Coat of arms for the French Republic and Imperial Arms of France.  France is the most western portion of Central Europe.  It is bordered on the north by the English Channel and the south by Dover, which separates it from England, by Belgium.

Coat of Arms

Coat of arms for the French Republic and Imperial Arms of France. France is the most western portion…

During early wars, like the Civil War, artillery battery was a term for a unit of guns or mortars used for better battlefield communication, command, and control. This image is captioned with "bringing up a battery."

Artillery Battery

During early wars, like the Civil War, artillery battery was a term for a unit of guns or mortars used…

Soldiers making a trench to prepare for battle during the American Civil War.

In the Trenches

Soldiers making a trench to prepare for battle during the American Civil War.

Soldiers capturing a cannon. Depiction of the Battle of Gaine's Mill during the Civil War. It was the third of the Seven Days' Battle. Gaine's Mill saved Richmond for the confederacy in 1862. The Seven Days' Battle was a series of six battles over seven days from June 25 - July 1 1862 near Richmond. Confederate leader was General Robert E. Lee and the Union leader was Major General George B. McClellan

Gaine's Mill

Soldiers capturing a cannon. Depiction of the Battle of Gaine's Mill during the Civil War. It was the…

"The Irish Brigade to the Rescue." The Irish Brigade was an infantry brigade made up of mainly Irish Americans who served for the Union Army in the Civil War.

Irish Brigade

"The Irish Brigade to the Rescue." The Irish Brigade was an infantry brigade made up of mainly Irish…

Gunboats in the James River off the Virginia coast. Gunboats were boats used for carrying one or more guns in order to bombard coastal targets.

Gunboats

Gunboats in the James River off the Virginia coast. Gunboats were boats used for carrying one or more…

General view of camp life in the war.

War Camp

General view of camp life in the war.

Soldiers making pontoon boats off the coast of Fredericksburg Virginia.

Pontoon Laying

Soldiers making pontoon boats off the coast of Fredericksburg Virginia.

In 1863, president Lincoln reviewed some sixty thousand troops in the small town of Falmouth VA. Although no battles were fought there, many soldiers crossed through this area to get to the Potomac River and to Fredericksburg just southeast of the town.

Lincoln Review

In 1863, president Lincoln reviewed some sixty thousand troops in the small town of Falmouth VA. Although…

Soldiers marching to Chancellorsville Virginia. The Battle of Chancellorsville was a seven day battle between Robert E. Lee and Joseph Hooker. It was considered Lee's "perfect battle" due to his risky decision to divide his army despite those of his rival's to be much bigger. It resulted in an important Confederate victory.

March to Chancellorsville

Soldiers marching to Chancellorsville Virginia. The Battle of Chancellorsville was a seven day battle…

Civil War soldiers crossing Ely's Ford and the Rapidan river. Ely's Ford was a major battle of the river. It is located in Virginia near Fredericksburg.

Ely's Ford

Civil War soldiers crossing Ely's Ford and the Rapidan river. Ely's Ford was a major battle of the river.…

American soldiers retreating across the Rappahannock river in Northwest Virginia. It shows an example of a ford, which is a place in a river or other body of water where it is shallow enough for people to cross.

Rappahannock River

American soldiers retreating across the Rappahannock river in Northwest Virginia. It shows an example…

Soldiers returning to abandoned camps at Falmouth, VA.

Falmouth Camps

Soldiers returning to abandoned camps at Falmouth, VA.

Example of a winter camp during the Civil War.

Winter Camp

Example of a winter camp during the Civil War.

Soldiers chasing a lone man who is assumed to be an enemy or spy.

Civil War Horse Chase

Soldiers chasing a lone man who is assumed to be an enemy or spy.

A soldier talking to the Confederate general Robert E. Lee (on the right).

Confederate General

A soldier talking to the Confederate general Robert E. Lee (on the right).

Soldiers crossing the Rapidan river in Virginia.

Crossing the Rapidan

Soldiers crossing the Rapidan river in Virginia.

Soldiers passing Generals Grant (left) and George Meade (right). Meade is best known for defeating Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg. Grant became lieutenant general and is best known making the final dent in the Confederate's army, causing Robert E. Lee to surrender to him at Appomattox Virginia. Grant later becomes the eighteenth president.

Civil War Generals

Soldiers passing Generals Grant (left) and George Meade (right). Meade is best known for defeating Robert…

Civil war soldiers in battle.

Fighting Soldiers

Civil war soldiers in battle.

The Battle of Fort Steadman was one of the Confederacy's last attempts to besiege Petersburg, Virginia. Although the Confederates were successful in capturing the fort, they were later driven back by Union troops. This battle was in the last days of the Civil War.

