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

XXIX.THE PERSIAN" GATES. DECEMBER, B. C. 331, TO MARCH,B. C. 330.From the Uxian mountains Alexander sent Parmenio with the train andheavy troops towards Persis, by the road south of the range ; with the lighterand picked troops he advanced through the mountains, where at the PersianGates Ariobarzanes and forty thousand men now held the defile. Reachingthe position, Alexander essayed to force it, hoping for the same success he hadmet with at the Cilician Gates. But he found the task impossible, and wasdriven hack with much loss. He was at a standstill. The pass could not becarried. Yet he must not leave this force behind him in his advance on Persepolis; it could create a dangerous diversion in his rear. Luckily, among his prisoners,Alexander found a Lycian slave who had been shepherd here for manyyears. This man pointed out to Alexander paths by which he could turn thedefile. Leaving Craterus behind to hold the attention of the Persians, Alexanderset out along these paths with a picked force. His exertions were incredible,but they were rewarded with success ; on the second night he reachedAriobarzanes' rear, and attacked him at daylight. Craterus joined in, and betweenthem the position was carried. Alexander then moved towards theAraxes, which he had sent forward to bridge, and reached Persepolis in seasonto prevent the despoiling of its treasury. But in revenge for the burning ofAthens, Alexander gave the city up to pillage, and set fire to the palace.Here he gave his men a four months' rest, but he himself spent the time inreducing the mountain tribes of Persis, and especially the Mardians to thesouth.From the Uxian mountains Alexander advanced in twocolumns. He sent Parmenio by the road along the foot-hillsto the south, with the baggage and siege train, the Thessaliancavalry, the Greek allies and mercenaries, and the heavierpart of the phalanx, while he himself, with the lighter part,the Companion cavalry, the lancers and horse-bowmen, theAgrianians and archers, pushed on by forced marches over