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

SURPRISE OF THE ENEMY. 207ble to breast the storm of missijes, Alexander with the wholearmy gained the other side in safety.The first step was successfully taken. The line of retreatwas secure. Alexander had fought in the van, as all throughhis life he did, and had been wounded by a sling-stone uponNumbers were wounded, but the excellent armor of theMacedonians saved them from fatal casualties as much as theweaker weapons of the barbarians. It is to be noted that thekilled among the light trooj)s were not generally deemed ofsufficient moment to record.Alexander had gained a place of safety. His late positionin front of Pelium had been untenable, for he was surroundedby multitudes and was cut off from victual. But he was farfrom content. He was unwilling to retire without inflicting asignal defeat on the barbarians and recovering Pelium. Hewas now placed so that he could collect corn and awaitthe head and by the blow of a club upon the neck. Not aman, however, was killed dui'iug this well-managed manoeuvre.reinforcements.The enemy could not cut him off from the suppliesin his rear. But a retreat, happily, was not made necessary,for time was of the utmost consequence. Three daysafter the crossing, Alexander's scouts, whom he always keptbriskly at work, reported to him that Clitus and Glaucias,who no doubt flattered themselves that he had retired fromfear and who were becoming careless accordingly, lay in anegligent position in front of Pelimn, with no outposts, ditchor rampart, and in much too extended an order. This wasthe opportunity Alexander had been watching for. As nightcame on he crossed the ford with his shield-bearing guards,the Agrianians, archers and the brigades of Perdiccas, son ofOrontes, and Coenus, son-in-law of Parmenio, as vanguard.So soon as he arrived on theground, without waiting for therest of the troops, which had been ordered to follow rap-