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

THE ADVANCE. 375had ordered the phalangites to be ready — as at MountHaemus — to open spaces for the chariots to pass through,and, as we have seen, had detailed javelin-throwers in theirfront to wound or frighten the horses as they came by. Alexanderproposed to open by a charge of his cavalry cVelite onthe left of the Persian centre, opposite which his own rightstood arrayed. As he was about to advance, he learned by adeserter that caltrops had been scattered in certain parts ofthe field. He took some ground to the right to avoid these,probably by a right half wheel and an advance by iles inechelon. It was moreover natural for him to manoeuvre inthis direction lest the much longer Persian lineshould overwhelmhis right flank.It is not improbable that Alexander anticipated that thisobliquing manoeuvre might induce the Persian left to followin a parallel line, and thus open a gap between the Persianleft wing and centre, or at least unsteady the line. Whateverhis intentions, his movement had this effect. For, perceivingthis manoeuvre, and fearing that Alexander might get hiswhole army beyond the leveled ground where alone thescythed chariots could operate to advantage or the cavalry acteffectively, Darius impatiently launched the chariots againsthim, followed up by an advance of liis centre, and at thesame time ordered forward the leading squadrons of his cavalry,one thousand Bactrians and some of the Scythians, toenvelop the Macedonian right and prevent any further obliquing.Alexander ordered out Menidas to oppose this charge.But the Scythians and Bactrians so largely outnumberedMenidas that they bore him back. Aristo with his Paeonianswas then launched on the enemy, and drove him back somedistance, till the rest of the Bactrians under Bessus, fourteenthousand in all, they and the Scythians wearing more andheavier armor than the Macedonians, reestablished the Per-