The Persian
attack commences
successfully.
For some time
the battle continues
doubtful.
But Darius commenced the battle at this moment, by making
a signal for his chariots to advance, and Bessus to charge
Alexander’s left flank simultaneously with the Massagetian
cavalry. The former caused considerable loss and disorder as
they broke through the first line of the Macedonians at full
speed, and the danger was increased by Mazacus having got
into the rear of the Macedonian left; at the head of 1,000 horse
he reached the baggage, and not only released many of the
captives, who were slightly guarded, but he was at the point of
also rescuing the family of his master.1
Parmenio being alarmed, sent Polydamus for orders; when
Alexander replied, that victory will not only recover what is
lost, but obtain what belongs to the enemy also ; “ Let him not,
therefore,” said the king, “ weaken the order of battle or be
influenced by the loss of baggage, but continue to fight in a
manner worthy of Philip and Alexander.”
Amyntas, however, with some squadrons, made an attempt
to rescue the baggage, and on being repulsed by the Cadusians
and Scythians, he retreated towards the king, who was so
uneasy lest the soldiers might quit their ranks to save their
effects, that he despatched Aretas with his lancers to attack the
latter.2
By this time the chariots had penetrated the phalanx, and the
flanks of the horses being pierced right and left, they became
unmanageable; a frightful carnage ensued of horses and men,
and there was a general discomfiture; some carriages, however,
penetrated to the rear, mangling and killing the unfortunate
beings whom they happened to meet. In the meanwhile Aretas
killed the chief of the Scythians whilst pillaging, and pursued
his people; but the Bactrians having recovered the lost ground,
the Macedonians sought safety by flying towards Alexander.3
Uttering the cry of victory, the Persians fell with fury upon the
enemy as if he had been everywhere defeated; which, in fact,
must have been the result, had not the intrepid leader maintained
the contest almost single handed. Having at length by
his animating example, reproaching and exciting alternately,
1 Quint. Curt., lib. IV ., cap. xiii., xv.
2 Ibid., cap. xv. 3 Ibid.
renewed the courage of his soldiers, and a successful charge
being made at their head, it was followed up by an attack on
the Persians; but being taken in reverse as he advanced by
the left wing of the enemy, Alexander would have been destroyed,
if the Agrian cavalry had not attacked the latter in
rear, and obliged them to face about to defend themselves.1
This caused an extraordinary, if not an unprecedented state
of things. Alexander was engaged at the same time with an Alexander
enemy in his front and another in the rear. The latter were Sins hismam"
attacked by the Agrians, and these in turn by the Bactrians, g™““1-
who had returned with their pillage, and being unable to
resume their ranks, fought according to chance in a desultory
manner.
A succession of hostile bodies encircling one another in deadly
strife, must ere long have been fatal to one of the armies, and
owing to what was of itself an accidental circumstance this
melee ended by the total overthrow of the Persians. Darius
was in a chariot, Alexander on horseback, and each surrounded state of the
by followers ready either to conquer his rival, or fall under the hTtheday.r
eye of their prince, when the death of his charioteer, who was
killed by a dart thrown by Alexander himself, gave rise to the
belief in both armies, that Darius himself had fallen.2
Previously the battle had been stoutly and successfully contested.
The baggage and spoil of Alexander’s army had been
plundered by Mazaeus, his right wing was taken in reverse, his
left was worsted by the Massagetian horse,3 and even in the
heat of the battle, after their chief dependence, the chariots, had
been overthrown, the Persians maintained their ground during
the carnage, till they thought they saw their sovereign fall.3
From this instant there was a complete panic, the centre and Panic and
left flying amidst indescribable and irremediable confusion ; 5t6e
and Darius was hurried along in a cloud of dust, so dense, that
it is said the sound of the whips urging the horses was the only
guide by which Alexander pursued the fugitive monarch.4 The
1 Quint. Curt., lib. IV ., cap. xv.
Diod. Sic., lib. X V II., cap. v iii.; Arrian does not mention this circum-
stance.
8 Quint. Curt., lib. IV.,. cap. xv. 4 Ibid;