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

192 CROSSING MOUNT H^MUS.the phalangites advanced, with loud cries, upon the enemy,already disconcerted by the failure of his well-laid scheme.Alexander detailed his archers forward from the risrht winjrto fall upon the flank of the Thracians as they moved downupon the forward-marching phalanx, while he himself, withhis own body-guard, the hypaspists and some Agrianians,moved by a circuit about their right. Aided by the diversionof the archers, the phalangites reached the enemy's line andmade quick work of the half-armed barbarians. Even beforeAlexander could finish his circuit, the battle was over, andall who had not fled had fallen. Some fifteen hundred werekilled, and the balance dispersed in the woods and ravinesof the mountains. All their women, children and baggagewere captured, and sent to the markets of the seacoastunder Lysanias and Philotas, son of Parmenio, to be soldfor booty.Alexander crossed Mount Haemus in safety and moveddown the easier northern slopes into the valley ofthe Triballians,and across the Lyginus, now Jantra (or it may havebeen, as claimed by some authorities, the Oscius), about threemarches from the Danube. Syrmus, their king, in anticipationofAlexander's arrival, had sent the women and childrenfor refuge to an island in the Danube, called Pence, noteasily identified but probably near and below modern Widdin,to which the Thracians had also fled and King Syrmus hadhimself repaired. When Alexander had crossed the Lyginusand was moving toward the barbarians on the Danube, hefound that the main body of the Triballians was marchingback on the former river as with intent to seize the passes inhis rear. By a sudden countermarch, Alexander surprisedthem at eventide as they were going into camp.The Triballians retired into a woody glen near the river,difBcult of access. Alexander marshaled his army for attack.