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

TACTICS. 165the paean.At certain times the phalanx advanced in silence,so as the better to give heed to orders, then intuned the paeanas they neared the foe, and closed with him shouting the battle-cry.Every old soldier remembers the inspiriting natureof a battlefield cheer. It will ring in his ears throughoutlife. Alexander's men raised so terrifying a shout, as theyadvanced to the attack, that its effect upon the enemy wassometimes prodigious.A vanguard and rearguard of light troops, infantry andcavalry, were usual on the march, often sustained by the heavierhypaspists.The artillery, baggage and elejihants, if any,marched in rear of the phalanx. Rations in bulk were carriedon beasts of burden or by slaves in the train. Thetrains must have been very extended. But the East wasdensely popidated, and Alexander habitually lived on thecountry, much asNapoleon did, though we do not note theconsequent loss of discipline in the Macedonian ranks wliichwas prevalent in the French armies imder Bonaparte.Many of the most usual and effective manoeuvres on thebattlefield of to-day have come down to us from theGreeks.As we have seen, Epaminondas showed us the value of theoblique order and the value of the column of attack, andXenophon distinctly describes an advance in columns by theright of companies (or regiments) to overcome ground whichwould be apt to break the solidity of a line of battle. Thereare numberless others. The tactical works about the Greekarmies are quite detailed and intricate, and show as greatintelligence in grand and minor tactics as appears in thetreatises of any age. It remains, however, a fact that mostbattles were fought in simple parallel order. The Greektacticians knew more than their generals could apply.Battles were intended to be, and were usually, won by asingle shock.For an impact, or as a line of defense, on level