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

THE CAUCASUS PASSES. 451which Bessus hoped that Satibarzanes would create a sufficientdiversion on Alexander's rear to keep him out of Baetria.The king dispatched against them the Persian Artabazus,with the Greek mercenaries, including those who hadserved under Darius, some six thousand all told, accompaniedby Erigyius and Caranus, with six hundred Greek alliedhorse ; ordering Phrataphernes, the viceroy of the Parthians,to afford them all aid within his power, Parmenio's veterans,some eleven thousand men, had now joined the army, leavingOleander, with the new levies from Greece, in Ecbatana.This reinforcement enabled Alexander the more easily tomake the necessary detachment. The officers mentioned,basing on Prophthasia, did their work with energy and skill.In an obstinately contested battle, Satibarzanes was killed,and his forces dispersed. This task completed, Artabazus,Erigyius and Caranus rejoined the army.Alexander was now in the valley of the Cophen (modernCabul) River. This valley, near Nicea (modern Cabul), issome six thousand three hundred feet above the sea. To thenorth of him lay the Parapamisus. There are now, and wereprobably then, among others, three principal passes throughthe range, leading to the Oxus valley beyond, — up the affluentsof the Cophen, and down those of the Oxus. The northeastroad leads to Inderaub (ancient Drapsaca) up the PandshirValley and over the Khawak Pass, thirteen thousand twohundred feet in altitude.The west road runs up the KushanValley and over the Hindu-Koosh Pass to Ghori. This wasthe one by which Alexander returned. The southwest roadgoes up the Ghorband Valley over the Hajiyak Pass to Bamian,by a road over three hundred miles from Cabul. Alexandercamped nearest the easterly passes, which are by farthe most difficult ones. He recognized that Bessus wouldprobably expect him by the easier route, and make prepara-