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

574 A BLOCKADE.not tlie least sign of wavering, but fought with the utmostgallantry and steadiness, as if certain of and used to victory.The phalangites were not so good at this sort of fighting asat contests in the open field. Alexander rarely came so nearto failure in his task. But after a long and bloody tussle,the barbarians were finally ousted fi'om the second row ofwagons. And as if despairing of success in contending againstsuch foes, they attempted no stand at the third row, but retiredinto the city and closed the gates.The walls were of such extent that Alexander could notfully surround the city, but he posted cavalry pickets on thesides he could not blockade, for he expected that the Indianswould make an attempt to escape in the night. Tliis expectationproved true, but the sortie was unsuccessful ; the foremostIndians were at once cut down by the Macedonianvidettes, who were alert and active, and the rest gave upthe attempt and returned within walls. Alexander was nowdriven to something like a siege. He began by surroundingthree sides of the city with a stockade which he could holdwith fewer men. But the side farthest from his main camp,where lay the lake, he picketed carefully with cavalry.prepared also to build towers and engines to override andbatter down the walls.HeBut he learned from some desertersthat the enemy would try again on one of the succeedingnights to escape from the city by way of the lake, where theysaw that there was no stockade, and through which, the waterbeing shallow, they could wade. Alexander accordingly stationedPtolemy, son of Lagus, at this point, with three chiliarchiasof shield-bearing guards, the Agrianians, and onetaxis ofarchers, giving him orders, in case the Indians madea sortie, to hold them in check at all hazards, and sound thealarm. And he instructed the rest of the forces to remainunder arms and ready, upon hearing this signal, to march atan instant's notice to the spot thus indicated.