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

122 EPAMINONDAS' RUSE.right there would be formed on the left of the line the samedeep column which had given him the victory at Leuctra.The lochagos or captain remained at the head of his file, andspecial officers stood in the front rank, each noted for his bravery.The rest of the line was marching, so that a simple faceto the right, or at all events a very similar manoeuvre, wouldbring them into the usual phalangial formation. The rightflank of the allies was held by the Mantinaeans and Arcadiansthe centre by the Lacedaemonians, ^laeans and Achaeans ;theleft by the Athenians.Their cavalry was on both wings.Epaminondas proposed to surprise his enemy. It is altogetherprobable that the allies were not aware of just howthey had been defeated at Leuctra. It has always takenmuch time for the average general to grasp the keen devicesof the great captain. This is one reason why the success ofgreat captains is so marked. They cannot readily be copied.At all events the allies were not cautious. Epaminondas,having got into the position he purposed to occupy, now putinto practice a clever ruse. He ordered his men to groundarms, as if for camping, and took such other steps as convincedthe enemy that no attack would be made by Epaminondason that day. The men in the allied army wereallowed to disperse ; and though the semblance of the lineof battle was preserved, many of the soldiers took off theirarmor, and the cavalry unbridled their horses. While thiswas going on Epaminondas completed hisdispositions, stillostensibly going into camp. The ruse was carried out withconsummate skill. Opposite the allied horse he placed onhis left a body ofhis own horse, mixed with light infantry togive it stability. Oj^posite the Athenian cavalry on the otherflank he also placed some squadrons.And fearing that theAthenians might fall upon the right and weak flank of hiscolumn as he advanced, he stationed a small but chosen force