The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-03

badly beaten in the second battle,
Cesar decided to move over into Thes-
sally and there concentrating all his forces
hazard battle again. Getting good start
before Pompey was aware of his move he
gained Appollonia, and after short stay
there started June for Thessaly March
ing up the Aous (Vovousa) River. north
of the present city of Janina, he crossed
the main chain of the Pirdus Mountain s
by way of the present town of Metzovo
and Zygos Pass, and striking the head
waters of the Peneus by the same route,
by which the insurgents recently invaded
Macedonia, followed that stream down to
Eginlum at the head of the Thessalian
Plain, near the present town OF kala bak,
the terminus of the railroad from Volo
and Trikkala. Reaching there June Z, he
was joined week later by Domitius, who,
after some passages mt arms with Scipio
on the Haliacmon (Kara-su) and mar
row escape from Pompey, had come over
the Khassla Mountains by Velemisti and
Meteora- Starting from EgInium on June
Is, leaving Tricca (Trikkala) to his left, be
advanced leisurely across the broad and
fertile plains, recruiting his ranks and
strengthening the physique and morale OF
his men, by the rich cities of Gam phi
(Gilunthi) which he captured by assault.
Metropolis (Karditza) and Pyrgos. which
successively submitted, to the Eastern end
of the Thessalian Plain, and went into
camp on the left bank of the Enipeus
River just north of Pharsalia to rest his
troops and await Pompey. who was ap-
preaching Larissa. Having beaten Caesar
at Durrachium Pompey could have
crossed back over to Italy and regained it
to his side. He decided, however, to join
Scipio follow Caesar and destroy his army
before he could rehabilitate it in strength
and tone. After pursuing directly for
four days, he turned from Asparagium up
the Apsus (Skumbia) River, and striking
the Via Egnatia, proceeded on to Heraclea
(Monastir), where, learning that Scipio
had gone south toward Thessaly, he also
turned in the same direction, and pro-
ceeding by way OF Servia and EIassona,
joined his lieutenant at Larssa June 81,
where the latter had been for a week.
Resting his men few days, he pro-
ceeded to find Caesar, having been led to
believe that victory would be certain for
him. He was abundarty justified in this
belief. as be had nearly ii not quite two to
one both of legionaries and auxiliares,
and 70C0 horse to Casar's 10OO Marching
south from Larissa across the plateau,
ne approached Pharsalia from the
east and pitched bis camp on the
foothills of Karadja Ahmet, near the
south bank of the river Enipeus, five miles
from Casar's, a very strong position,
which he proceeded to further strengthen
with castelar, or small stone forts on his
left and rear. He hoped to induce Cesar
to attack him here on the slope with the
river on one flank and the hills on tine
other. Cesar had no such intention. He
wanted to bring Pom pey to battle, but not
on his own chosen ground. Day after day
he led out his men and set them in array,
advancing each time nearer TO the foot of
the slope, where Pompey perslstentIy
stayed. Finally, when about to despair of
getting battle on even ground his oppor-
tunity came.
Pompey's friends demanded a battle
and under this pressure, on the morning
of June 20, he came down from the slope
and took position on the plain about half
way between the two camps.
His legions were drawn up in three
lines, the right resting on the BANK of the
river which was very steep and protected
by 900 cavalry from Pontus, while his lett
touched the rising ground on the other
side OF the narrow plain. On the slope it,
self was posted the main body of his
horse. According to Cesar there were