Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

BRASIDAS SURPRISES CLEON. 99could plainly see his camp on the other bank of the river, aswell as the city on the hill, and was advancing- in loose andcareless order.But Brasidas had made up his mind to attackthe Athenian, whose heedless formation he had been watchingto good advantage. Cleon perceived the march of Brasidasfrom his camp into the town, but still anticipated no attack.By and by a commotion was visible within the gates, andCleon became aware that he was in danger.that Brasidas would do what was usual in thoseStill he supposeddays, emergefrom the gates, form in the regular order in front of them,and advance his phalanx to the attack. Though he was inmuch larger force and vastly betterequipped than Brasidas,Cleon determined to retire, and faced his column about, so asto march it back left in front, but still was not careful to ployhis column into close order. The left wing was marchingsomewhat ahead, the centre and right at intervals behind.Brasidas, who had a perfectly clear idea of theadvantage ofdoing what your enemy least expects, and had no thought ofmerely doing theusual thing, had been quietly waiting witha picked force of one hundred and fifty men under his owncommand behind the gates. He had pointed out to his menthe careless formation of the enemy. He addressed to themwords of glowing encouragement, and fired them to their task.Then in serried ranks, this small but determined body, not aman of whom but was worth a host, suddenly rushed from thegates, fell upon the flank of Cleon's centre, which was marchingquietly along the road, and threw it into the utmost confusion.The left in the advance, instead of turning to theassistance of the centre, was so taken by surprise that it atonce fled towards Eion.hill.The right retired to a position on theAt the same moment another and larger body emergedfrom an upper gate, and advanced against the right, taking itin reverse. Cleon himself fled, but was slain in his flight.