ALEXANDER AT WAR

At dawn the forces drew up in their lines. The king stationed his son Alexander (who was little more than a child in age but was noted for his bravery and for the swiftness of his action) on one wing and stationed at Alexander’s side the most outstanding of his generals. The king himself held the command of the other wing, accompanied by a selection group. He arranged, as the circumstances required, the ranks that could be disposed at will. The Athenians made the division of their line according to nationality. They assigned one wing to the Boeatians but kept command of the remaining one for themselves. When the battle began, it was hotly contested for a long time and many men fell on both sides, to the point that neither side could be certain of the hope of victory that was held out by the struggle.
Alexander was eager to display his prowess to his father and exceeded all the rest in ambition; likewise many of the men who fought alongside him were able. At this point he made the first break in the solid line of the enemy. He killed many and kept wearing down the troops drawn up opposite him. His companions did the same, and kept making breaks in the solid line. The pile of corpses grew. Alexander and his men were the first to overpower their opponents and put them to fight. After this the king himself bore the brunt of the battle and did not yield the credit for the victory even to Alexander. He first forced back the troops that were stationed opposite him and then, after compelling them to