CHAP. II.] 



THE GREEK CAVALRY. 



37 



struck upon their right and right rear, while Alexander 

 charged upon their left and left rear. The result was 

 a complete victory ; all the foreign mercenaries in the 

 Persian army were killed, except 2,000 who surrendered 

 themselves prisoners. 



Nothing could be better than the conduct of Alexan- 

 der in this action as a commander of cavalry. The 

 battle in its main features is very similar to the battle 

 of Rocroy, where the great Cond^ won the victory by 

 a like use of his cavalry. How diflferent from Prince 

 Rupert at Naseby and Marston Moor, or Jean de Wert 

 at Nordlingen ! 



At the battle of Issus Alexander again fought on 

 the right wing, and charged across the river in 

 face of a flight of arrows, but the moment they came 

 to hand blows the enemy turned their backs and 

 fled.^ The Greek mercenaries in the army of Darius 

 in this battle also fought desperately, and inflicted heavy 

 losses upon the Macedonians before they were defeated. 

 As soon as the mercenaries gave way, Alexander with 

 his cavalry pressed the pursuit vigorously, so much so, 

 that Darius had to abandon his chariot with his cloak, 

 bow, and shield, while he escaped on horseback under 

 cover of the night. 



At the battle of Arbela, Alexander, as usual, fought 

 on the right wing at the head of his cavalry, where the 

 decisive struggle took place in preventing the Persians 

 from turning the right flank of the Macedonian army. 

 The Persian line far overlapT^ed their opponents, and the 

 turning movement woulc have succeeded, had not 

 Alexander, in anticipation of it, formed a reserve or 

 second line, from which he ordered up the auxiliary 

 horse under Menidas to attack them while in motion 

 and drive them back. A desperate struggle ensued, and 

 here was seen the importance of fresh reserves in a 

 cavalry action. Menidas, overpowered, began to fall 

 back, when Aretes, with the Pseonians, was ordered to his 

 relief, and the barbarians gave way. But another body 

 of Bactrians coming to the aid of the flying Persians, 



' Arrian, ii. ch. 10. 



