12.07.2015 Views

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 ...

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

ASSAULT ON PELIUM. 201Pelium by forced marches up <strong>the</strong> Erygon <strong>and</strong> to<strong>war</strong>ds <strong>the</strong>gap. Clitus had already seized Pelium, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re he wasawaiting <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> Glaucias, king <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Taulantians.<strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong> hoped to recapture <strong>the</strong> town before <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong>Glaucias, but Clitus held all <strong>the</strong> heights in <strong>the</strong> vicinity, intendingto fall upon <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong>'s rear if he advanced nearenough to make an assault on <strong>the</strong> city.<strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong> camped on <strong>the</strong> Apsos <strong>and</strong> prepared for immediateattack. According to <strong>the</strong> barbarian custom <strong>of</strong> his tribe,as Arrian relates, Clitus, before meeting <strong>the</strong> Macedonians,<strong>of</strong>fered up in sacrifice three boys, three girls <strong>and</strong> three blackrams, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n made disposition to fall upon <strong>the</strong>m. Despite<strong>the</strong> difficulties, <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong> was by no means to be deterredI'""wiimumiimftO*Plain <strong>of</strong> Pelium.<strong>from</strong> his purpose, <strong>and</strong> opened <strong>the</strong> action by an advance upon<strong>the</strong> heights held by <strong>the</strong> Illyrians. This was made with su:'hvigor that <strong>the</strong>y were unable to st<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir ground. Theassaidt resulted in <strong>the</strong>ir retiring into <strong>the</strong> town <strong>and</strong> shutting<strong>the</strong>mselves up within its walls. <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong>, having failed tocapture <strong>the</strong> town by first assault, <strong>the</strong>n began to erect lines <strong>of</strong>contravaUation <strong>and</strong> circumvallation. But this was next day

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!