The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-07-21
The Battle OF CannH q.


any paper in the country
The Battle OF CnnnT.
In the course of an article published 10y US
few weeks since, the subject OF which was
the "Turcos'' of the French army, we happened
to say that they were the countrymen OF those
famous Numidian horsemen which followed
HANNIBAL in his invasion OF Italy two thou
sand years ago. and that under the command
OF MAGo the brother of HANNIBAL, they had
greatly distinguished themselves in the battle
Of Gamma famous for the unheard of slaughter
perpetrated by the Carthaginians upon the
Romans A friend who is an enthusiast upon
the subject of cavalry, and who had studled
the battle OF Cannp with care, as adordinp
The most illustrious instance on record OF tht
utility of this arm Of the service, took occasion
TO correct that part Of our remarks in which
the command OF The cavalry on that occasion
vas asrribed to MAGo. Upon examining III,
account OF POLYBTUa we discovered that lit
was right In saying that HAsDRrBAL, no
MAoo wac the commander in question Upon
several other matters connected with this
model field of slaughter we differed 80 essen
TALLY that we promised to publish a transia-
ton of the account given by PoIYnIUs W.
comply with this promise, so far as & some
will permit having borrowed the book fol
that purpose from Mr.. J. ". RASDOI RI
We must premise that we do not attempt
literal translation, only taking car. to stick
sufficiently close TO the original 10 express The
general meaning, and 10 avoid misreprcscntinf
facts.
II may M necessary, beior" introducing the
account OF PoLYBIrs to cay, that great doubts
have existed with regard TO the eSGct spot
upon which the battle was fought. The To-
eality OF CannR il easily enough ascertain
ed. Ii was 4 small town, situated on the
South side of the river Aufdus, tnoW calico
The Ofanto) in the province Of Appulia, winch
at the present day forms part OF the King
dom OF Naples. The Aufidus or Otanto runs,
in It's general course, from southeaSi II
mol invest, and emptiee into the Adriatic,
about fifty miles southeast OF the presen'
city OF Naples, and about six below the town
OF Gamma. 1t has been commended by some
that tho battle was fought on the South side
Of the river, In the plain lying between Can
IA aud Canusium, both OF which arc built on
hills lying on that side, and are distant from
each other about mile, In northeast ant
southwest direction But this supposition,
although supported by the high authority o.
DIR. ARNOLD, does not III all correspond witt.
The account Of PoLTBIrs, who, "a will b.
seen, tells us that the Romans faced South
and the sCarthaginians North, and that ti'
left flank of the latter, and tho right flank OF
the former rested on the river. This theory |
would make the Carthagnians face East, anl |
The Romans West il icing taken for grantee |
that PolYBIrs speaks the truth, of Whicl.
there has never been any doubt. Ii it be adj
rnittsd, On the other hand, that the battle wa |
fought on the North side Of the Aufidue thu !
description or our author is easily reconcile. |
able with the local character OF the Ground: fol |
Just at ChnnR, that river, whose genera |
course Is from southwest to northeast sud
denly Turns 10 the South and forms large
eerni circle. The Romans and HANNIBAL |
were on the same side OF the river and if Tbs
Romans crossed over, as we are told they did
and drew up facing South, within The semi. !
circle, their right wing would, Of course, resi- |
on the river, which here flows South, and III,
Carthagnians drawing up opposite TO them.
with their faces 10 the North, in like manner.
their lett wing would touch tho river. TIL
traveller SwlNRrRSE adopts this hypothesis.
and Is followed by the French General SAU-
DoSCoCRT, whose work is said 10 be high |
military authority. The only pbiec ton 10 II
Is, that the ground enclosed by the detonr o.
the river hardly appears large enough for the
conflict OF two such mighty armies but The
same objection, 1t is said, applies, with still
greater force, to the South side. In contisn-
ration, 1t exactly resembled the peninsnia
formed by James River some miles below this
.ity. AT the place called Presque Isle. the main
difference being that 1t lay on the North sidt
of the Aufidus, whereas Pressure Isle is OF
he South side OF the James. Let US now
w ith our story of blood.
In the wears olS and 2l7 Is. c., HANNIBAL |
had destroyed two Roman armies ION the IRE |
bia and at Thrasymene) and had possessed /
himself Of much The larger part Of Italy. AT. /
ter this latter event, the Romans appointed !
Dictator in the person of QrfSrUs FABIUs !
MAsIMUs. whose cautious policy proved III. !
seyerest check to the Carthaginian General he |
had ever been exposed to. In the winter OF |
2l7'l6, the election of Consuls coming on,
GRECIrs EHILICs PArLCS, and CAIUs TEnEN- !
TIUs EAREo were chosen, and Set out from
Rome 10 take command of the forces. The Two !
consular armies were united, and the Consui> |
agreed TO command alternately day by day
HANNIBAL, who had spent the winter with his |
army at Gerunium, took the field early in the
Spring, and having captured the citadel of |
Canns, where the Romans had collected large
magazines for the use Of their armies, reduced /
them 10 great straits The Consuls sent TO
Rome TO know what to do, and they resolved
in return. an order to risk general engage
ment. They accordingly marched in pursuit
Of HANNIBAL, and found him quietly encamn-
ed on the Aufdus. They pitched their tents
at about the distance OF fifty stadia about six I
miles) from his, upon strong and steep ground, |
which was almost inaccessible 10 cavalry
Here ENiLIrs wished TO wait for HAyNlBAL |
who he conJectured would soon DO compelled |
70 attack them, or shift his quarters. rs they |
were In position TO cut him on from the |
country whence he drew his supplies. To this
proposal VARRo would by no means accede, but
ON the contrary insisted upon marching to al
Rack HAxHIRAL on the Aufdus, where the level
Character OF the country, and the great supe
rtortiy OF the CarihaginIans Ia cavalry. rem.
d<red defeat almost inevitable. When il came
TO his day to command, he accordingly broke
MP bis camp and advanced upon the Car,ha.
stnian army. HANNIBAL, informed OF ,bts
march, sent his cavalry 10 herrass II a nd are,.
ap bic whole force to support his cavalry
Morning more than sstrmi.h snsuei, lut,he |