Connecticut western news., 1879-06-11
THE BATTLE OF PHARsALIA.
THE STORY OF THE BATTLA AS TOLD BY
 FRoUDE IN HIS HISTORY OF CARSON.

FROUDE IN HIS HISTORY OF CARSON.
 One of the most interesting sketches in Froude's history of Corson is the acc count of the battle of Pharsalia, and the political consequences which ensued from the occurrence of that event. This battle, MT. Froude remarks, has ac- quired g special place in history, because it was fought by the Roman aristocracy in their own persons in defence of their own supremacy. "Senators and the sons of senators; the heirs of the names and fortunes of the ancient Roman fami- lies; the leaders of society in Roman saloons, and the chiefs of the political party of the Optimates in the Curia and Forum, were here present on the field; representatives in person and in princi- pie of the traditions of Sylla, brought face to face with the representatives of Marius. Here were the men who had pursued Cesar through so many years with hate so inveterate. Here were the naughty Patrician Guard, who had drawn their swords on him in the Senate house, young lords whose theory of life was to lounge through it in patrician Sn
 souciamce. The plains of Pharsalia were watered by the precious blood of the elect of the earth. The battle there marked an epoch like no other in the history of the world" After watching each other for several days, Cesar had offarod fo pono,oov on <,,r,ort7nitv of fighting. But Pompey insisted on keep ing secure position. In order to draw him into open ground, Caesar had con- tinually shifted his camp. But Pompey still remained on his guard, though
 taunted with cowardice by his political opponents. They insisted that he should
 promptly set his foot on his insignificant
 antagonist, and gathering courage from
 their confidence, he finally consented to
 make use of the first occasion that should
 be offered. The time at length came.
 The signal was given :-
 Cesar's front rank advanced running
 Seeing the Pompeians did not move
 they halted, recovered breath, ther
 rushed on, flung their darts, and closed
 sword in hand. At once Pompey's
 horses were down, outflanking Cesar
 right wing, with the archers behind ant
 between them raining showers of arrows
 Csesar's cavalry gave way before tn
 shock, and the outer squadrons cam
 wheeling round to the rear, expectinl
 that there would be no one to encounte
 them. The fourth line, the pick an'
 flower of the legions, rose suddenly il
 their way. Surprised and shaken by tn
 fierceness of the attack on them, tn Pompeians turned, they broke, the
 galloped wildly off. The best cavalr , in those old Roman battles were neve [ match for infantry when in close forms tion, and Pompey's brilliant squadron 5 were carpet knights from the saloon an 5 the circus. They never rallied, or trie 3 to rally; they made off for the neare. l hills. The archers were cut to piece, l and the chosen corps, having finished $ , easily the service for which they Ina 7 been told off, threw themselves on th 5 now exposed flank of Pompey's left wing = It was composed, as has been said, . 8 the legions which had once been Cesar ? which had fought under him at the Vii
 geanne and at Alesia. They i'll iket
 perhaps, the change of masters, an
 were in no humor to stand the charge ] their old comrades coming on with u familiar rush of victory. Caesar ordere B up his third line, which had not yet bee r. engaged; and at once on all sides Pon 8 pey's great army gave way and he
 Pompey himself, the shadow of his ol s name, long harrassed out of self-respe by his senatorial directors, command, ? only in appearance, had left the field
 the beginning of the action. He had To
 heart on the defeat of the cavalry, ar Q had retired to his tent to wait the issl f of the day.
 ! The stream of fugitives pouring q told him too surely what the issue h, I been. He sprang upon his horse al D rode off in despair. His legions we rushing back in confusion. Cesar, swi always at the right moment, gave u . enemy no leisure to reform, and fell Q once upon the camp. IL was noon, a1 F the morning had been sultry; but he O and wsariness were forgotten in the e f thusiasm of triumph which all tho F believed must conclude the war. A fe v companies of Thracians, who had bet !. left on guard, made brief resistanc I but they were soon borne down. TT beaten army, which 8 few hours befo f were sharing in imagination the lands a1
 offices of their conquerors, fled throue the opposite gates, throwing away the f arms, hinging down their standards, al racing, officers and men, for the rocl hills which at miles distance promise I them shelter.
 - The camp itself was 8 singular pi @ ture. Houses of turf had been built f, :, the luxurious patricians, with ivy traint q over the entrances to shade their delica ,. faces from the summer sun; touches hs 8 been laid out for them to repose on aft 0 their expected victory; tables were spree
 with plate and wines, and the daintie t preparations of Roman cookery. C@s a commented on the scene with mournf1 B irony. "And these men," he said a B cused my patient, suffering army, whic 8 had not even common necessaries, of ali ! soluteness and profigacyl'
 Two hundred only of Cesar's men ha } fallen. The officers had suffered mos
 The gallant Crastinus, who had nobl
 fulfilled his promise, had been kille
 among many others, in opening wa B for his comrades. The Pompeians, aftt