Rhode Island American, Statesman And Providence Gazette

Passage of Alexander the Great over the Balkan.—He found the defiles in possession of the mountaineers, and other independent Thracian tribes. They had occupied the summit of a mountain that completely commanded the pass, and rendered advance impossible. Alexander carefully examined the mountain range, but failed to discover any other practicable defile. He determined, therefore, to storm the enemy's position, and thus force his way.—The mountain's brow was crowned with a line of wagons, intended not only to serve as a rampart, but to be rolled down precipitously upon the ascending phalanx. In order to meet this danger, Alexander ordered the soldiers to open their ranks, where the ground would allow it, and permit the wagons to pass through the intervals: where that was impossible, to throw themselves upon the ground to lock their shields together in that position, and allow the wagons to roll over them.—The shields of the Macedonian phalanx could be interlinked in cases of necessity. This enabled them to disperse the pressure of the wheels among many bucklers, and when the first shock had been withstood, the wagons glided lightly over the brazen pavement, and quitted it with a bound. A few were injured by the crush, but not a man was killed. Encouraged by the success of this new manœuvre, they arose, charged up the hill, gained the summit, and the victory was won; for the half-armed barbarians could not withstand the charge of the serried line of pikes, and fled over the hills in every direction.—

Murray's Family Library.