The Battle of the Saw was the culminating battle of a campaign fought between a Carthaginian army led by Hamilcar Barca and a rebel force led by Spendius in 238 BC in what is now northern Tunisia. Carthage was fighting a coalition of mutinous soldiers and rebellious African cities in the Mercenary War which had started in 240 BC. Unable to confront the Carthaginian war elephants and cavalry on open ground, the rebels stayed on higher and rougher terrain and harassed the Carthaginian army. After several months of campaigning, Hamilcar trapped the rebels. Pinned against local mountains known as "the Saw" due to their sawlike shape, with their supply lines blockaded and with their food exhausted, the rebels ate their horses, their prisoners and then their slaves, hoping that their comrades in Tunis would sortie to rescue them. Eventually, the Carthaginians, led by their elephants, attacked the starving rebels and they were all massacred. The captured rebel leaders were crucified (depiction shown) in sight of their comrades in Tunis.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Saw

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1789:

The Ladies of Trenton social club hosted a reception (depicted) for President-elect George Washington as he journeyed to New York City for his first inauguration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington%27s_reception_at_Trenton

1863:

Following his exile from Baghdad, Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, began a twelve-day stay in the Garden of Ridván, where he declared himself to be "He whom God shall make manifest". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%CA%BCu%27ll%C3%A1h

1975:

Vietnam War: Nguyễn Văn Thiệu resigned as President of South Vietnam and was succeeded by Trần Văn Hương as the town of Xuân Lộc fell after a last stand. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Xu%C3%A2n_L%E1%BB%99c

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

hector: 1. (transitive) To dominate or intimidate in a blustering way; to bully, to domineer. 2. (intransitive) To behave like a hector or bully; to bluster, to swagger; to bully. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hector

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

If you are sure you understand everything that is going on, you are hopelessly confused.   --Walter Mondale https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Walter_Mondale