Category: 19th century

Battles of December 14 plus museums and artwork information

Battles of December 14 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

1. The Battle of Lake Borgne

Date: December 14, 1814

War: War of 1812

Location: Lake Borgne, Louisiana, USA

Coordinates: 30°09′52″N 89°26′14″W

Description

Cause: In late 1814, a massive British expeditionary force aimed to capture New Orleans to gain control of the Mississippi River. To approach the city, the British fleet had to navigate Lake Borgne. A small flotilla of American gunboats, commanded by Lieutenant Thomas ap Catesby Jones, blocked their path to delay the advance and gather intelligence.

Result: The British won a tactical victory. Using a swarm of 42 armed rowboats (barges) carrying nearly 1,000 sailors and Royal Marines, they overwhelmed the five American gunboats after a fierce close-quarters engagement. However, the battle provided General Andrew Jackson with crucial time to fortify the defenses of New Orleans, contributing to the decisive American victory there weeks later.

Associated Art

  • Painting: British and American Gunboats in Action on Lake Borgne, 14 December 1814
    • Artist: Thomas Lyde Hornbrook
    • Year: c. 1836–1840s
    • Description: A dramatic oil painting depicting the chaotic scene of British rowboats swarming and boarding the American gunboats.

Museums & Artifacts

  • U.S. Naval Academy Museum (Annapolis, Maryland, USA): Holds the original Thomas Lyde Hornbrook painting and artifacts related to the naval war.
  • National Maritime Museum (Greenwich, United Kingdom): Houses collections and records related to the Royal Navy’s involvement in the War of 1812.
  • The Louisiana State Museum (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA): The Cabildo and Presbytère buildings often feature exhibits on the Battle of New Orleans and the preceding Lake Borgne engagement.
  • National WWII Museum (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA): While focused on WWII, this museum’s campus sometimes hosts broader military history exhibits relevant to Louisiana’s strategic importance.

Recommended Reading

  • Book: The Naval War of 1812
  • Author: Theodore Roosevelt
  • Why it’s highly regarded: Written by the future U.S. President, this book is considered a seminal work in naval history, offering a meticulous and balanced account of the naval tactics and engagements of the war, including the operations in the Gulf Coast.

2. The Battle of Saint-Eustache

Date: December 14, 1837

War: Lower Canada Rebellion (Patriote War)

Location: Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada

Coordinates: 45°34′25″N 73°53′50″W (Church of Saint-Eustache)

Description

Cause: Tensions between the “Patriotes” (reformers seeking democratic change and responsible government) and the British colonial administration boiled over into armed rebellion. Following British defeats of rebel pockets elsewhere, British Commander John Colborne marched on the rebel stronghold of Saint-Eustache to crush the insurgency.

Result: A decisive British victory. The Patriotes, led by Jean-Olivier Chénier, fortified the convent, presbytery, and the village church. British artillery bombarded the structures, and soldiers set fire to the church, forcing the rebels out where they were gunned down or captured. The battle effectively ended the rebellion in the immediate region.

Associated Art

  • Print: Back View of the Church of St. Eustache and Dispersion of the Insurgents
    • Artist: Lord Charles Beauclerk
    • Year: 1840 (Lithograph published in “Lithographic Views of Military Operations in Canada”)
    • Description: A famous lithograph showing the church engulfed in flames and rebels fleeing the British cordon.

Museums & Artifacts

  • McCord Stewart Museum (Montreal, Quebec, Canada): Holds a significant collection of prints, including Beauclerk’s lithographs, and historical objects from the 1837 rebellion.
  • Église de Saint-Eustache (Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada): The church itself is a living museum; the façade still bears the marks of British cannonballs from the battle.
  • Maison de la culture et du patrimoine (Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada): Located in the historic Manoir Globensky, this museum is dedicated to the history of the rebellion and the battle.

Recommended Reading

  • Book: The Patriots and the People: The Rebellion of 1837 in Rural Lower Canada
  • Author: Allan Greer
  • Why it’s highly regarded: This award-winning social history provides a deep dive into the motivations of the rural inhabitants of Lower Canada, moving beyond simple political narratives to explore the roots of the insurgency that culminated in battles like Saint-Eustache.

