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

60 PERSIAN TACTICS.in the East then, as now, the constant companion of man, andcavalry was the natural arm.The best heavy cavahy was thePersian ; then followed the Median, that of Asia Minor, theParthian.The nomad tribes furnished an excellent light cavairy,much like the Cossacks of to-day.The foot was more numerous but less good. The lighttroops, slingers, darters and archers, wei'e abundant, but hadlittle discipline. The Greek mercenaries furnished thestanchest of the heavy troops. There were as high as fiftythousand in the Persian service at one time.Bodies of nativetroops were organized in like fashion. Some of the Persianswere accoutred in the most splendid manner ; wore scaledarmor and carried weapons of the finest description. Chariots,plain and scythed, were in vogue, and camels bearingarchers and darters were not uncommon.There had been no progress in tactics since the elder Cyrus.Organization and discipline in the field were wretched. Onthe march there was no order.The army camped near waterand pasturage, and surrounded the camps with wagons, stockadesand earthworks, — sometimes using their shields as acapping to the latter. The higher generals had tents ; thecommonalty slept in huts in permanent camps, or withoutshelter in daily camps. In battle, the Persians, relying ontheir bravery, preferred to advance straight on the enemy,without resort to stratagem or tactical manoeuvres. Wide,open plains were their usual choice for battlefields, on whichtheirnumbers, and especially the cavalry and chariots, couldact to the best advantage.They formed in a long line so asto lap the enemy's flanks, the cavalry on the wings, the chariotsin front. The centre was the place of honor. Here the kingtook his stand surrounded by his body-guard.On either sidewere placed the chosen troops, in great squares, always thirty,often one hundred deep, with light troops stationed all about