Book 4
8.8
After this exchange of pledges the Macronians at once began to help the Greeks cut down the trees and to build the road in order to get them across, mingling freely with the Greeks; and they supplied as good a marketSee note on Xen. Anab. 1.2.18. as they could, and conducted the Greeks on their way for three days, until they brought them to the boundaries of the Colchians.
8.9
At this place was a great mountain, and upon this mountain the Colchians were drawn up in line of battle. At first the Greeks formed an opposing line of battle, with the intention of advancing in this way upon the mountain, but afterwards the generals decided to gather together and take counsel as to how they could best make the contest.
8.10
Xenophon accordingly said that in his opinion they should give up the line of battle and form the companies in column.See Xen. Anab. 4.6.6, and note. Of course it is the opposite movement that is now in contemplation. For the line, he continued, will be broken up at once; for we shall find the mountain hard to traverse at some points and easy at others; and the immediate result will be discouragement, when men who are formed in line of battle see the line broken up.
8.11
Furthermore, if we advance upon them formed in a line many ranks deep, the enemy will outflank us, and will use their outflanking wing for whatever purpose they please; on the other hand, if we are formed in a line a few ranks deep, it would be nothing surprising if our line should be cut through by a multitude both of missiles and men falling upon us in a mass; and if this happens at any point, it will be bad for the whole line.