3. The Defense of Srinagar Airbase & Battle of Bogra

Date: Sringar December 14, 1971 / Bogra December 13-15

War: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 (Bangladesh Liberation War)

Location: * Srinagar Airbase: Srinagar, Kashmir (33°59′15″N 74°46′30″E)

  • Bogra: Bogra, Bangladesh (24°51′00″N 89°22′00″E)

Description

Cause: Nearing the end of the war, Pakistani forces launched desperate air raids on Indian airfields while Indian ground forces encircled Pakistani strongholds in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

  • Srinagar: Six Pakistan Air Force Sabre jets attacked the Srinagar airfield to neutralize it.
  • Bogra: Indian Army divisions and Mukti Bahini (Bangladeshi freedom fighters) launched a massive assault to capture the strategic town of Bogra.

Result: * Srinagar: A legendary aerial defense. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, flying a tiny Gnat fighter, took off under bombardment and fought off six Sabre jets alone, shooting down two before being killed. He saved the airfield and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra (India’s highest wartime gallantry award).

  • Bogra: The allied forces broke through Pakistani lines, leading to a massive surrender of troops and paving the way for the total surrender of Pakistani forces in the East two days later on December 16.

Associated Art

  • Graphic Art/Illustration: Param Vir Chakra Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon
    • Artist: Rishi Kumar (Illustrator for “Param Vir Chakra” graphic novels)
    • Year: 2019
    • Description: Modern artistic renderings and comic depictions are the most prevalent visual record of Sekhon’s dogfight, widely used in educational materials and memorials.
  • Poster Art: Annihilate These Demons (Associated with the 1971 War generally)
    • Artist: Quamrul Hassan
    • Year: 1971
    • Description: A sketch caricature of Yahya Khan, which became the iconic visual symbol of the resistance during the final days of the war.

Museums & Artifacts

  • Indian Air Force Museum, Palam (New Delhi, India): Houses the Gnat aircraft flown by Sekhon (or models of it) and details of the Srinagar defense.
  • Liberation War Museum (Dhaka, Bangladesh): Contains extensive artifacts, photographs, and documents related to the Battle of Bogra and the 1971 war.
  • National War Memorial (New Delhi, India): Features a bust of Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon and inscriptions honoring the martyrs of the 1971 war.
  • Museum of Independence (Dhaka, Bangladesh): Features exhibits on the final battles of December 1971, including the Bogra offensive.

Recommended Reading

  • Book: India’s Wars: A Military History, 1947–1971
  • Author: Arjun Subramaniam
  • Why it’s highly regarded: Written by a retired Air Vice Marshal, this book offers a comprehensive military history of post-independence India. It provides detailed tactical accounts of the 1971 operations, including both the air defense of the Kashmir valley and the ground offensives in the eastern theater.

Books for sale

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Contact Information

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Tags: military museum, military artwork, battles, Military History, War History, War Of 1812, IndoPak War, Battle Art, War Paintings, Military Art

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Battles of December 4 plus museums and artwork information

Battles of December 4 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

The Battle of Lund (Charles XI’s War: The Scanian War Between Sweden and Denmark, 1675-1679 (Century of the Soldier 1618-1721))

