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

LOSSES IN BATTLE. 433whether the king and Parmenio at any time joined hands onthis campaign. Alexander found of much use in these operations,the above named troop of horse darters. They wereequipped like the Parthian cavalry, and for a mountainousterrain were all but unaj^proachable in efficiency. The kingwas not above learning even from hisenemies, and adopteda number of the Oriental methods, especially in the lightcavalry.Mardia was added to the satrapy of Autophradates, whohad lately been continued in office as satrap of Tarj)uria.Having thus made secure the whole mountain chain, Alexanderreturned to Zadracarta, where he celebrated games andheld feasts for two weeks. Parmenio was sent back to Ecbatanain command.As Alexander had learned when in Media, theanti-Macedonianturmoils of Greece had been settled for some time bythe defeat of Agis, king of Sparta, and his death in the bloodybattle of Megalopolis.The losses in this battle have alreadybeen referred to, and these, as well as modern losses, have oftenbeen compared to the moderate list of killed in Alexander'sbattles. These losses have been already discussed and theirrelation to modern casualties shown.But it must not be forgottenthat losses in action are but one of the measui^es of asoldier's tenacity and value, and the measure of but one of thequalities of a captain.It is methods and results which guagea general, not the capacity to kill or stand killing. The mostsplendid triumphs of history are not the hecatombs.WouldArbela have been tactically any more superb a battle, if Alexanderhad lost thrice the number killed ? Rather the reverseis true. To accomplish great results with the leastexpenditure of life is one of the very highest tests of ability.Nor is this incompatible with the courage to sacrifice troopsto the last man, for an object worthy of the sacrifice and