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

ALEXANDER CUT OFF. 301Having passed through the northerly or Amanic Gates,Darius had now placed himself in Alexander's rear. AtIssus, which he reachei. on the same day that Alexanderwent into camp at M^^ riandrus, he found some of the Macedoniansick and wour ded, left behind by Alexander. Thesehe cruelly maimed raid slew. lie then moved forward to thePinarus.Alexander was loath to believe that Darius was at Issus.He sent some of the Companions by sea in a triaconteros, orfast sailing long boat, manned by one bank offifteen rowerson each side, to reconnoitre, and these speedily ascertainedthe fact. Even Alexander's bold spirit must at fiist havebeen startled at the miscalculation which had thus resulted incompromising his safety. But he by no means allowed it to beknown, and his powers of conception and action were never sogreat as when he was most hardly pushed. In this qualityhe has been equalled perhaps by no one except by Frederick.It is probable that his apprehensions soon disappeared inlooking at the other side of the question, a habit of mindhe strongly possessed. He knew his own power of manoeuvring; he saw that the enemy, though standing athwart hispath, had far from as good ground as on the Sochi plainshe knew that the vast host could not long subsist in Ciliciahe knew that they were not ably led, despite the undoubtedindividual bravery of their leaders and excellence of the men.Were he alone to be consulted he might have risked a gooddeal and resorted to any feasible stratagem to place Darius inthis, to the Macedonians, really advantageous position, however threatening it may at first have appeared. Even Alexander,however, before the event, would scarcely have dreamedof trying to induce the Great King to cross the range to Issus.But the effect on the troops was different and might easilyhave become alarming. To a surprise like this it is always