Date: December 4, 1676
War: The Scania War (1675–1679)
Cause: The Swedish King Charles XI launched a desperate winter counter-offensive to break the Danish siege of Malmö and reclaim the province of Scania, which had been invaded by Denmark.
Result: A decisive Swedish victory, though it was one of the bloodiest battles in Scandinavian history with extremely high casualties on both sides.
Location: The main monument (Slaget vid Lund) stands on the site of the fiercest fighting, just north of the city of Lund.
Coordinates: 55°26′22.6″N 13°06′50.8″E (Decimal: 55.439611, 13.114111)
Paintings:
Slaget vid Lund (The Battle of Lund) by Johann Philip Lemke (1696).
King Charles XI at the Battle of Lund by David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl (c. 1690s).
The Battle of Lund (Contemporary Engravings) by Romeyn de Hooghe (c. 1677).
Museums with Associated Artifacts & Art:
Swedish History Museum (Historiska museet) (Stockholm, Sweden): Holds artifacts from the Scania War and related military history.
Malmö Art Museum / Malmöhus Castle (Malmö, Sweden): Located near the conflict zone, this museum features exhibits on the Scania War and regional history.
The Royal Armory (Livrustkammaren) (Stockholm, Sweden): Contains weapons, armor, and uniforms from the era of Charles XI.
Kulturen (Lund, Sweden): An open-air museum that frequently highlights local history related to the battle.
The Battle of the Shangani Patrol (The Shangani Patrol) (Matabele: The War of 1893 and the 1896 Rebellions)
Date: December 4, 1893
War: The First Matabele War
Cause: A small British South Africa Company patrol, led by Major Allan Wilson, crossed the Shangani River in pursuit of the Ndebele King Lobengula. They were cut off from their main column by the rising river and surrounded by over 3,000 Ndebele warriors.
Result: Total annihilation of the patrol. The 34 soldiers fought to the last man, an event that became a significant legend in British colonial history known as “Wilson’s Last Stand.”

Location: The Pupu Battlefield Memorial (where the patrol made its last stand), located near the Shangani River in the Lupane district, roughly 40km east of the main Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road.

Coordinates: 18°46′05″S 28°07′33″E (Decimal: -18.768056, 28.125833)

Note: Major Wilson and his men were later reburied at World’s View in the Matobo Hills, but the coordinates above mark the actual battlefield.

Paintings:
There Were No Survivors (also known as The Last Stand of Major Allan Wilson) by Allan Stewart (1896).
The Shangani Patrol by Richard Caton Woodville (c. 1900).
Museums with Associated Artifacts & Art:
Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe): Features exhibits on the Ndebele kingdom and the colonial wars, including relics from the patrol.
National Army Museum (London, United Kingdom): Holds archives, medals, and artwork related to the British South Africa Company and the Matabele Wars.
Zimbabwe Military Museum (Gweru, Zimbabwe): dedicated to the military history of the nation, including the colonial conflicts.

The Battle of Longewala (Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: Volume 1 – Indian Military Intervention in East Pakistan (Asia@War))

Date: December 4–7, 1971 (Battle began the night of Dec 4)
War: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Cause: A surprise Pakistani armored invasion force (over 40 tanks and 2,000 troops) attempted to capture the Indian border post of Longewala to cut off Jaisalmer.
Result: A decisive Indian victory. A small company of Indian soldiers (approx. 120 men) held the post throughout the night of December 4th until the Indian Air Force arrived at dawn to destroy the Pakistani tank column.

Location: The Longewala War Memorial, which sits directly on the site of the 1971 engagement in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan.

Coordinates: 27°31′12″N 70°09′36″E (Decimal: 27.520000, 70.160000)

Paintings & Visuals:
The Battle of Longewala (Dioramas and Murals) by Unknown Military Artists / Indian Army Corps of Engineers (Contemporary/Modern).
Hunter over Longewala (Aviation Art depictions) often featured in Air Force galleries, depicting the Hawker Hunter jets destroying tanks.
Museums with Associated Artifacts & Art:
Longewala War Memorial (Longewala, Rajasthan, India): Located at the actual battle site, this open-air museum features the captured Pakistani T-59 tanks, the original Indian recoilless rifles used in the defense, and murals depicting the events of the night of December 4.
Jaisalmer War Museum (Jaisalmer, India): Features a dedicated “Longewala Hall” with detailed paintings, maps, and artifacts from the battle.
Indian Air Force Museum (Palam, New Delhi, India): Houses the Hawker Hunter aircraft type used to stop the armored advance.

The Battle of Waynesboro, Georgia (Southern Storm: Sherman’s March to the Sea)

Date: December 4, 1864
War: American Civil War (Sherman’s March to the Sea)
Cause: Union Cavalry commander Judson Kilpatrick moved to burn bridges and clear the route for General Sherman’s main army, clashing with Confederate cavalry led by Joseph Wheeler.
Result: Union victory. The Confederate forces were pushed back, allowing Sherman’s army to continue its march toward Savannah and the sea.