Fort Steadman

The Battle of Fort Steadman was one of the Confederacy's last attempts to besiege Petersburg, Virginia.…

A Civil War soldier being taken prisoner.

Soldier Taken Prisoner

A Civil War soldier being taken prisoner.

Civil War soldiers waving the flag of truce, signaling a halt in fighting for both sides.

Flag of Truce

Civil War soldiers waving the flag of truce, signaling a halt in fighting for both sides.

A mechanical drawing board.

Drawing Board

A mechanical drawing board.

The puma, also known as the cougar, panther, or mountain lion <i> (Felis concolor) </i> , is a large American cat, formerly to be met anywhere from the St. Lawrence River and southern British Columbia to Patagonia, but now practically exterminated east of the Rocky Mountains. It is remarkable among the larger cats for its uniformity of coloration, whence it is popularly known as 'lion' throughout all the countries south of the United States. The fur is thick and close, and in adults is plain tawny above, except for a dark streak along the middle of the back, and a dark tip to the tail, while the under surface is of a paler tint. The presence in the young, however, of a ringed tail and of spots on the body shows that the puma's ancestors possessed the characteristically feline type of coloration. There is much variation in size: the largest authenticated measurement is eight feet two inches from the snout to the tip of the tail, the tail being three feet eight inches; but the usual length of the body, exclusive of the tail, appears to be under four feet.

The puma is able to live in low-lying plains and on mountain slopes, among dense forests and on the treeless pampas. Its natural prey is such animals as deer in North and in Central America, while of the pampas it feeds largely on huanacos; but everywhere it preys as hunger suggests or occasion requires on any smaller and more agile creature it is able to pick up. Like the leopard, it is especially destructive to sheep, a single puma when it gains access to a fold sometimes slaughtering 100 in a night, seemingly in a blind revel of killing. It rarely attacks man unprovoked, and has the reputation, especially in the Plains regions, of being absolutely cowardly. When hunted with dogs (the usual method), it tries first to flee, and when overtaken climbs a tree, where it remains, snarling at the pack of dogs until the hunter comes up and dispatches it. Nevertheless, when cornered it fights to the death, showing that its real disposition is that of timidity and caution rather than of poltroonery.

The two sexes live apart, but pair in winter and summer. Two or three young are born at once.

Puma

The puma, also known as the cougar, panther, or mountain lion (Felis concolor) , is a large American…

Illustration of a great multitude of Visigoth warriors, along with the booty they had taken from Rome, including slaves, cattle, on the march into the south of Italy. Some goths ride horses, their spears raised in triumph, while other drive carts pulled by oxen, carrying their bounty. Alaric was the first King of the Visigoths from AD 395–410.

Visigoths, Under the Rule of Alaric, on the March after Sacking Rome

Illustration of a great multitude of Visigoth warriors, along with the booty they had taken from Rome,…

An aerial view of the siege of Château Gaillard, also called the Saucy Castle. Construction of the castle was begun by Richard the Lionheart in 1196. The castle was besieged by the French who are pictured encamped  to the south of the castle with a siege tower and two catapults. The fortified town of Petit-Andely is pictured to the north in the background. The River Seine runs to the west.

The Siege of Château Gaillard, the Saucy Castle of Richard the Lionheart - Aerial View

An aerial view of the siege of Château Gaillard, also called the Saucy Castle. Construction of the…

<i>Salsola kali</i>. This plant is also called a Russian Thistle, Prickly Glasswort, Tumbleweed, and Glasswort. It is a member of the amaranth family and is an annually growing herb. It has a bushy stem with many branches. It produces a small, white flower. It is native on sea beaches in Europe, western Asia, North and South America, and Australia.

Prickly Saltwort

Salsola kali. This plant is also called a Russian Thistle, Prickly Glasswort, Tumbleweed, and Glasswort.…

<i>Scytalopus magellanicus</i>. "A genus of South American formicarioid passerine birds, of the family <i>Pteroptochidae</i>. <i>S. magellanicus</i> is curiously similar to wrens in general appearance and habits, though belonging to a different suborder of birds." —Whitney, 1889
<p>This illustration features a darkly colored bird sitting on a branch with small leaves.

Magellanic Tapaculo

Scytalopus magellanicus. "A genus of South American formicarioid passerine birds, of the family Pteroptochidae.…

<i>Tremarctos ornatus</i>. "The only South American bear, having a light-colored mark on the face, like a pair of spectacles." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Spectacled Bear

Tremarctos ornatus. "The only South American bear, having a light-colored mark on the face, like a pair…