Category: United States

Battles of December 20 plus museums and artwork information

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

1. Battle of Dranesville

Date: December 20, 1861

War: American Civil War

Cause: Following the Union disaster at Ball’s Bluff, tensions were high in Northern Virginia. Both Union and Confederate forces sent out foraging parties on the same day to gather hay and supplies from farms between their lines. The escorts for these wagons collided near the village of Dranesville.

Result: Union Victory. Union Brigadier General E.O.C. Ord’s forces arrived first and established a strong position. When Confederate J.E.B. Stuart attacked, he was repulsed by superior Union artillery and infantry fire. The victory provided a much-needed morale boost for the North during a winter of stagnation.

Paintings & Art

Painting: Battle at Dranesville, Va. Decr. 20th, 1861 (Map/Watercolor)

  • Artist: Robert Knox Sneden
  • Year: c. 1861–1865

Painting: The Battle of Dranesville (Engraving)

  • Artist: Harper’s Weekly Staff (Sketch by an officer on the field)
  • Year: 1862

Museums & Artifacts

Virginia Museum of the Civil War (New Market, Virginia, USA): While focused on the later Battle of New Market, this museum serves as a central hub for Civil War history in Virginia, holding varied artifacts from the campaigns in the region.

Virginia Historical Society / Virginia Museum of History & Culture (Richmond, Virginia, USA): Holds the “Sneden Scrapbook,” a massive collection of Civil War watercolors and maps by soldier-artist Robert Knox Sneden, including his depiction of Dranesville.

Location

General: Dranesville, Virginia, USA (Modern-day intersection of Route 7 and Route 193). Coordinates: 39.0044° N, 77.3377° W

Recommended Book Dranesville: A Northern Virginia Town in the Crossfire of a Forgotten Battle, December 20, 1861 by Ryan T. Quint.

2. Battle of Holly Springs (Van Dorn’s Raid)

Date: December 20, 1862

War: American Civil War

Cause: Union General Ulysses S. Grant was advancing toward Vicksburg, Mississippi, using Holly Springs as his primary supply depot. Recognizing the vulnerability of Grant’s long supply line, Confederate General Earl Van Dorn launched a daring cavalry raid behind Union lines to destroy these supplies.

Result: Confederate Victory. Van Dorn’s troopers caught the Union garrison by surprise, capturing the town and burning millions of dollars worth of food, forage, and munitions. The destruction forced Grant to abandon his overland advance on Vicksburg and retreat to Memphis, delaying the fall of Vicksburg by months.

Paintings & Art

Painting: The Raid on Holly Springs (Engraving)

  • Artist: Alexander Simplot (attrib. for Harper’s Weekly)
  • Year: 1863

Painting: Earl Van Dorn (Carte de visite / Photograph)

  • Artist: Vannerson & Jones (Photographers)
  • Year: c. 1861–1863

Museums & Artifacts

Marshall County Historical Museum (Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA): Located in the historic town itself, this museum houses an extensive collection of Civil War artifacts related to the raid, including weaponry, uniforms, and local accounts of the destruction.

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum & Museum of Mississippi History (Jackson, Mississippi, USA): Provides broader context on the Civil War in Mississippi and the impact of military campaigns on both soldier and civilian populations in the state.

Location

General: Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA.

Coordinates: 34.7675° N, 89.4486° W

Recommended Book Holly Springs: Van Dorn, the CSS Arkansas and the Raid That Saved Vicksburg by Brandon H. Beck.

3. First Battle of Champagne (Start of Offensive)

Date: December 20, 1914

War: World War I

Cause: Following the “Race to the Sea” which established the trench lines of the Western Front, the French army launched its first major offensive in the Champagne region. The goal was to break the German line, seize the railway junction at Attigny, and force a German retreat.

Result: Inconclusive / Strategic Failure. The offensive, which began on December 20, resulted in minor tactical gains but failed to break the German lines. It devolved into a war of attrition with heavy casualties on both sides, setting the grim tone for trench warfare in the years to follow.

Paintings & Art

Painting: Fighting in Champagne (Sketch/Painting)

  • Artist: Leon Broquet
  • Year: c. 1914–1918

Painting: Verdun (Associated War Artist for the region)

  • Artist: Félix Vallotton
  • Year: 1917

Museums & Artifacts

Musée de l’Armée (Paris, France): Located at Les Invalides, this is one of the world’s premier military museums, holding vast collections of WWI uniforms, weapons, and artwork, including works by artists commissioned to paint the Champagne front.

