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

244 LOSSES AT THE GRANICUS.Instantly seizing thisopening and pouring Into the gap withthe Companions, the Persian cavahy was borne back in abody ; a few more doughty blows and it was dispersed.What Asiatic infantry there was decamped at once. Thetwenty thousand Greek mercenaries, under Omares, alonestood firm. They fought for their reputation as Greeks aswell as for their lives. Drawn up in close order, they refusedto stir. They begged for quarter, but Alexander refused it.They had been inactively watching a battlethey might perhapshave saved, and had no orders which could apply to thisunforeseen, incredible result. They fought like Greeks. Butthey were surrounded by the phalanx ; the cavalry of theright closed in on their left ; the Thessalians rode aroundtheir right; they were cut to pieces where they stood, twothousand alone being captured. In this last attack, Alexanderhad his horse killed under him.About one thousand Persian horsemen were slain, but afearful percentage of the chief officers fell, for they had recklesslyexposed their persons. Among these were the viceroyof Lydia, the governor of Cappadocia, the son, the son-inlaw,and the brother-in-law of Darius, and many other princes.On the Macedonian side some twenty-five Companions of thevan were killed, and sixty of the other cavalry. Many hundredswere wounded. Less than three thousand horse hadbeen engaged on the right.in the attack on the Greek phalanx.Some thirty footmen were killedIt seems as if this statementmust be below the truth. The query naturally arises,the latter being well armed, placed where they must fight fortheir lives, and in the open field, how could theMacedoniansslay so many thousands of them with a loss of only thirtyinfantry? This question is always cropping up in ancientand mediaeval warfare. The only explanation is that thebeaten, broken army becomes a mere mob, — demoralized,