Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-04-16

One OF the Most Extraordinary Military
Men of Ancient Times.

The most useful man of antiquity,
Caius Julius Caesar, came of good stock.
In youth he was one of the handles of
Rome, but commanded respect. Sulle re.
marked that it would be well to have an
eye to yonder dandy.
Ii is Wort nothing that the so.called
"exquisites have generally made good
soldiers from the days Of Aexander's
Com paniops' down to the time Of Wei
lington, who wrote home from the PENN
sula for another regiment of handles
Caius Julius had been a sickly lad, but
gymnastics 9nd a right regimen had Civ
en- him fair physique; his education had
been attended to, and he early made
reputation as a lawyer and orator, had
several public offices and became a leader
of the young upper tendon of Rome.
Caesar did nothing, however, that show
ed any exceptional force of character until
he was a middle aged man. His foe,
P0mpey, was surnamed 1.-The Great at
"a CR3ar's distinguishing work did not
open until he was AZ
His opportunity came when he was
chosen consul, with Gau as his province
Both be and Pompey belonged to the
triumvirate that governed the Roman
state but Pompey was the leader. Caesar
saw that If he could subdue the Gluls-al-
ways the terror Of Rome would be the
great national hero.
He saw, too, that while fighting the
barbarians he would be creating an army
of veterans with which he could rise to
sole control
His way of approaching the new bust
ness OF war shows that Cesar considered
first the strategic situation, just as
Alexander or Hannibal would have done
la those days strategy was understood
as a science. Tactics-the art Of rnan@q-
wiring troops on the battlefield was well de-
velcred.
Strategy has been called the art of moy-
ing troops on the map. 1t is the art of
moving armies over a large section of
country in such a manner as to place the
enemy at a disadvantage.
Caesar made d careful study of the nat
ural features Of Gaul-its mountains, riv-
ers, forests and coast lines Then he
formed general scheme of conquest.
Some of the chiefs of Gaul were very
able men, but In eight years Cesar made
the country a Roman province.
Shortly after Cesar and Pompey found
themselves arrayed in arms against each
otheI-the other member Of the triUmvi-
rate, Crassus, had died Pomey stood for
the aristocratic party, Caesar for democrat
ic ideas
Pompey had vastly larger resources, but
Cesar in 10 months had driven hill over
TO Greece and himself held all Italy.
He marched into Spain, and captured
and disbanded Pompey's several egions
there. Then he went into Greece with
bis veterans and fought Pompey again,
and Pompey fed to Egypt, whittier Cesar
Ieisurely followed,
There were campaigns in Africa and
Asia, but the end was that, after only II
years Of way, this man, who was not bred
a soldier, stood monarch of Rome in all
JUt tue name, and controller of the then
known world.
How was 1T?
He had gone into the business OF war
with a trained brain in the maturity OF
Its superb vigar His intellectual grasp
Of any situation was perfect. His control
Of men was complete; his character jnl-
posed on every one that ever approached
nm. His nervous strength enabled him
to undergo any toll any strain
And Caesar was always lucky. lie knew
The fact and seemed sometimes to rely on
1t. tie often did tnings glarlngly care
less. He invaded Italy with one legion,
when Pompey had 10; he sailed to Greece
with less than 10000 men % attack Pom
pey, who had 10000; he landed in Egypt
with 1000, and was soon surrounded by
an army Of 10000; be went into Africa
again with 5000, where the Pompeiians
had an army of 5000
But perhaps Ca ar did not rely on bis
luck. One Of his traits was his determine
tIon 70 succeed IN any affair Of fgbt which
be had undertaken with sufficient means
]. was when enc0anterinE oyerwheim-
ing odds that be most fully displayed bis
splendid viyoi, his wonderful SKILL
Though fighting was often d matter Of
mood With Caesar, and sometimes be
would not give battle until compelled Co.
We may judge OF the extraordinary mil..
tary greatness OF this greatest man o.
ancient history by one feature Of All his
CampNgDs-tneir short Duration tne5-