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
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
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