La Contemporaine (Nanterre, France): A library and museum specializing in 20th-century history, holding a significant collection of sketches, paintings, and posters from the First World War.

Location

General: Perthes-lès-Hurlus (near Souain-Perthes-lès-Hurlus), Grand Est, France.

Coordinates: 49.1833° N, 4.5500° E

Recommended Book The French Army in the First World War by Elizabeth Greenhalgh.

4. Invasion of Panama (Operation Just Cause)

Date: December 20, 1989

War: United States Invasion of Panama

Cause: Tensions between the U.S. and Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega reached a breaking point due to drug trafficking indictments, harassment of U.S. personnel, and the killing of a U.S. Marine. President George H.W. Bush ordered the invasion to protect American lives, restore democracy, and seize Noriega.

Result: United States Victory. U.S. forces quickly overwhelmed the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF). Key targets, including the Comandancia (PDF Headquarters) in the El Chorrillo neighborhood, were seized. Noriega eventually surrendered, and the PDF was dissolved.

Paintings & Art

Painting: El Chorrillo, December 20, 1989 (Mural/Acrylic on Canvas)

  • Artist: Aristides Ureña Ramos
  • Year: 2021

Painting: ManiObras (Series created during the crisis leading to the invasion)

  • Artist: Isabel De Obaldía
  • Year: 1989

Museums & Artifacts

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (Panama City, Panama): Houses significant Panamanian art from the late 20th century, including works that reflect on the political crisis and the 1989 invasion.

The Panama Canal Museum Collection (Gainesville, Florida, USA): Housed at the University of Florida, this collection preserves documents, photographs, and oral histories related to the American era in Panama, including the 1989 invasion.

Location

General: El Chorrillo Neighborhood, Panama City, Panama.

Coordinates: 8.9503° N, 79.5333° W

Recommended Book Operation Just Cause: The Storming of Panama by Thomas Donnelly.

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 20, On This Day, History, Military History, War History, Historical Events, History Buff, World History, Civil War, ACW, Battle Of Dranesville, Holly Springs, Van Dorn Raid, WWI, First World War, Champagne 1914, Operation Just Cause, Invasion Of Panama, Panama 1989, Union Vs Confederate

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Battles of December 18 plus museums and artwork information

Battles of December 18 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

1. The Battle of Moodkee (Mudki)

Date: December 18, 1845

  • War: First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846)
  • Cause: Tensions rose after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, leading to disorder in the Sikh Empire. The Sikh Khalsa Army crossed the Sutlej River (seen by the British as a hostile act), prompting the British East India Company to declare war. The British forces, marching from Ambala, were surprised by a Sikh force at Moodkee.
  • Result: British Victory. Although the British won, they suffered heavy casualties and were shocked by the discipline and effectiveness of the Sikh artillery and infantry. It was a “pyrrhic” opening victory that set the tone for a brutal war.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: Battle of Moodkee, 1845
    • Artist: W. Kohler (Engraver), after L’Enfant Bros.
    • Year: c. 1845–1850
  • Painting: The Battle of Moodkee
    • Artist: Michael Angelo Hayes
    • Year: c. 1880
  • Painting: Charge of the 3rd Light Dragoons at Moodkee
    • Artist: Henry Martens
    • Year: c. 1846

Museums & Artifacts

  • National Army Museum (London, UK): Holds prints, medals, and uniforms from the Anglo-Sikh Wars, including the Moodkee medal awarded to British soldiers.
  • The Royal Armouries (Leeds, UK): Houses captured Sikh weaponry, including matchlock muskets and talwar swords typical of those used at Moodkee.
  • Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial & Museum (Amritsar, India): Dedicated to the martial tradition of Punjab; contains exhibits and narratives regarding the Anglo-Sikh wars.

