Temple Bar (Volume 30) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1870. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Cl)e paltle of /ontmatK, JLf). 841. By SIR EDWARD CREASY. No. I. "Lothair relied on his claims recognised by the clergy; the Germans; combined with the southern French, challenged him to submit them to the judgment of Heaven by battle. Then it was that the great array of the Frantic Empire split into two hostile masses: the one containing a preponderance of Roman, the other of Germanic elements. The former defended the unity of the Empire; the latter demanded, according to their German ideas, its separation. There is a ballad extant on the Battle of Fontenaye, in which one of the combatants expresses his grief at this bloody war of fellow-citizens and brethren: 'On that bitter night in which the brave fell, the skilful in fight.' For the destiny of the West, was decisive." Ranke, 'Hist. Reformation, ' vol. i p. 13. . -i It Is now nearly twenty yeara since the ' Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World' were first published. During that time, I have received many suggestions as to other battles, that might be included in the catalogue of " Decisives: " and the events of the three great wars since 1850, --of the Crimean War, the American War, and the War between Austria and Prussia, --have more than once made me think that I ought to add a sixteenth, and possibly a seventeenth, to my list. But, after careful reflection, it has always seemed best to leave the old number unaltered. With respect to recent battles, the fact that they are recent is, of itself, enough to forbid any one of them being, at present, recognised as one of "those few battles of which a contrary event would have essentially varied the drama of the world, in all its subse.pient scenes." Let us, for a minute, consider the recent battle, which nas been the very greatest of them in...