Chapter I: Preface

This collection is intended to present, in a popular form, an account of many of the important naval battles of all times, as well as of some combats of squadrons and single ships, which are interesting, from the nautical skill and bravery shown in them.

In most instances an endeavor has been made to give, in a concise manner, the causes which led to these encounters, as well as the results obtained.

As this book is not intended for professional men, technicalities have been, as far as possible, avoided. But it is often necessary to use the language and phraseology of those who fought these battles.

In all there has been a desire to give an unbiased account of each battle; and, especially, to make no statement for which authority cannot be found.

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A study of naval history is of value, even in the most inland regions, by increasing a practical knowledge of geography, and by creating an interest in the great problems of government, instead of concentrating it upon local affairs. At the time that this volume was first issued, some people wondered why such a publication was necessary. The answer was that it was to inform the people of the great centre and West of the necessity of a navy, by showing them what navies had done and what influence they exercised in the world’s history.

That they are fully aware of this now is also not doubtful, and the probability is that those representatives of the people who oppose a sufficient navy for our country will be frowned down by their own constituents. Commonsense shows that, with our immense seacoast, both on the Atlantic and the Pacific, the navy, in the future, is to be the preponderant branch of our military force.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION.

The Ancients’ Dread of the Sea; Homer’s Account of It; Slow
Progress in Navigation before the Discovery of the Lode-stone;
Early Egyptians; The Argonauts; The Phenicians and Greeks;
Evidences of Sea-fights Thousands of Years before Christ; Naval
Battle Fought by Rameses III; The Fleets of Sesostris;
Description of Bas-relief at Thebes; Roman Galleys Described;
Early Maritime Spirit of the Carthaginians; Herodotus’ Account
of the Battle of Artemisium; The Greeks under Alexander; Romans
and Carthaginians. I-19