Location

  • General: Mudki, Ferozepur District, Punjab, India.
  • Coordinates: 30°47′N 74°53′E

Recommended Book

2. The End of the Battle of Verdun

Date: Battle ended on December 18, 1916 (Fought from February 21 – December 18, 1916)

  • War: World War I (1914–1918)
  • Cause: The German Chief of General Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn, planned to attack the fortress city of Verdun to “bleed France white.” He believed the French would throw every man into defending the historic site, allowing German artillery to inflict massive casualties.
  • Result: French Tactical Victory. After 302 days of hellish fighting and over 700,000 combined casualties, the German offensive failed to capture the city. By December 18, French counter-offensives had pushed the Germans back close to their starting lines.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: Verdun (An abstract, geometric representation of the battle’s violence)
    • Artist: Félix Vallotton
    • Year: 1917
  • Painting: The Ruins of Verdun
    • Artist: François Flameng
    • Year: 1916
  • Sketch/Art: Verdun, the Battle of the Forts (Various field sketches)
    • Artist: Georges Leroux
    • Year: c. 1916

Museums & Artifacts

  • Mémorial de Verdun (Fleury-devant-Douaumont, France): The premier museum located on the actual battlefield, housing thousands of artifacts, vehicles, and immersive displays.
  • Musée de l’Armée (Paris, France): Contains extensive WWI collections, including the uniforms of Generals Pétain and Nivelle, and paintings by Vallotton.
  • National WWI Museum and Memorial (Kansas City, USA): Houses a vast collection of Great War artifacts, including specific sections dedicated to the Western Front and Verdun.

Location

  • General: Verdun, Meuse department, Grand Est region, France.
  • Coordinates: 49°12′29″N 5°25′19″E

Recommended Book

3. The Battle of the Mississinewa

Date: December 17–18, 1812 (Key counter-attack occurred on December 18)

  • War: War of 1812 (1812–1815)
  • Cause: U.S. forces under Colonel John B. Campbell were ordered to destroy Miami Indian villages along the Mississinewa River to prevent the tribe from joining the British and Tecumseh’s confederacy.
  • Result: U.S. Victory (Tactical). After destroying villages on the 17th, the U.S. camp was fiercely attacked by Miami warriors before dawn on December 18. The U.S. repelled the attack but suffered heavy casualties and severe frostbite, forcing a retreat. It effectively neutralized the Miami tribe’s ability to wage large-scale war for the season.

Paintings & Art

  • Note: Contemporary fine art for this specific skirmish is rare. Visuals are primarily found in later historical illustrations and reenactment photography.
  • Illustration: The Battle of Mississinewa (Various educational plates)
    • Artist: Modern historical illustrators (e.g., works commissioned for the Mississinewa Battlefield Society).
    • Year: Late 20th Century.

Museums & Artifacts

  • Grant County Historical Society / Museum (Marion, Indiana, USA): Holds artifacts related to the battle and the local history of the Miami Indians.
  • Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Washington, D.C., USA): Contains general War of 1812 uniforms and weaponry similar to those used by Campbell’s dragoons.
  • Mississinewa 1812 (La Fontaine, IN): While an event rather than a museum, this site hosts the largest War of 1812 living history reenactment in the U.S. and maintains the battlefield markers.

Location

  • General: Near Jalapa, Grant County, Indiana, USA.
  • Coordinates: 40°38′N 85°44′W

Recommended Book

4. Operation Vijay (The Invasion of Goa)

Date: Commenced December 18, 1961 (December 17-19, 1961)

  • War: Annexation of Portuguese India
  • Cause: After years of failed diplomatic efforts to get Portugal to hand over its Indian colonies (Goa, Daman, and Diu) and a series of border incidents, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ordered the Indian Armed Forces to liberate the territories by force.
  • Result: Decisive Indian Victory. The operation lasted less than 48 hours. By the end of December 18, Indian troops had penetrated deep into Goa, and the Portuguese garrison surrendered the following day, ending 451 years of colonial rule.

Paintings & Art

  • Note: The visual history of this battle is dominated by photography rather than canvas art.
  • Artifact/Monument: The Azad Maidan Memorial (Dedicated to freedom fighters)
    • Location: Panaji, Goa.
  • Photography: Portuguese Surrender at Vasco da Gama
    • Photographer: Various press photographers.
    • Year: December 19, 1961.

