and Relief of the Battle
    • Artist: Vietnamese State Commissioned Artists
    • Year: 2005 (Inauguration of the renovated relic site)
  • Folk Art: Ambush at Rạch Gầm (Woodcuts and propaganda posters)
    • Artist: Unknown
    • Year: 20th Century

Museums & Artifacts

  • Rạch Gầm – Xoài Mút Victory Historical Relic (Tiền Giang Province, Vietnam): A dedicated museum site featuring a massive bronze statue of Nguyễn Huệ, galleries of weapons, and ceramics from the period.
  • Vietnam National Museum of History (Hanoi, Vietnam): Houses weaponry and documents relating to the Tây Sơn dynasty.

Location

  • General: Tiền Giang Province, Vietnam (Section of the Mekong/Tien River).
  • Coordinates: 10°20′N 106°19′E

Recommended Book

4. Battle of Yungay

Date: January 20, 1839

War: War of the Confederation

Cause: The Peru-Bolivian Confederation, led by Andrés de Santa Cruz, threatened the regional balance of power. Chile and Peruvian dissidents (the United Restoration Army) sought to dissolve it.

Result: A decisive Chilean and Restorationist victory. The Confederation was dissolved, and Santa Cruz went into exile.

Paintings & Art

  • Drawing: Panorama of the Battle of Yungay (From a Pacific Watercolor Album)
    • Artist: Unknown (Soldier or Campaign Artist)
    • Year: 1840
  • Sculpture: Monument to the Roto Chileno (Commemorating the common soldier at Yungay)
    • Artist: Virginio Arias
    • Year: 1888

Museums & Artifacts

  • Museo del Carmen de Maipú (Santiago, Chile): Houses significant collections of military art, uniforms, and relics from 19th-century Chilean wars.
  • Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú (Lima, Peru): Holds artifacts related to the Republican era and the Confederation.

Location

  • General: Yungay, Ancash Region, Peru.
  • Coordinates: 9°08′S 77°44′W

Recommended Book

  • The Making of Modern Chile by Simon Collier and William F. Sater.

5. Battle of Imbros (Battle of Kusu Bay)

Date: January 20, 1918

War: World War I

Cause: An Ottoman naval sortie led by the battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim (formerly Goeben) and light cruiser Midilli (formerly Breslau) attempted to attack Allied transport ships and monitors.

Result: Strategic Allied victory. While the Ottomans sank two British monitors, they ran into a minefield. The Midilli sank, and the Yavuz was heavily damaged and beached, ceasing to be an offensive threat.

Paintings & Art

  • Watercolor: The Wreck of HMS Raglan: in Kusa Bay, Imbros, after action with the “Goeben”
    • Artist: Frank Mason
    • Year: c. 1918
  • Illustration: Sinking of the Breslau (Daily Sketch illustration)
    • Artist: Period War Artists
    • Year: 1918

Museums & Artifacts

  • Imperial War Museum (London, UK): Holds the Frank Mason painting and naval logs from the engagement.
  • Istanbul Naval Museum (Istanbul, Turkey): Contains artifacts related to the Yavuz and Midilli, including bells, nameplates, and uniforms.

Location

  • General: Off the island of Imbros (Gökçeada), Aegean Sea.
  • Coordinates: 40°14′N 25°58′E

Recommended Book

Books for sale

WarScholar Press

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Tags: military museum, military artwork, battles, Military History, War History, Battle Art, War Paintings, War Art, Military Art, Museum Visit, Art History, Historical Artifacts, Museum Collection, Battlefield Tours, History Museum, Museum Life, History In Art, Historic Preservation, January 20, On This Day, History, Military History, War History, Historical Events, History Buff, World History, Battle Of Yungay, Battle Of Millstone, Battle Of Imbros, Rach Gam Xoai Mut, Battle Of Rio De Janeiro, American Revolution, WWI, Tay Son, Chilean History, Naval Warfare

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Battles of December 22 summaries plus museums, artwork, and books

Battles of December 22 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

1. Siege of Ismail

Date: December 22, 1790 (New Style Calendar)

War: Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792)

Cause: The Russian Empire sought to secure control over the Black Sea and the Danube River. The fortress of Ismail (modern-day Izmail, Ukraine) was considered impregnable by the Ottoman Empire and was a key obstacle to the Russian advance.

