Category: World War 1

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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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

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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, December 17, On This Day, History, Military History, War History, Historical Events, History Buff, World History, Battle Of The Bulge, WWII, WWI, War Of 1812, Revolutionary War, St Vith, Artois 1914, Cologne War, Commodore Perry, Siege Warfare

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Battles of December 1 plus museums and artwork information

Battles of December 1 including descriptions of the battles, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

1. Battle of Limanowa (Battle of Limanowa-Łapanów) (https://amzn.to/4rqFDgk)

  • Date: December 1 – December 13, 1914 (Started on December 1)
  • War: World War I (Eastern Front)
  • Cause: The battle was a counter-offensive launched by the Austro-Hungarian Army to halt the “Russian Steamroller” (the advancing Russian 3rd Army) which was threatening to capture Krakow, a vital strategic and industrial hub.
  • Result: A strategic victory for the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary). The Russian advance was stopped, and the lines stabilized, temporarily saving Krakow from occupation and boosting Austro-Hungarian morale.
Associated Paintings
  • Painting/Work: Austro-Hungarian troops advance in Limanowa December 1914
    • Artist: Arthur Heyer
    • Year: c. 1915–1919 (Published in Der Krieg 1914-19 in Wort und Bild, 1919)
  • Painting/Work: Charge of the Nádasdy Hussars at Limanowa (Depicting the heroic death of Colonel Ottmar Muhr)
    • Artist: Unknown / Various Hungarian military artists (Often reproduced in regimental histories)
    • Year: c. 1915–1920
  • Painting/Work: Scene during the Battle of Limanowa-Lapanow (Print)
    • Artist: Robert Hunt Library / Mary Evans Picture Library
    • Year: c. 1914–1915
Museums and Collections
  • Regional Museum of the Limanowa Region (Muzeum Regionalne Ziemi Limanowskiej) — Limanowa, Poland
    • Located in the heart of the battlefield area, this museum houses a dedicated collection regarding World War I in the region, including weapons, uniforms, photographs, and personal items from soldiers who fought in the battle.
  • Museum of Military History (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum) — Vienna, Austria
    • As the leading museum for the Austrian Armed Forces, it contains extensive exhibits on the Eastern Front of WWI, including uniforms of the Austro-Hungarian Hussars and equipment used during the Galician campaigns.
  • Museum of the Polish Army (Muzeum Wojska Polskiego) — Warsaw, Poland
    • Holds a vast collection of weaponry and memorabilia related to the Polish Legions (who fought alongside the Austro-Hungarians at Limanowa under Piłsudski) and general WWI history on Polish soil.
2. Battle of Stony Creek Station (https://amzn.to/4p9JLjr)
  • Date: December 1, 1864
  • War: American Civil War (Richmond–Petersburg Campaign)
  • Cause: A Union cavalry raid led by Brig. Gen. David McM. Gregg aimed to disrupt the Confederate supply lines by destroying the Stony Creek Station on the Weldon Railroad, a critical artery for General Robert E. Lee’s army in Petersburg.
  • Result: Union victory. The Union forces successfully captured the station, burned 3,000 sacks of corn, destroyed supplies and equipment, and captured approximately 190 Confederate soldiers before withdrawing.
Associated Paintings
  • Painting/Work: The Fight at Stony Creek Station (Sketch/Illustration)
    • Artist: James E. Taylor (Special Artist for Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper)
    • Year: 1864
  • Painting/Work: Confederate Prisoners Captured at Stony Creek (Sketch)
    • Artist: Alfred Waud or James E. Taylor
    • Year: 1864
Museums and Collections
  • Petersburg National Battlefield — Petersburg, Virginia, USA
    • While the specific site of Stony Creek is south of the main park, this museum serves as the primary repository for artifacts and interpretation of the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign, including the supply line raids.
  • Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier — Dinwiddie County, Virginia, USA
    • Located near the Boydton Plank Road (another key supply line), this world-class museum focuses on the life of the common soldier and holds extensive artifacts related to the cavalry operations and the siege of Petersburg.
  • The American Civil War Museum — Richmond, Virginia, USA
    • Contains comprehensive collections of cavalry equipment, weaponry, and personal items from both Union and Confederate forces active in the Virginia theater in 1864.
3. Battle of Magnesia
  • Date: December, 190 BC (Exact day unknown; sources place it in the winter of 190–189 BC, commonly cited as December)
  • War: Roman–Seleucid War (https://amzn.to/48pplf8)
  • Cause: The conflict arose from the expansionist policies of the Seleucid King Antiochus III the Great into Greece and Asia Minor, which challenged Roman hegemony in the Mediterranean. The Romans, led by Consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio (later Asiaticus) and his brother Scipio Africanus, crossed into Asia Minor to confront the Seleucid army.
  • Result: Decisive Roman victory. The destruction of the Seleucid army forced Antiochus to sign the Treaty of Apamea, stripping him of significant territory in Asia Minor and cementing Rome’s dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Associated Paintings
  • Painting/Work: The Battle of Magnesia (Engraving/Illustration)
    • Artist: Hubert-François Gravelot (and others in historical treatises)
    • Year: c. 1750–1770
  • Painting/Work: Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus (Depicted in triumphs associated with the battle)
    • Artist: Various (Roman frescoes / Renaissance tapestries)
    • Year: Various (e.g., 16th–17th Century tapestries often depicted the Scipio brothers’ campaigns)
  • Painting/Work: Defeat of Antiochus at Magnesia (Historical Illustration)
    • Artist: Unknown (Featured in 19th-century history texts like Cassell’s History)
    • Year: c. 1880–1890
Museums and Collections
  • Pergamon Museum — Berlin, Germany
    • Houses the Pergamon Altar (currently under restoration), built by King Eumenes II of Pergamon. Eumenes was a key ally of Rome at Magnesia, and the altar’s friezes (depicting the Gigantomachy) are believed by many scholars to be an allegorical celebration of his victories over the Galatians and Seleucids during this period.
  • Louvre Museum — Paris, France
    • Contains fragments and architectural elements from the Temple of Artemis at Magnesia (Magnesia ad Maeandrum). While the temple predates the battle, the city site is the battle’s namesake. The museum also houses the Winged Victory of Samothrace, often associated with naval victories of this era (Battle of Myonessus) that preceded the land battle of Magnesia.
  • Condé Museum (Musée Condé) — Chantilly, France
    • Holds the famous 15th-century miniature painting of the Battle of Magnesia by Jean Fouquet (or his circle), illustrating the conflict in a medieval style.
  • Aydın Archeology Museum — Aydın, Turkey
    • Located near the actual archaeological site of Magnesia ad Maeandrum, this museum houses statues, coins, and physical artifacts excavated from the ancient city and the surrounding region where the campaign took place.

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      Tags: military museum, military artwork, US Civil War, WWI, Ancient Warfare

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