War elephants/ John M. Kistler ; foreword by Richard Lair.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 237-314) and index.

Useful orphan -- Early contests -- Beauty and the beasts -- Fill of blood -- Improvements -- The elephant mystery -- The horror -- Alexander's opinion -- Death on the Nile -- Elephants marching -- Siege -- Cavalry killers -- The elephant industry -- Unmitigated Gauls -- The elephant of surprise -- Flaming pigs -- Chaos in the streets -- War elephants of Carthage -- Proud mahouts -- Cruelty and inhumanity -- Lion's brood -- Dangerous waters -- Treacherous paths -- Best laid plans -- Stalemate -- Hasdrubal -- Rome's genius -- Asia versus Africa -- Day of slaughter -- Weapons of massive destruction -- Guerrilla war -- The running of the bulls -- Pompey's circus -- The herd of Julius Caesar -- Arrogant emperors -- Sackcloth, ashes and prayer -- Breach of faith -- Year of the elephant -- Early and medieval Asia -- Charlemagne and Frederick -- Plump and ready -- Mongol hordes -- Pyramids of skulls -- Thais, Burmese, Khmers and others -- The great mahout -- Beasts of burden -- Mighty engineers -- Targets of opportunity.