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

5G0 A CURIOUS SITUATION.Alexander's charge on the right dispersed them.They appearto have been of no use whatever in the battle, and the factthat no further mention is made of them looks as if therehad been some change in their position prior to Alexander'sattack.Alexander's cavalry had by this time become so much disorganizedby its repeated assaults and by the turmoil createdby the elephants that he could no longer carry on his systematiccharges ; but as Coenus had been able to join him,the united body of cavalry considerably outweighed the enemy's,not to speak of quality ; and Alexander kept j)ressinghome, though irregularly yet with extraordinary vehemence,upon the Indians and elephants. These creatures, now unmanageable,rushed again against the Macedonian phalanx,creating some considerable confusion and loss ; but beingdriven back, for thephalangians bore themselves admirablyunder these novel conditions, and though much broken up,always rallied again at trumpet-call, they retiredthrough thelines ofthe enemy, doing vastly more damage to their friendsthan they had inflicted on their foes.The situation was most curious. Alexander and Coenuscontinued their pressure on the enemy's right front, flank andrear, and though themselves much unstrung, they maintainedtheir purpose, and theirrepeated charges became very fatal.The Macedonian horse showed that peculiar effect of disciplinewhich results in the capacity to rally and reform, howeverserious the disaster, so soon as the immediate pressure isremoved. The elephants were again and again urged forwardon the phalanx ; but they were received with wounds, anddriven back, doing vast damage to the Indian line.The lighttroops under Tauron were peculiarly effectiveagainst them.The Macedonian infantry had plenty of elbow room, and couldopen ranks or retire from the elephants, and again close up