CHAP. 111.] 



ROMAN CAVALRY. 



101 



an 



over 

 linson, 



a desert country, exposed to great heat and without 

 water, the remains of one of his patrols or reconnoitring 

 parties of horse came in with the information, that they 

 had been attacked by Parthian cavalry, that their 

 comrades had been killed, and that they had made their 

 escape with the greatest difficulty. They reported the 

 enemy to be very numerous, and in the highest spirits. 

 Crassus at once formed his army in battle array in one 

 long line, the infantry in the centre, the cavalry upon 

 the wings. He extended his line as much as possible, in 

 order to prevent his army being surrounded, but after- 

 wards, evidently feeling that no extent of front could 

 ^ 'event that difficulty, with so numerous a force of 

 horsemen before him, he wisely altered his formation, 

 and drew up his legions in close order. 



Plutarch is rather obscure in his description of the 

 order of battle adopted by Crassus. It seems most 

 probable that his men were placed in three bodies of 

 twenty-four cohorts each, twelve fronting each way, and 

 back to back to each other, so that they would form a 

 solid oblong. Between these three masses and upon the 

 flanks were divided the cavalry and light troops. The 

 younger Crassus, who had served with great distinction 

 under Caesar in Gaul, and who had joined his father for 

 this campaign, commanded one wing ; Cassius, who after- 

 wards assassinated Csesar, commanded the other. Crassus 

 himself took up his position in the centre. 



In this order they marched forward to the banks of 

 the river Belik or Balissus, where the wearied soldiers 

 were able to obtain water to quench their thirst, after 

 the fatigues of a march over the heated desert. The 

 officers advised Crassus to camp on the banks until 

 morning, but Publius Crassus, with the natural impetuo- 

 sity of a young cavalry officer, and incited by the eager- 

 ness of the horsemen whom he commanded, urged his 

 father vehemently to move on at once to the attack. 

 Crassus, influenced by his son, commanded his army to 

 take some refreshment as they stood in their ranks, 

 and hardly waiting till they had finished, he again 

 resumed his march with increased haste. 



