Q. Was General Grant the author of the expression, “We have met the enemy and they are ours?”
A. The above is very like to Cæsar’s “veni, vidi, vici,” and as a general’s report of a great victory just won, is remarkable for its comprehensive brevity. The words, though in harmony with the character and sayings of General Grant, were not, if used, original with him, but should be credited to Commodore Perry.
Q. Why was the son of Edward III. called the Black Prince?
A. Because of his black armor.
Q. Was Alexander of Macedon, who informed the Greeks before the battle of Platea of the intended attack, their ally?
A. Not openly; but secretly he was, or the information would not have been given.
Q. Where is the mountain lake Shawangunk?
A. The Shawangunk (Shon-gum) mountain is properly a continuation of the Appalachian, or Allegheny chain in New York. Like the Adirondacks and Catskills, south of the Mohawk, also outliers of the chain, it seems separated by intervening lands of lower elevation, and the relationship is shown by similarity of the geological formation. Look for the lake in the same region. It is probably small, and may not be found on most maps.
Q. Was it not Leonidas who, before the battle of Thermopylæ, said, “The Persians are so numerous that their arrows will darken the sun?”
A. No. Those words may intimate fear of the overwhelming force of the enemy, and the Greek historian does not mention their author, but says that on hearing them, a brave Spartan replied: “All the better, as we will then fight in the shade.”