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

104 CONDUCT OF THE PHALANX.opments ; but when he saw the success of the phalanx, hedesired to do something worthy to rival it, and projected hishorse with so much elan upon the large body surroundingArtaxerxes that he dispersed it at a blow.Unfortunately hishorsemen followed on in pursuit, leaving Cyrus with but afew of his intimates, or " table companions," around him.With these he charged on Artaxerxes in person, and woundedhim indeed, but himself fell in the onset.The right wing ofthe Persians had meanwhile manoeuvred round upon Cyrus'left, which, thus compromised and learning of the death ofits leader, sought safety in flight.Both the Persian right wingand the cavalry set to pillaging the camp. Artaxerxes, seeingthe rout of his left wing, rallied his right wing, which hadthus made a complete wheel to the rear, and led it againstthe phalanx.Clearchus had now completed the destruction of the Persianleft wing, and had faced about to attack whatever other partof the enemy might be in his front ; and as in moving backnear the river he saw the new array of the Persians, hebacked up against it, and obliged Artaxerxes to file to theleft to face him.The phalanx then once more advanced onthe enemy, and drove them off the field and to the hill onwhich is situated the town of Cunaxa. From here Clearchusretired to his camp.Not till then did the Greeks hear of thedeath of Cyrus. But one phalangite was wounded, thoughthis body of thirteen thousand men had defeated an army atleast a score of times greater. This battle illustrates thesuperiority of the phalanx over the no doubt brave but undisciplinedsoldiers of Oriental nations. But its success andmeagre loss must not be taken as a measure of what wasusual.The Greeks were now compelled to make their way out ofthe country as best they might. Clearchus and some of the