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

DARIUS' GENERALS. 363a million infantry and one hundred thousand horse. Therewere two hundred scythed chariots which had scythes on theaxles and yokes and a spear on the pole, and fifteen elephantsbrought by the Indian contingent, and now for the first timeintroduced into warfare against Europeans. The ti'oops werecommanded as follows : Bessus, viceroy of Bactria, commandedthe Bactrians, Indians, and Sogdianians ; Mavacescommanded the Sacians, who were mostly horse-bo\vmenBarsaentes, satrap of Arachotia, led the Arachotians andMountain Indians ; Satibarzanes, satrap of Aria, led a largebody of Arians ; Phrataphernes led the Parthian, Hyrcanian,and Tarpurian contingents, all horsemen ; Atropatesled the Medes, Cadusians, Albanians, and Sacessinians ;Orontobates, Ariobarzanes, and Otanes led the divisionsraised near the Red Sea ; Oxathres commanded the Uxiansand Susianians ; Boupares commanded the Babylonians, Carians,and Sitacenians ; Orontes and Mithraustes commandedthe Armenians ; Ariaces led the Capj)adocians ; Mazseus ledthe Coele-Syrians and Mesopotamians.The places in line of some of these troops are not given byany of the authorities ; and there is as considerable variationin chiefs and nations as in numbers. As usual, unless manifestlywrong, Arrian has been followed. The discrepanciesare readily to be explained by the assumption that, when deployedin line of battle, the commands of many of the importantchiefs were enlarged.Darius' position was well chosen. It was on a large plain,near Gaugamela, and the ground had been carefully leveled,all obstacles had been removed, and the brush cut down, toallow the free evolutions of the chariots and horse.Alexander gave his army four days' rest. We can imaginethe Macedonian soldiers repairing and sharpening their weaponsand polishing their shields and armor with unusual care.