Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-12-23
DEMOCRAT 4 NEWS
Famous River Crossing, In Military
History.

History.
At the Granious, three numbered and
thirty -four years before Christ, Aiexsn-
der the Great opposed tho Persian force
of Que hundred Thousand foot and ten
thousand horse, with small but select
army, only thirty five thousand strong.
Unburdened by artillery, the Macedon,-
ans and Greeks plunged into the stream
at several points. and routed the eper-
va,e Persians. THIS battle was bu, the
type of those which followed at the lssus
and IIydaspes. 1t may be remarked, in
passing, however, that there were no
well posted batteries to sweep his cross
ings.
Cnsars passage of tho Rhine was far
more artistic, and more strategic his ia.
nous bridge being designed not only for
tina. crossing, but to keep up his com
mnnication, and TO present to the bar
barians permanent manifestation Of his
skid and power.
Tue crossing Of the bridge over the
marches at Arcola was but q tactical
movement in the midst of battle. But
NYpoleon's passage OF the Danube. at the
Island Of Lobau, in 1909, was daring
action in which the French were defeat
cd at Aspen, aud compelled, after grea,
losses, 10 recross. but, thanks 10 the Is.
land OF Lobsu, when Napoleon concen-
trated his troops and supplies he was
soon ready for another crossing and an
other trial, and at the next attemp, he
was successful in winning the battle Of
Wagram. lie had, however. increased
the number and strength OF his bridges
before he tried it again. At the Beresi-
ma, in 1872, river crossing tie retreat,
with inadequate bridges, tho result WAS
feariully fatal; tina, did more TO reduce
and demoralize the remnant of the
French army than anything had We,
done; or, rather, it was the finishing
stroke 10 haistorm OF disasters.
In the first movement from Eupatora
upon Sevastopol, the Alma, although 40
unimportant stream, gave the Russians a
choice position and played 40 imp, rtan,
part in the battle OF the twentieth OF
September, 1854. SO did the Tcher
maya aud lroktir bridge in the days AZ
Lerw ards.
Small streams are not without great
claims in grand tactics the tributaries
Of the danube, the Her, the Iser, the
Inn, and the Leach, have been Of great
value in every campaign in that great
river. The Tsnaro and the Bormida,
and even the brook Fontanone, were
features Of the field of NJ srcngo the lit
tie may streams in Belgium dictated
the movements upon Waterloo.
-~>>
SUBSTITUTE FOR WuALEBoSR.-It is
known that many unsnccess NJ attempts
have been made for years past to obtain
perfect substitute Tor whsiebone, to be
ainly applied to the manufacture OF
The RIBS OF umbrellas and parasols. A
London inventor, IL appears, has found
by selecting the butt end OF white oak
imbcr OF what is termed the second
growth, and Of straight RIB and free from
knots or curls, aud in no case using more
than SIX feet from the ground OF stump,
and subjecting it to a certain process OF
curing it may be made TO serve not
merely as substitute for whaIcbone,
hut is converted into an altogether SUI
perior article; it lie not only tougher and
possesses greater tenacity than whale
bone, but the RIBS made from il ALWAYS
resurp, . .! s,rsioht condition after ex.
posture to the weather.