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

THE LIGHT HORSE. 157sand horse one third.It was, however, rare that the phalanxwas worked in this fashion.Tlie light horse comprised Macedonians, Pseonians underAristo, and Odryssians, who won great credit for efficiencywith Agatlio as their leader. The Macedonian lancerswere under Amyntas, the Lyncestian.All these were calledprodromari, — fighters in front, skirmishers. Finally, therewere in Asia numerous bodies of irregular light troops,both foot and horse, slingers, archers and javelin-throwers.These were used much as the Austrians used Pandours intheSeven Years' War, or as the German Uhlanen or the RussianCossacks are to-day. Of the light foot the Agrianians, whowere javelin-throwers from the Mount Hsemus region, undercommand of Attalus, were the most important and numerousand the Thracian javelin-throwers, Sitalces commanding, wereequally useful and steady on aU occasions. These were theflankers of the army. Famous archers came from Crete.Clearehus was their commander at the outset ; but the chiefsmentioned were often subject to change on account of deathor wounds. The archers thrice lost their chief in battle.There were, to resume, four classes of infantry.First, thepezetjeri, or foot companions, who bore the sarissa. Second,thehypaspists, or shield-bearing guards, with sword and xyston,or one-handed pike. Third, the peltasts, a well-organizedand substantially armed light infantry. Fourth, thepsiloi, or irregular lightly-armed foot, archers, slingers anddarters.Of cavalry there were, first, the cavalry Companionsand the Thessalians and some Greeks, all heavy armed.Second,the light-cavalry, well-armed mercenary troops. Third,lancers and dimachias, or horse-bowmen. Fourth, irregularnomads, armed in any manner.Light troops had, until Philip's day, been of little use orrepute in Greece. They had been raised from the poorer