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

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

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THE TRIBALLIANS. 193He led <strong>the</strong> phalanx in person, but took <strong>the</strong> precaution to throwout a curtain <strong>of</strong> archers <strong>and</strong> slingers, hoping to draw <strong>the</strong> barbarians<strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir retreat into <strong>the</strong> open. These light troopsadvanced <strong>and</strong> gallantly forced <strong>the</strong> attack. The over-eagerTriballianscould not be restrained <strong>from</strong> rushing out to engagein a h<strong>and</strong>-to-h<strong>and</strong> conflict, <strong>and</strong> had small difficulty inṾ••*^./Battle at <strong>the</strong> Lyginus.pushing <strong>the</strong> light troops back. This easy success induced <strong>the</strong>mto advance still far<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>and</strong> gave <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong> <strong>the</strong> opportunity<strong>of</strong> sending Philotas with an ile <strong>of</strong> cavalry to charge in on<strong>the</strong>ir naked right wing, which had advanced beyond <strong>the</strong>irmain line. Heraclides <strong>and</strong> Sopolis he sent with o<strong>the</strong>r twoiles <strong>of</strong> horse to attack <strong>the</strong>ir left, while he himself, with <strong>the</strong> phalanx,preceded by cavalry, advanced straight upon <strong>the</strong> barbarians.So long as <strong>the</strong> attack was confined to skirmishing<strong>the</strong> Triballians were not to be overcome, but when <strong>the</strong> densephalanx pushed in upon <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> horse came to closequ<strong>art</strong>ers, riding <strong>the</strong>m down bodily by mere weight, <strong>the</strong>y were

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