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

240 THE BATTLE OPENS.in long phalangial order along the bank of the river. Theirfoot, as stated, was in its rear, on the higher ground whichgradually ascended from the water-side. This was a fatalmistake.The heavy mfantrymen with their thrusting pikeswere peculiarly adapted to defend the crossing, while the cavalry,by attacking the Macedonians after they had crossed andwere somewhat in disorder, would be in their very element.The order should have been reversed ;but no doubt excessof gallantry in the Persian chiefs led them to open the firstand heaviest fighting in their own persons, as leaders ofchoicest cavalry.theirMemnon, with his sons, and Arsames wereon the left with the mass of the cavalry ;the Medes and Bactrianswere on their right ; the Phrygians, Paphlagonians,Hyrcanians and Lydians were under Arsites and Spithridatesin the centre ; Rheomithres was on the right. More thanforty Persian chiefs of high rank and princes were prominentin the battle.The Persians, so soon as they perceived the Macedonianformation, concentrated the bulk and flower of their horseupon their left, opposite the place where they recognizedAlexander, who was always conspicuous in actionby his twowhite plumes, resplendent arms, and commanding presence.And this Macedonian wing, too, was somewhat advanced bythe accidents of the ground. While Alexander was marshalinghis array, the Persians were doing the like. Whenthis was completed, for a brief period both armies stoodfacing each other in profound silence. The Persians werewaiting to take the Macedonians at a disadvantage as theycrossed.Alexander was assuring himself that each brigadewas in place and ready for action. To do this he rode thelines, and calling on all to show themselves men, he orderedAmyntas, the cavalryman, forward with hislancers, and thePaeonians and hypaspists. Ptolemy followed upon his heels.