American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-29

! THE FIFTEEN DECISIVE BATTLES or THE
WoRLD--This is q very interesting volume, by
Professor E. s. Cressy, Of London. 1t is descrip-
tive of the fifteen most memorable contests be-
tween different nations, measured chiefly by the
results which they produced, and not by the
number of men engaged and lives lost. Tho
various events which preceded and follow these
battles, together with authentic narratives of
each engagement, are given, rendering the whole
extremely interesting. The work is published
| by the Harpers.
The decisive battles Of the world, those Of
which, to use Hallams words, ga contrary event
would have essentially varied the drama of the
world in all its subsequent scenes" are num-
bered rs fifteen by Professor Cressy who
fills the chair of Ancient and Modern History
in the University of London. These battles
are:
/. The battle of Marathon, fought 400 B. c..
| IN which the Greeks under Themistocles de-
feated the Persians under Darius, thereby turn
ing back tide of Asiatic invasion, which else
would have swept over Europe.
2 The battle of Syracuse, 413 B. c.. in
which the Athenian power was broken and the
West Of Europe saved from Greek domination.
g. The battle of Arbelia, 331 B. c., in which
Alexander, by the defeat Of Darius established
his power in Asia, and, by the introduction of
European civilization, produced an effect which
as yet may be traced there.
4. The battle of Metaurus, fought 207 B. c.,
in which the Romans, under Consul Varro, de-
feated the Carthagenians under Hasdrubal, and
by which the supremacy of the great republic
was established
5. The victory of Arminips, A. D., over the
Roman legions under Varus, which secured
Gaul from Roman domination.
g. The battle Of Chalons, A. D. in which
Etius defeated Attila the Aun, the self-styled
''Scourge of God" and saved Europe from en-
tire devastation.
Z. The battle Of Tours, A. d. 732, in which
Charles Martel, by the defeat Of the Saracens,
averted the Mohammedan yoke from Europe.
8. The battle Of Hastings, A. d. 1906, in
which William Of Normandy was victorious over
the Anglo-Saxon Harold, and the result of
which was the formation of the Anglo-Norman
nation, as now dominant in the world.
| 0. The battle of Orleans A. d. 1929, in which
the English were defeated, and the independent
existence of France secured.
10. The defeat of the Spanish Armada, A. d.
1888, which crushed the hopes of Papacy in
England.
IL. The battle of Blenheim, A. d. 1904, in
which Marlborough, by the defeat of Tallard
broke the power and crushed the ambitious
schemes of Louis XIV.
II. The defeat of Charles XII. by Peter the
Great at Pultowa, A. d. 100, which secured
the stability of the Muscovite Empire.
IL. The battle Of Saratoga, A. d. 1777, in
which General Gates defeated Gen. Burgoyne,
and which decided the fate of the American
Reyolutionists, by making France their ally,
and other European powers friendly to them.
| IA. The battle of Vamy A. d. 1892, in
which the Continental allies under the Duke of
Brunswick were defeated by the French under
Dumouriez, without which the French Reyolu-
ton would have been stayed.
Is. The battle of Waterloo, A. d. 1915, in
which the Duke Of Wellington hopelessly de-
feated Napoleon, and saved Europe from his
grasping ambition.