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

124 VICTORY.Meanwhile the Theban column bore down upon theallieswith intuned paean, serried files and hearts of oak. On itsleft, formed also in deeper column, charged the horse. Thisstruck the allied cavalry first and bore it back. Immediatelyafter, the remorseless column, headed by the Sacred Band,struck the allied right like the shaft from a catapult. Theblow pierced the line, but the stern resistance of the Mantinaeanhoplite was not so quickly overcome. The column,like a ship plowing into a head-sea, all but reeled in itsonward motion. But the soul of the impetus was there.Epaminondas headed the column again, pike in hand, andfiercely led it against the still resisting foe, determined tocrush his line. The struggle was sharp but decisive. Thedeep column of the Thebans pressed on. The Mantinseans,in firm opposition, fell in their tracks, but the column stillmade headway. The Theban centre and right advanced indue order, but found no serious resistance when it reachedthe allied line. The victory was won, but at a heavy price.In the charge headed by the brave Epaminondas, this greatcaptain was wounded by a spear in the breast, of which,shortly after, he died. The victory was less decisive than itwould have been had he lived ; but it yielded peace withhonor.The manner in which the cavalry was used both at LeuctraajjdMantinsea to sustain his oblique order shows that Epaminondas'conception of the value of this arm was clear, ashis ability to use it was marked.