Result: A decisive Russian victory. Under the command of General Alexander Suvorov, Russian forces stormed the fortress walls in a brutal assault. The capture of Ismail shocked the Ottoman Empire and European powers, leading to the Treaty of Jassy in 1792, which confirmed Russian dominance in the region.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: The Capture of Ismail
    • Artist: Francesco Casanova
    • Year: c. 1791
  • Painting: Storming of the Fortress of Izmail (Etching/Engraving)
    • Artist: S. Shiflyar (after original drawings)
    • Year: Early 19th Century

Museums & Artifacts

  • State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia): Holds various artworks and portraits of Suvorov related to the campaigns.
  • Suvorov Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia): Dedicated entirely to the Generalissimo, containing weapons, trophies, and diagrams of the storming of Ismail.
  • Diorama of the Storming of Ismail (Izmail, Ukraine): A museum housed in a former mosque featuring a massive diorama depicting the assault.

Location

  • General: Izmail, Odesa Oblast, Ukraine
  • Coordinates: 45.3499° N, 28.8364° E

Recommended Book

2. Siege of Rhodes

Date: December 22, 1522 (Acceptance of Surrender Terms) (June 16 – December 22, 1522)

War: Ottoman–Hospitaller Wars

Cause: Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent aimed to eliminate the Knights Hospitaller (Knights of St. John) from Rhodes. The Knights used the island as a base for corsair activities against Ottoman shipping, disrupting trade and pilgrimage routes in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Result: Ottoman victory. After a bloody six-month siege, Grand Master Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam accepted Suleiman’s terms of surrender on December 22. The Knights were allowed to leave the island with their weapons and religious icons, eventually relocating to Malta.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: Siege of Rhodes (Miniature)
    • Artist: Matrakçı Nasuh (from the Süleymannâme)
    • Year: 1558
  • Painting: The Siege of Rhodes of 1522
    • Artist: Pat Nicolle (Historical Illustrator)
    • Year: 20th Century (Modern illustration often used in texts)

Museums & Artifacts

  • Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes (Rhodes, Greece): The original fortress and headquarters of the Knights, containing architecture and artifacts from the siege era.
  • Istanbul Naval Museum (Istanbul, Turkey): Houses Ottoman naval artifacts, maps, and weapons from the era of Suleiman the Magnificent.
  • Musée de l’Armée (Paris, France): Contains cannons and armor from the Knights Hospitaller.

Location

  • General: Rhodes (Old Town), Greece
  • Coordinates: 36.4457° N, 28.2240° E

Recommended Book

3. Battle of the Bulge (Siege of Bastogne)

Date: December 22, 1944 (December 20-26, 1944. Germans demand surrender on December 22)

War: World War II (Western Front)

Cause: As part of the massive German counteroffensive (Operation Wacht am Rhein), German forces surrounded the critical road junction town of Bastogne. On December 22, German envoys demanded the immediate surrender of the encircled American forces.

Result: American moral victory and continuation of the siege. Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe famously replied to the German surrender demand with one word: “NUTS!” The 101st Airborne Division held the town despite heavy shelling and freezing conditions until relieved by General Patton’s Third Army days later.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: Nuts!
    • Artist: Michael G. Nate
    • Year: 2000s (Contemporary Military Art)
  • Painting: Battle of the Bulge
    • Artist: H. Charles McBarron Jr.
    • Year: c. 1950s (U.S. Army Art Collection)

Museums & Artifacts

  • Bastogne War Museum (Bastogne, Belgium): The primary museum dedicated to the battle, featuring immersive exhibits and artifacts from the siege.
  • 101st Airborne Museum (Bastogne, Belgium): Located in the former officers’ mess building, focused specifically on the paratroopers’ defense.
  • National World War II Museum (New Orleans, USA): Contains extensive exhibits on the Ardennes Counteroffensive.

Location

  • General: Bastogne, Belgium
  • Coordinates: 50.0085° N, 5.7185° E

Recommended Book

4. Japanese Invasion of Lingayen Gulf

Date: December 22, 1941 (December 21-23, 1944. Landing on December 22)

War: World War II (Pacific Theater)

Cause: The Japanese Empire launched a major amphibious invasion of Luzon to capture Manila and eliminate American air and naval forces in the Philippines, securing the flank for their expansion into Southeast Asia.

Result: Japanese victory. The main Japanese 14th Army landed at Lingayen Gulf on December 22. Despite some resistance, the American and Filipino forces were outmaneuvered and forced to retreat toward the Bataan Peninsula, leading to the eventual fall of the Philippines.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: Japanese Landing at Lingayen Gulf
    • Artist: U.S. Navy Combat Art Collection (Various Artists)
    • Year: c. 1942–1945
  • Painting: Defense of the Philippines (General Series)
    • Artist: Gary Zawadzki
    • Year: Late 20th Century

Museums & Artifacts

  • National Museum of the Pacific War (Fredericksburg, Texas): Comprehensive exhibits on the Pacific War, including the Philippines campaign.
  • Mt. Samat National Shrine (Bataan, Philippines): While focused on the later Bataan campaign, it holds artifacts related to the initial invasion.
  • Intramuros Administration (Manila, Philippines): Holds artifacts related to the defense of Luzon.

