Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 126.djvu/16

4 word to produce conviction that such conduct is that of a wise general.

The Persian satraps had assembled a force, powerful in cavalry, but in infantry very inferior to the Greeks, to prevent his crossing of this river, which, by the uncertainty of the bottom and steepness of the banks, was in itself formidable enough. The day was far gone, and Parmenio urged that the enemy would not dare to pass the night in proximity to Grecian infantry so superior. (Persian cavalry always dreaded a night attack, and systematically, according to Xenophon, passed the night some twelve miles distant from an enemy.) Hence the Greeks would be able to cross by night without opposition. The young king replied that, after crossing the Hellespont, it was disgraceful to be afraid of the little Granicus; and presently plunged into the stream, bidding his thirteen squadrons of cavalry to follow. The violence and depth of the water, the rugged banks, and the enemy awaiting him, rather incited than appalled Alexander. It seemed, says Plutarch, to be a strategy of despair, not of wisdom, and indeed to be the deed of a maniac. But the young king was certain of one thing — that wherever he led, his Macedonians would follow; and this fact was the impetus to all his military conduct. The Macedonians, from their long spears had advantage in close combat over the Persians who fought with swords; but darts and arrows from above were severely felt while they were in the river. Struggling up with difficulty through the mud, they could not keep any ranks and lines of battle, and the opposite squadrons became mixed, horse pushing against horse. The single helmet displayed Alexander to the enemy, and three eminent Persians hurried into personal conflict with him. According to Arrian, Alexander slew the first, received from the second a blow of the sword which cut off the crest of his helmet; nevertheless him too he slew with the Macedonian pike. The third would undoubtedly have killed Alexander had he not himself first been pierced through the body by the Macedonian Cleitus.

Not unlike was the conduct of the younger Cyrus in the battle of Cunaxa, as narrated by Xenophon; but Cyrus egregiously miscalculated in expecting his mercenary, the Spartan Clearchus, to obey orders. Cyrus impetuously rushed against the Persian king's body-guard, commanding Clearchus to support him. But Clearchus thought this a rash procedure, disobeyed, and allowed Cyrus to be surrounded and killed; thus sacrificing the whole object of the expedition, and exposing all the Greek troops to difficulties so severe that their ultimate escape appeared miraculous. Alexander's troops and Alexander's generals were of different mettle; on that he counted, and was never deceived. Fearless exposure of his own person was his mode of inciting them; but they quite understood the error and the mischief of such conduct. Even after the final overthrow of Darius, if Alexander had been slain in battle no one could measure the calamity which such an event might entail. Nevertheless he retained this habit of acting the part of soldier as well as of general, being many times severely wounded with swords, darts, arrows, and stones, until he narrowly escaped with life in his Indian campaign. Arrian gives the account in great detail. The wall was difficult to ascend. The king thought his soldiers deficient in spirit, seized a ladder, and himself climbed to the top. Alarm for his exposure made so many hurry tumultuously that their weight broke the ladders. Finding himself alone on the top of the wall, he leaped down on the other side, and, in spite of prodigies of valour, received a very dangerous arrow-wound in the breast. The Macedonians poured in after him just in time to save his life, which for days after was accounted doubtful. His friends severely reproached him for an imprudence which might have been the ruin of them all; and (says Arrian) he was greatly vexed, because he knew that their reproaches were just; but as other men are overcome by other vices, so was he by this impetus to fight. This being his habit, surely no more words are needed I to show the character of his generalship.