CHAPTER XIV.

ARRANGEMENT OF THE HOSTILE ARMIES.

Having spoken thus, he sent Parmenio to command upon the left wing,

while he led in person on the right. And at the head of the right wing

he placed the following officers:—Philotas, son of Parmenio, with the

cavalry Companions, the archers, and the Agrianian javelin-men; and

Amyntas, son of Arrhabaeus, with the cavalry carrying the long pike,

the Paeonians, and the squadron of Socrates, was posted near Philotas.

Close to these were posted the Companions who were shield-bearing

infantry under the command of Nicanor, son of Parmenio. Next to these

the brigade of Perdiccas, son of Orontes, then that of Coenus, son of

Polemocrates; then that of Craterus,[124] son of Alexander, and that of

Amyntas, son of Andromenes; finally, the men commanded by Philip, son

of Amyntas. The first on the left wing were the Thessalian cavalry,

commanded by Calas, son of Harpalus;[125] next to these, the cavalry of

the Grecian allies, commanded by Philip, son of Menelaüs;[126] next to

these the Thracians, commanded by Agatho.[127] Close to these were the

infantry, the brigades of Craterus, Meleager, and Philip, reaching as

far as the centre of the entire line.

The Persian cavalry were about 20,000 in number, and their infantry,

consisting of Grecian mercenaries, fell a little short of the same

number.[128] They had extended their horse along the bank of the river

in a long phalanx, and had posted the infantry behind the cavalry,

for the ground above the bank was steep and commanding. They also

marshalled dense squadrons of cavalry upon that part of the bank where

they observed Alexander himself advancing against their left wing;

for he was conspicuous both by the brightness of his arms and by the

respectful service of his attendants. Both armies stood a long time

at the margin of the river, keeping quiet from dread of the result;

and profound silence was observed on both sides. For the Persians were

waiting till the Macedonians should step into the water, with the

intention of attacking them as they emerged. Alexander leaped upon his

steed, ordering those about him to follow, and exhorting them to show

themselves valiant men. He then commanded Amyntas, son of Arrhabaeus,

to make the first rush into the river at the head of the skirmishing

cavalry, the Paeonians, and one regiment of infantry; and in front of

these he had placed Ptolemy, son of Philip, in command of the squadron

of Socrates, which body of men indeed on that day happened to have

the lead of all the cavalry force. He himself led the right wing with

sounding of trumpets, and the men raising the war-cry to Enyalius.[129]

He entered the ford, keeping his line always extended obliquely in the

direction in which the stream flowed, in order that the Persians might

not fall upon him on the flank as he was emerging from the water, but

that he might, as far as practicable,[130] encounter them with his

phalanx.