Identifier: storyofgreatestn02elli (find matches)
Title: The story of the greatest nations, from the dawn of history to the twentieth century : a comprehensive history, founded upon the leading authorities, including a complete chronology of the world, and a pronouncing vocabulary of each nation
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Ellis, Edward Sylvester, 1840-1916 Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1870-1942
Subjects: World history
Publisher: New York : F.R. Niglutsch
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
he officers to the lowest private, and it made the legions somany veritable thunderbolts of war. It was at the close of the year b. c. 49, that Caesar arrived at Brundisium,with his seven legions, numbering about 15,000 men, and some 600 horse.The first division was taken across the Adriatic on his transports, but on theirreturn to bring the remaining troops they were intercepted and many destroyedby Pompeys fleet of 500 galleys. This compelled Caesar to remain compara-tively idle until a second convoy could be equipped, which brought over theremaining legions. It is said that, in making the passage himself, Caesar wascaught in a violent tempest, and observing the white-faced pilot trembling withfear, he said sternly to him: Fear not; you carry Caesar and his fortunes. Pompey was blind to the favors that fortune threw in his way. The trans-ports were driven so far from their course, that Caesars troops were landed ahuudred miles from the point where their chief was awaiting them. This
Text Appearing After Image:
FLIGHT OF POMPEY FROM PHARSALIA Rome—Battle of Pharsalia 379 placed Pompey directly between them, and it would have been easy for him tooverwhelm each division in turn, but he remained idle, while Caesar broughtthe two forces together. Caesar then interposed his whole army between hisfoes and their base of supplies at Dyrrhachium, and held them to the positionthey had taken on the promontory of Petra. The good anchorage below andthe fleet at his command enabled Pompey to secure the supplies he needed, andhe improved the period of inaction by training and drilling his raw soldiers. Caesar carefully drew his lines around Petra. With his army so much theinferior, and the sea open to Pompey, this action gained little except to add tothe morale of his own indomitable soldiers. But it brought recruits to hisranks, and he cut off his adversarys supply of fresh water. Pompey did notdare venture on an open attack, but landed a strong force in the rear of the be-siegers, who were thrown into

Note About Images