Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-05-07

The fifteen decisive battles Of the
world from the fifth century before
Christ to the beginning of the nine
teenth century of the present era, as
given by the historian Greasy, are rs
follows:
The battle of Marathon, In which the
Persian hosts were defeated by the
Greeks under Miltiades, B. c. 400.
The defeat OF the Athenians at Syra-
cuse, B. {. Alb.
The battle of Arbela, in which the
Persians under Darius were defeated by
the invading Greeks under Alexander
the Great. b. {. 33l.
The battle of the MeJaurus, la which
the Carthaginian forces under Hasdru-
bal were overthrown by the Romans,
b. e. 207.
Victory OF the German tribes under
Arminius over the Roman legions under
Varus, A. ID .. The battle was fought
in what is now the province Of Lippe,
Germany, near the source of the River
Ems.)
Battle of Chalons, where Attila, the
terrible king of the Huns, was repulsed
by the Romans under Actius, A. ID. +Sl.
Battle of Tours in which the Saracen
Turks invading Western Europe were
utterly overthrown by the Franks under
Charles Martel, A. ID. 1872.
Battle Of Hastings, by which William
the Conquerer became the ruler of Eng
land, October IL, l066.
Victory of the French under Joan Of
Are over the English at Orleans, April
30, 1929.
Defeat of the Spanish Armada, by
the English naval force, July 20 and 80,
1858.
Battle OF Blenheim, In which the
French and Bavarians were defeated by
the allied armies Of Great Britain and
Holland under the Duke Of Marlbor-
ongh, August 2, l70i.
Battle of Pultowu, the Swedish army
under Charles XII defeated by the
Russians under Peter the Great, July s,
l709
Victory of the American army under
General Gates over the British under
General Burgoyne at Saratoga, October
II, l777.
Battle of Valmy, where the allied
armies of Prussia and Austria were de-
feated by the French under Marshal
Kellerman, September 20, 1902.
Battle of Waterloo, the allied forces
of the British and Prussians defeated
the French under Napoleon, the final
overthrow Of the great commander,
June is, 1915.
These battles are selected rs decisive,
because of the important consequences
that followed them. Few students Of
history, probably, would agree with
Professor Greasy, In restricting the list
to so few. Many other conflicts might
be noted, fraugh, with great importance
TO the human race aud unquestionably
decisive" In their nature; as, for In
stance, the victory OF Sob!eski over the
Turkish army at Vienna, September II,
1858. Had the Poles and Austrians been
defeated there, the Turkish general
might readily have fulfilled bis threat
"to stable his horses In the church Of
st. Peters at Rome" and all Western
Europe would no doubt have keen de-
vastaied by the ruthless and blood
thirsty Ottomans. or important and
decisive battles since that Of Waterloo,
we may mention In our own civil war
those Of Gettysburg, by which the In
yasion of the North was checked, and
at Chattanooga, November 20 aud rs,
| 1868. by which The power of the Con-
| federates III the Southwest received q
deadly blow iD :be Franco-Prus.ian
war, the capitulation Of the French
army at Sedan. September !, 1870, aud
in the Ru.so-Turkish war, the surrcnd-
er Of Osman Pasha, at Plevna. Dccem.
ber 10, 1877.
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