Chapter I: Preface

The author of this series has made it his special object to confine himself very strictly, even in the most minute details which he records, to historic truth. The narratives are not tales founded upon history, but history itself, without any embellishment or any deviations from the strict truth, so far as it can now be discovered by an attentive examination of the annals written at the time when the events themselves occurred. In writing the narratives, the author has endeavored to avail himself of the best sources of information which this country affords; and though, of course, there must be in these volumes, as in all historical narratives, more or less of imperfection and error, there is no intentional embellishment. Nothing is stated, not even the most minute and apparently imaginary details, without what was deemed good historical authority. The readers, therefore, may rely upon the record as the truth, and nothing but the truth, so far as an honest purpose and a careful examination have been effectual in ascertaining it.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. THE FIRST PUNIC WAR 13

II. HANNIBAL AT SAGUNTUM 33

III. OPENING OF THE SECOND PUNIC WAR 52

IV. THE PASSAGE OF THE RHONE 69

V. HANNIBAL CROSSES THE ALPS 90

VI. HANNIBAL IN THE NORTH OF ITALY 126

VII. THE APENNINES 144

VIII. THE DICTATOR FABIUS 163

IX. THE BATTLE OF CANNAE 185

X. SCIPIO 205

XI. HANNIBAL A FUGITIVE AND AN EXILE 235

XII. THE DESTRUCTION OF CARTHAGE 262

ENGRAVINGS.

Page

MAP _Frontispiece._

THE BATTLE IN THE RIVER 42

THE ELEPHANTS CROSSING THE RHONE 87

HANNIBAL ON THE ALPS 111

CROSSING THE MARSHES 161

HASDRUBAL'S HEAD 227

THE BURNING OF THE CARTHAGINIAN FLEET 242

HANNIBAL.