Location: The battle took place around the town of Waynesboro, Georgia. A historical marker denoting the cavalry action is located near the intersection of South Liberty Street and GA Hwy 24.

Coordinates: 33°05′23″N 82°00′57″W (Decimal: 33.089722, -82.015833)

Paintings:
Sherman’s March to the Sea (Engravings/Sketches) by Alexander Hay Ritchie (1868). (While specific oil paintings of the Waynesboro skirmish are rare, this famous engraving covers the campaign).
Contemporary War Sketches published in Harper’s Weekly (December 1864).
Museums with Associated Artifacts & Art:
Atlanta History Center (Atlanta, USA): Contains one of the largest collections of Civil War artifacts, including the “Cyclorama” painting (though depicting the Battle of Atlanta, it covers the context of the campaign).
Burke County Museum (Waynesboro, Georgia, USA): A local museum holding specific artifacts and information regarding the cavalry action in Waynesboro.
The National Civil War Museum (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA): Houses a vast collection of artifacts, uniforms, and sketches from Sherman’s campaigns.

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Battles of December 3 plus museums and artwork information

Battles of December 3 including descriptions of the battles, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

Battle of Hohenlinden (Marengo & Hohenlinden: Napoleon’s Rise to Power)

Date: December 3, 1800
War: War of the Second Coalition (French Revolutionary Wars)
Cause: French General Jean Victor Marie Moreau aimed to secure a decisive victory against the Austrian and Bavarian forces led by Archduke John. The Austrians, believing the French were retreating, advanced through the dense Ebersberg forest in four disconnected columns, walking into a meticulously planned French ambush.
Result: Decisive French victory. The Austrian army was shattered, losing over 17,000 men. This victory, combined with Napoleon’s earlier success at Marengo, forced Austria to sign the Treaty of Lunéville, effectively dismantling the Second Coalition.
Associated Paintings
Painting/Work: The Battle of Hohenlinden
Artist: Henri Frédéric Schopin
Year: 1836
Painting/Work: Group of Cavalry in the Snow: Moreau and Dessoles before Hohenlinden
Artist: Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier
Year: 1875
Museums and Collections
Palace of Versailles (Galerie des Batailles) — Versailles, France
Schopin's "The Battle of Hohenlinden" is displayed here among the
great military victories of France. The gallery serves as a
historical record of French martial glory.
National Gallery of Ireland — Dublin, Ireland
Houses Meissonier's "Group of Cavalry in the Snow," a masterpiece
detailing the harsh winter conditions and the strategic planning of
General Moreau before the battle.
Heeresgeschichtliches Museum (Museum of Military History) — Vienna, Austria
Contains extensive collections related to the Austrian army of the Napoleonic
wars, including uniforms, standards, and weapons similar to those
used by the defeated forces at Hohenlinden.

Battle of the Eureka Stockade (Eureka Stockade: A Ferocious and Bloody Battle)

Date: December 3, 1854
War: Eureka Rebellion (Civil Uprising)
Cause: Tensions between gold miners (“diggers”) and the colonial authority of Victoria, Australia, reached a breaking point over exorbitant mining license fees, police corruption, and a lack of voting rights. The miners built a crude wooden stockade in Ballarat and swore an oath to defend their rights and liberties.
Result: Military victory for the colonial forces, but a political victory for the miners. The stockade was overrun in a short, violent dawn raid by British soldiers and police, killing at least 22 diggers. However, public sympathy shifted to the miners, leading to major democratic reforms and the introduction of male suffrage in Victoria.
Associated Paintings
Painting/Work: Eureka Stockade (Mural series)
Artist: Sidney Nolan
Year: 1949
Painting/Work: Attack on the Eureka Stockade (Watercolor)
Artist: J.B. Henderson
Year: 1854 (Contemporary account)
Museums and Collections
Eureka Centre Ballarat — Ballarat, Australia
Located at the site of the rebellion, this museum interprets the social
history of the event. It is the home of the original "Eureka
Flag" (Flag of the Southern Cross), which has become a potent
symbol of Australian democracy and protest.
Art Gallery of Ballarat — Ballarat, Australia
Holds J.B. Henderson's contemporary watercolor "Attack on the Eureka
Stockade," one of the few visual records created shortly after
the event, along with other colonial-era artworks depicting the
goldfields.
Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) — Canberra, Australia
Features exhibits on the development of Australian democracy, citing the
Eureka Stockade as a foundational event. It also holds works from
Sidney Nolan's "Eureka" series.

