Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-08-21
The Battle Of Pharsalia.

Frpm Froudc's Cirsar
Pompey had ordered his first limb to
stand still and receive Crscr's charge.
They would thus be fresh while the enc.
my would reach them cxhausled-a
mistake on Pompey's part, Caesar
thought, "for fire and alacrity." he
observes, ais kindlcd in all men when
they meet in battle, and II wise general
should rather encourage than reprcss
their fervor.' The signal was given,
Crsar's front ranks advanced running.
Seeing the Pompcians did not move.
they halted, recovered breath. then
rushed on, flung their darts and closed
sword in hand. At once Pompcy's
horse bore down, outilankcd Caesars
right wing, with the archcrs behind
and between them, raining showers Of
arrows. Cwsars cavalry gave way he.
fore the shock, and the squadrons came
wheeling round TO the rear. expecting
that there would be no one to cucoun.
ter them. The fourth line, the pick
and the flower Of the legions, rose yud.
denly IN their way. Surprised and
shaken by the fierCencss OF the attack
on them. the Pompeians turned, they
broke, they galloped wildly of. The
best cavalry in those Roman battles
were never A match for infantry when
IN close formation, and Pompcy's bril-.
liant squadrons were carpet knights
from the salon and the circus. They
never rallied or tried to rally: they
made of for the nearest hills. The
archers were cut to pieces and the
chosen corps, having finished 70 easily
the service for which they had been
told oil, threw themselves on the now
exposed flank of Pompey's left wing.
1t was composed, IA has been said. OF
the legious which had once been Cesar p,
which had fought under him at the
NingeanRe and at Alcsia. They III.
liked, perhaps, the change Of masters.
and, were IN no humor to stand the
charge OF their old comrades coming on
with the familiar rush Of victory. Caesar
ordered up his third line, which had
not yet been engaged. and at once on
oil sides Pompey's great army gave way
and fed.
Pompey himself, the shadow of his
old name, long harasscd out Of self.re.
spect by his Senatorial directors. n com.
mander only in appearance, had lelt the
held IN the beginning OF the action.
lie had lost heart on the deseat of the
cavalry, and had retired TO his tent TO
wait the issues Of the day The stream
Of tugitivcs puung in told too surely
what the issue had been. He spranc
upon his horse and road off in dispair.
His lcgions were rushing back in confu.
sion. Caesar, swift always at the right
moment, gave tho enemy no leisure %
reform, and fell at once upon the camp.
1t was noon and the morning had been
sultry, but the heat and weariness were
forgotten in the enthusiasm of a triumph
which all then believed must conclude
the war. few companies Of Thra.
clans, who had been left on guard, made
brief resistance, but they were soon
borne down. The beaten army, which
few hours before were sharing, in
Imagination, the lands and offices of
their conquerors, fhed out through the
opposite gates. throwing away their
arms, tlinging down their standards, and
racing. officers and men. for the rocky
hills which at a miles distance, prom.
ised them shelter.
The camp rself was singular picture.
Houses of turf had been built for the
luxurious patrioians, with ivy trained
over the entrance 10 shade their delicate
faces from the summer sun couches
had been laid out for them TO repose on
after their expected victory tables
were spread with plate aud wines and
the daintiest preparations of Roman
cookery. Cesar commented on the
scene with mournful irony. "And these
men, he said, accused my patient.
suffering army. which had not even
common necessities, Of dissoluteness and
prohigacy y Two hundred of Cnsar's
men had fallen. The officers had suf.
fered most. The gallant Cfastinus, who
had nobly fulfilled his promise, had
been killed, among many others. in
opening way for his comrades. The
Pompeians after the first shock. had
been cut down unresisting. Fifteen
thousand Of them lay scattered dead
about the ground. There were few
wounded in these battles. The short
sword of the Romans seldom left its
work unfinished.
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