Museums & Artifacts

  • Naval Aviation Museum (Vasco da Gama, Goa, India): Displays aircraft and equipment used by the Indian Navy during the blockade and invasion.
  • Indian War Memorial Museum (New Delhi, India): Dedicates sections to post-independence wars, including Operation Vijay.
  • Museu do Aljube (Lisbon, Portugal): A museum dedicated to resistance against the dictatorship; covers the colonial wars and the political fallout of the loss of Goa.

Location

  • General: Goa, India (Primary landings at Panaji and Mormugao).
  • Coordinates: 15°23′N 73°49′E

Recommended Book

Books for sale

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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 18, On This Day, History, Military History, War History, Historical Events, History Buff, World History, Battle Of Moodkee, Anglo Sikh War,  Sikh History, Verdun, WWI, Great War, Bataille De Verdun, War Of 1812, Battle Of Mississinewa, Indiana History, Operation Vijay, Goa Liberation, Indian Army, Portuguese History

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Battles of December 17 plus museums and artwork information

Battles of December 17 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

1. The Siege of Godesberg (1583)

Date: November 18 – December 17, 1583

War: Cologne War (1583–1588)

  • Description: A pivotal siege in the conflict between Protestant and Catholic factions for control of the Electorate of Cologne, a state of the Holy Roman Empire.
  • Cause: Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg, the Prince-Elector of Cologne, converted to Calvinism and attempted to secularize the electorate, prompting a Catholic counter-force led by Ernest of Bavaria to intervene.
  • Result: Catholic Victory. On December 17, Bavarian forces successfully breached the walls of the Godesburg fortress using mines. The castle was stormed, and the defenders were defeated, securing a major stronghold for the Catholic faction.

Art & Museums

  • Painting/Artwork:
    • Siege of Godesberg (Engraving) by Frans Hogenberg (c. 1583). Hogenberg documented the Cologne War in a series of detailed engravings.
  • Museums with Artifacts:
    • Godesburg Fortress Ruins (Bad Godesberg, Bonn, Germany): The site itself serves as a monument, with preserved ruins and historical markers.
    • Rheinisches Landesmuseum (Bonn, Germany): Holds artifacts and documents from the Electorate of Cologne era.
  • Book: The Cologne War by various historians (often covered in general histories of the Holy Roman Empire, such as German Armies: War and German Politics, 1648-1806 by Peter H. Wilson).

Location

  • General: Bad Godesberg, Bonn, Germany.
  • Coordinates: 50.6844° N, 7.1517° E

2. The First Battle of Springfield (1776)

Date: December 17, 1776

War: American Revolutionary War

  • Description: A skirmish during the New Jersey campaign following the British capture of New York.
  • Cause: British and Hessian forces attempted to advance toward Morristown to crush Washington’s retreating army. New Jersey militia forces made a stand to delay them.
  • Result: Strategic American Success. The militia, though outmatched, harassed the British forces enough to delay their advance, buying crucial time for George Washington to regroup the Continental Army across the Delaware River (setting the stage for the Battle of Trenton).

Art & Museums

  • Painting/Artwork:
    • Battle of Connecticut Farms (Depicts the region and similar militia actions) by Larry Felder (Contemporary).
    • The Spirit of ’76 (General association) by Archibald Willard (c. 1875). While not of this specific battle, it captures the militia spirit of the NJ campaign.
  • Museums with Artifacts:
    • Caldwell Parsonage (Union, New Jersey): Features displays on the NJ battles of Springfield and Connecticut Farms.
    • Washington’s Headquarters Museum (Morristown, New Jersey): Holds extensive Revolutionary War artifacts relevant to the NJ campaign.
  • Book: The Forgotten Victory: The Battle for New Jersey – 1780 (Covers the strategic context of both Springfield battles) by Thomas Fleming.

George Washington’s Revenge: The 1777 New Jersey Campaign and How General Washington Turned Defeat into the Strategy That Won the Revolution by Arthur S. Lefkowitz

Location

  • General: Springfield, New Jersey, USA.
  • Coordinates: 40.7182° N, 74.3073° W

3. The Battle of the Mississinewa (1812)

Date: December 17-18, 1812

War: War of 1812

  • Description: An expedition by U.S. forces against the Miami Indian villages in the Indiana Territory.
  • Cause: In response to Native American attacks on Fort Wayne and Fort Harrison, General William Henry Harrison ordered Colonel John B. Campbell to destroy Miami villages to prevent them from supporting British forces.
  • Result: U.S. Victory. American troops destroyed several villages and inflicted casualties. However, a counterattack the next morning and severe frostbite among U.S. troops forced a retreat.

