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

CROSSING THE RIVER.Illdiscovered another and better ford higher up the river byabout half a mile. To this the army marched. But the Carducians,as well as the Armenians on the other bank, followedup the movement.Arrived at the upper ford, Xenophon, who always was theCrossing of River Centrites, 401 B. c.most daring, discreet and therefore controlling spirit, thoughonly equal in command with the others, arranged to haveCheirisophus pass over first. He kept himself in fightingtrim, and with a sufficient body to hold the Carducians incheck. In order to relieve Cheirisophus from the oppositionof the Armenians on the other bank, Xenophon, with a largebody, made a feint to move down again to the lower ford, asif the Greeks were about to give up the attempt to cross atthe upper one. The Armenians, fearing lest they should betaken between two fires if Xenophon crossed below, as well asbe cut off from the main road, set out in haste for the lowerford, leaving only such a body of troops opposite Cheirisophusas he could readily force. Thus disengaged, Cheirisophuswas enabled to cross and gain a foothold on the other shore.Here he drew up his troops in phalangial order, for there wasa large body of Armenians on the hiUs somewhat back from