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

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

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XXXV.SPITAMENES. SUMMER, B. C. 329, TO FALL, B. C. 328.The Scythian campaign had given <strong>the</strong> Sogdianians time for preparation.Spitamenes was <strong>the</strong> ruling spirit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> insurrection. He had unsuccessfidlytried to seize Marac<strong>and</strong>a. <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong> dispatched a force against him. Thesemen drove him into <strong>the</strong> desert, hut heing poorly led, Spitamenes turned upon<strong>the</strong>m, surrounded <strong>the</strong>m near <strong>the</strong> Polytimetus, <strong>and</strong> massacred <strong>the</strong>m, to <strong>the</strong>numher <strong>of</strong> over two thous<strong>and</strong>. <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong>, when he learned <strong>of</strong> this disaster,had just completed his Jax<strong>art</strong>es programme. By a forced march, he reached<strong>the</strong> scene in four days. But Spitamenes fled. <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong> took bitter revengeby devastating <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>. The winter was spent in Zariaspa with many feastsbut more labor. A dozen new cities were st<strong>art</strong>ed, <strong>and</strong> Sogdiana again colonized.Considerable <strong>and</strong> much needed reinforcements reached <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong> inZariaspa, <strong>and</strong> embassies <strong>from</strong> many <strong>and</strong> distant nations came to him. He beganto plan for his Indian campaign ; but <strong>the</strong> Sogdianians again rose underSpitamenes, <strong>and</strong> intrenched <strong>the</strong>mselves in <strong>the</strong> mountain strongholds. Ano<strong>the</strong>rcampaign became essential. <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong> divided his troops into five flying columns,<strong>and</strong> traversing <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong> in length <strong>and</strong> breadth, stamjied out <strong>the</strong> insurrectiononce for all, <strong>and</strong> rendezvoused at Marac<strong>and</strong>a. Spitamenes, with a force <strong>of</strong>nomads, was still afoot <strong>and</strong> threatened much trouble, but between Craterus<strong>and</strong> Coenns he was defeated, <strong>and</strong> finally murdered by his own allies. He was<strong>the</strong> last <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rebels.<strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong>'s delay at <strong>the</strong> Jax<strong>art</strong>es had given time for<strong>the</strong> Sogdianian revolt to make much headway. In p<strong>art</strong> bythreats, in p<strong>art</strong> by cajolery, Spitamenes had induced <strong>the</strong> entirepopulation to join <strong>the</strong> insurrection. They were like clayin <strong>the</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> potter. The delay had been unavoidable ;but so soon as <strong>the</strong> Scythian question was settled, <strong>Alex<strong>and</strong>er</strong>lost no time in turning to<strong>war</strong>ds Marac<strong>and</strong>a.Spitamenes with his immediate comm<strong>and</strong> had been ablemake but small impression against <strong>the</strong> garrison <strong>of</strong> Marac<strong>and</strong>a.The Macedonians had not only held him at bay, but had madeto

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