CHAP. II.] 



THE GREEK CAVALRY. 



27 



as well as provisions by the passes of Cithseron that lead 

 to Platcea.^ Mardoniiis detached a party of cavalry in 

 the night to make a detour, in the hope of striking a blow 

 at the communications of his enemy. Upon issuing 

 on the plain these horsemen came upon a convoy of 500 

 beasts carrying provisions from Peloponnesus to the 

 Grecian army. They immediately attacked and captured 

 the convoy, killing many of the escort as well as of 

 the beasts, and carrying off the remainder to their own 

 lines. This is probably as early a record as there is of 

 cavalry being detached in this way to operate upon the 

 enemy's rear. 



The mounted archers were, of the Persian army, the 

 greatest annoyance to the Greeks. They harassed them 

 by riding up and hurling javelins and arrows, but care- 

 fully avoiding a close engagement.^ These cavalry cut 

 them off from the river Asopus, so that the Greeks 

 were much distressed for want of water. Their attend- 

 ants, who were sent to Peloponnesus to get provisions, 

 were also shut out by the cavalry and unable to reach 

 the camp. For a while they were in a most dangerous 

 position, and were obliged to consult how to get away 

 to an island on the Asopus, where they hoped to be 

 free from the attacks of the cavalry.^ They resolved 

 to march in the night, that they might not be seen, 

 and that the enemy's horse might not follow and 

 annoy them. 



This brought on the battle of Platsea, which resulted 

 in a complete victory for the Greeks.* The Boeotian 

 cavalry did good service to the Persians in covering the 

 retreat.^ The Theban cavalry fell in after the battle with 

 the Megarians and Phliasians who were coming up to 

 join the Greek army, and charged upon them.** Hero- 

 dotus says they threw down and killed six hundred of 

 them, and drove the rest headlong to Mount Cithaeron. 

 The whole account seems to give the idea that 

 the charge was pushed home, and vigorous in its 

 character. 



' Herodotus, ix. 38, 39. 2 ibid. 49. 

 6 Ibid. 68. « Ibid. 69. 



3 Ibid. 51. * Ibid. 62, 63. 