Art & Museums

Location

  • General: Near the Mississinewa River, Grant County, Indiana, USA.
  • Coordinates: 40.6789° N, 85.8111° W

4. Capture of Laguna de Terminos (1846)

Date: December 17, 1846

War: Mexican-American War

  • Description: A naval operation led by Commodore Matthew C. Perry to secure the Mexican Gulf coast.
  • Cause: The U.S. Navy sought to cut off supplies to central Mexico and control the logwood trade in the Yucatan peninsula.
  • Result: U.S. Victory. Perry captured the town of Carmen (Laguna de Terminos) without firing a shot, effectively occupying the island and securing a strategic port.

Art & Museums

  • Painting/Artwork:
    • Commodore Matthew C. Perry (Portrait) by William Sidney Mount (c. 1850s).
    • Naval Expedition to Tabasco (Lithograph illustrating the campaign) by Sarony & Major (1847).
  • Museums with Artifacts:
    • U.S. Naval Academy Museum (Annapolis, Maryland): Holds artifacts related to Commodore Perry and the Mexican War naval campaigns.
    • Naval History and Heritage Command (Washington, D.C.).
  • Book:

Location

  • General: Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico.
  • Coordinates: 18.6323° N, 91.8385° W

5. First Battle of Artois (1914)

Date: December 17, 1914 – January 13, 1915

War: World War I

  • Description: A major offensive by the French Army intended to break the trench stalemate on the Western Front.
  • Cause: French General Joffre ordered attacks on the Lorette Spur and Vimy Ridge to relieve pressure on other fronts and seize high ground from the Germans.
  • Result: Indecisive / Stalemate. The offensive began on December 17 but bogged down due to mud, fog, and entrenched German machine guns. It resulted in heavy casualties for minor territorial gains.

Art & Museums

  • Painting/Artwork:
    • Algerian Spahis in Artois (Lithograph) by Charles Huard (1914). Depicts North African troops in the region during the early winter battles.
    • Battle of Artois (Lithograph from “Europe During the War” series) by Anonymous (c. 1920). Held by the Met Museum.
  • Museums with Artifacts:
    • Lens’ 14 – 18 Great War Museum (Souchez, France): Dedicated to the battles of Artois.
    • National WWI Museum and Memorial (Kansas City, Missouri): Holds artwork and artifacts from the Western Front.
  • Book: Pyrrhic Victory: French Strategy and Operations in the Great War by Robert A. Doughty.

Location

  • General: Artois region (near Lens and Arras), France.
  • Coordinates: 50.3980° N, 2.7180° E (Notre Dame de Lorette)

6. Battle of St. Vith (1944)

Date: Intensified December 17, 1944 (Part of the Battle of the Bulge) (December 16-21, 1944)

War: World War II

  • Description: A critical defensive battle where the U.S. 7th Armored Division held the town of St. Vith against the German Ardennes Offensive.
  • Cause: Hitler launched a massive surprise attack to split the Allied armies. St. Vith was a vital road junction needed for the German advance.
  • Result: U.S. Defensive Success (Tactical). Although the town eventually fell days later, the defense on December 17 choked the German advance, disrupting their timetable and preventing them from reaching the Meuse River on schedule.

Art & Museums

  • Painting/Artwork:
    • Battle for Monte in the Ardennes (Watercolor painted near the front) by Robert Noel Blair (1945).
    • Message Center, 101st Airborne Division (Watercolor) by Olin Dows (1945).
    • Hold to the Last Round (Depicts the 28th Division on Dec 16-17) by James Dietz (Contemporary).
  • Museums with Artifacts:
    • National Museum of Military History (Diekirch, Luxembourg): Renowned for its Battle of the Bulge collection.
    • Bastogne War Museum (Bastogne, Belgium).
    • Airborne & Special Operations Museum (Fayetteville, North Carolina).
  • Book: A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge by Charles B. MacDonald.

Location

  • General: St. Vith, Belgium.
  • Coordinates: 50.2803° N, 6.1264° E

Books for sale

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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

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