Location

  • General: Lingayen Gulf, Pangasinan, Philippines
  • Coordinates: 16.2833° N, 120.2333° E

Recommended Book

5. Battle of Iron Works Hill (Battle of Mount Holly)

Date: December 22, 1776 (Skirmishes began) (December 22-23, 1776)

War: American Revolutionary War

Cause: An American militia force under Colonel Samuel Griffin engaged Hessian troops to draw them away from their posts at Bordentown and Trenton. This was a diversionary effort to support George Washington’s planned crossing of the Delaware River.

Result: Strategic American success. The skirmishes on December 22 and 23 drew Colonel von Donop’s 2,000 Hessians south to Mount Holly. This left the Hessian garrison at Trenton unsupported, contributing to Washington’s stunning victory at the Battle of Trenton a few days later.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: Washington Crossing the Delaware (Associated Context)
    • Artist: Emanuel Leutze
    • Year: 1851
  • Painting: Battle of Iron Works Hill (Local historical illustrations)
    • Artist: Unattributed/Local Historians
    • Year: Various

Museums & Artifacts

  • Old Barracks Museum (Trenton, New Jersey): Preserves the history of the Hessian occupation and the battles of Trenton and Princeton.
  • Armed Forces Heritage Museum (Wrightstown, New Jersey): Preserves the military history of New Jersey.
  • Museum of the American Revolution (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania): Holds artifacts related to the 1776 campaign.

Location

  • General: Mount Holly, New Jersey, USA
  • Coordinates: 39.9919° N, 74.7899° W

Recommended Book

Books for sale

WarScholar Press

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Tags: military museum, military artwork, battles, Military History, War History, Battle Art, War Paintings, War Art, Military Art, Museum Visit, Art History, Historical Artifacts, Museum Collection, Battlefield Tours, History Museum, Museum Life, History In Art, Historic Preservation December 21, On This Day, History, Military History, War History, Historical Events, History Buff, World History, Siege Of Ismail, Suvorov, Russo Turkish War, Siege Of Rhodes, Knights Hospitaller, Ottoman Empire, Battle Of The Bulge, Bastogne, Nuts, WWII, Pacific War, Lingayen Gulf, Revolutionary War, Iron Works Hill

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Phillip Meilinger interview about his military history and lessons book “Thoughts on War” (University Press of Kentucky, 2020)

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Phillip Meilinger interview about his military history and lessons book “Thoughts on War”

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/2R2Bu24

Interview Timeline

Phillip Meilinger has spent decades both in the military as an Air Force officer and teaching military history and issues in staff and war colleges. He’s written numerous essays on military history and he’s collected a number of his essays and reexamined them for this book. We spoke about the book and [subjects] history ranging from Ancient Rome, to Clausewitz, to the US Civil War and on through to World War Two and beyond.

(THE AUDIO PLAYER IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST.)

0:40 – Philip talks about having been a pilot for 30 years and what prompted him to write a book on war.

3:58 – Philip talks about covering ancient to modern warfare in the book.

5:18 – Philip talks about the influence about von Clausewitz on military colleges.

8:03 – Philip talks about Clausewitz’ idea of the bloody battle.

12:11 – Philip talks about how the book reassesses past battles and the impact of air power on war. He also addresses policy in warfare.

18:01- Philip talks about how to make major changes in American doctrine and military policy.

21:08 – Philip talks about the effect of nuclear weapons on waging war.

23:57 – Philip talks about the information age and non-state actors.

27:41 – Philip talks about whether Chinese and Russian military activities are a new kind of warfare.

31:56 – Philip talks about how doctrine does not need to be changed but rather a different approach is needed.

36:01 – Philip talks about raids and punitive actions in modern war.

39:55 – Philip talks about the use and effect of strategic bombing.

44:35 – Philip talks about the budgets for aircraft carriers and new generation jets.

47:58 – Philip talks about balancing the US force and defense spending.

50:20 – Philip talks about how he put the book together.

52:00 – Philip talks about how much the US military was involved in politics in American history.

59:06 – Philip talks about how there was not a unity of command in WWII Europe among the allies.

1:00:34 – Philip talks about air intelligence during WWII.

1:04:13 – Philip talks about the Army Air Corps in WII and a book he wrote on a misconception about their status within the Army.

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/2R2Bu24

https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813178899/thoughts-on-war/

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar and on Instagram @crisalvarezwarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.

Guests: Phillip Meilinger

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: 

Books, audio interviews, author, podcast, University Press of Kentucky, General military history, United States,

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/2R2Bu24

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