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

306 DARIUS' ARMY.to retire right and left around the flanks. He was well intrenched.The Pinarus formed his ditch ; its northern bank,which was high, his wall. He had in his army some thirtythousand heavy armed Greek mercenaries under Thymondas,son of Mentor. These he placed opposite the Macedonianphalanx, which he couldsee from his position as it deployedinto line, and on both sides of this he placed double theirnumber of Cardaces (foreign mercenaries known by this name)who were also heavy armed and trained to combat hand tohand. There is some conflict of authorities as to the numbersand positions of the Greeks and Cardaces.But the conflict isnot material. This part of the Persian force was in the centimeand more than ample.The Greeks and Cardaces appear tohave formed the firstline. If ninety thousand strong, and in a phalanx sixteendeep, they would occupy a breadth of over three miles.Calisthenesstates the then breadth of the valley at the Pinarusas fourteen stadia. To crowd into this breadth (one and twothirds miles), the Greeks and Cardaces would have to betwenty-five deep. These questions are interesting, but by nomeans material to that consideration of the subject on whichthis work is intended to dwell. They may have been in twoor more lines.Some twenty thousand men, perhaps the Cardaces in part,were on the extreme left, near the mountains, on the leftbank of the Pinarus. They were intended as a threat toAlexander's right. For, owing to the configuration of theground, which had once been a bay in the seacoast, part ofthis latter force would extend beyond the rear of Alexander'sright flank, so soon as he advanced. This was a clever formation,and deserved success.The rest of Darius' men were drawn up in rear of thisfront line, by nations, in columns so ordered that they might.