Second Battle of Orléans (The Franco-Prussian War: The German Conquest of France in 1870-1871)

Date: December 3–4, 1870
War: Franco-Prussian War
Cause: Following the initial capture of Orléans by the Prussians and its subsequent recapture by the French, the Prussian Second Army under Prince Friedrich Karl launched a counter-offensive. The French Army of the Loire, attempting to advance towards Paris to relieve the siege, clashed with the Prussians just north of the city.
Result: Prussian victory. The French lines collapsed under the assault, forcing them to abandon Orléans once again. The defeat severely damaged the morale of the French provisional government and diminished hopes of lifting the Siege of Paris.
Associated Paintings
Painting/Work: Franco-Prussian War: Second Battle of Orléans (Engraving/Print)
Artist: Artigas (and various contemporary engravers)
Year: 1871
Painting/Work: General Chanzy at the Battle of Orléans (Illustration)
Artist: Alphonse de Neuville (Associated military artist of the period)
Year: c. 1872
Museums and Collections
Musée de la Guerre de 1870 — Loigny-la-Bataille, France
While focused on the nearby Battle of Loigny (Dec 2), this museum covers
the entire Loire campaign, including the battles for Orléans. It
displays weapons, uniforms, and art related to the Army of the Loire
and the Prussian forces.
Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Orléans — Orléans, France
Contains art and historical objects relevant to the city's history, including
works depicting the various sieges and battles the city endured
during the Franco-Prussian War.
Deutsches Historisches Museum — Berlin, Germany
Houses a vast collection of artifacts from the wars of German Unification,
including Prussian uniforms, medals, and battle maps detailing the
capture of Orléans.

Operation Chengiz Khan (Start of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971) (Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: Volume 1 – Indian Military Intervention in East Pakistan)

Date: December 3, 1971
War: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 / Bangladesh Liberation War
Cause: Seeking to neutralize the Indian Air Force (IAF) and gain air superiority before a ground offensive, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched preemptive airstrikes against 11 Indian airbases and radar stations at dusk, inspired by the Israeli strategy in the Six-Day War.
Result: Pakistani strategic failure. The airstrikes caused minimal damage to Indian runways and aircraft. In response, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared war that same night. The failure of the operation allowed the IAF to quickly establish air dominance, contributing to India’s victory 13 days later.
Associated Paintings
Painting/Work: Sabre Slayers (Depicting the Gnat vs Sabre air battles of the war)
Artist: Group Captain Debatosh Das (and other aviation artists)
Year: Contemporary (Post-1971)
Painting/Work: Hunters at Longewala (Depicting the air support following the outbreak)
Artist: Various Aviation Artists
Year: Various
Museums and Collections
Indian Air Force Museum, Palam — New Delhi, India
The premier museum of the IAF, featuring aircraft that flew in the 1971
war, including the Folland Gnat and Hawker Hunter. It houses an art
gallery with paintings depicting the air battles of December 1971.
Pakistan Air Force Museum — Karachi, Pakistan
Displays aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre used during Operation Chengiz Khan.
The museum includes archives and galleries dedicated to the PAF's
role in the 1971 conflict.
National War Memorial — New Delhi, India
A monument and museum complex dedicated to the Indian armed forces. It
includes murals and bronze reliefs depicting key battles of the 1971
war, including the initial air defense and subsequent ground
operations.

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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, Indo-Pakistani War, Eureka Rebellion, Franco-Prussian War, India history, Pakistan history, French history, Prussian history, Australian history

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