Alexander charges on foot at Issus

[Nicator]

According to Hammond, Alexander charges the Persian archers and cardaces on foot. I guess I always assumed it was on horseback (probably a cavalry charge in Arrian). He gives compelling reasons for his belief that it had to be on foot. Most notably, that horses would have broken their legs if they charged through the rock laiden waters of the Pinarus. Thoughts?

[agesilaos]

Since the essence of Alexander's tactics in this battle was to come to grips as quickly as possible it seems unlikely that he would order his cavalry to dismount. Also he pursues Darius' chariot and nearly catches him despite assisting the centre; his wound, inthe thigh may also indicate a cavalryman fighting footmen.I have no doubt that Hammond has examined the ground but the course of the river has probably shifted and it has had two and a half thousand years to accrue more detritus. Such a move would surely not have escaped our sources so in the light of their silence I would plump for the normal mounted charge.

[beausefaless]

Compelling? Never!
The Pinarus river was narrow and shallow with small to medium size smooth river rock some parts of the river banks were diffacult to cross if you were part of the phalanx but no problem for calvery.
While this was happening, Alexander, who had rolled up the Persian left flank, swung his wedge of cavalry inward against the rear files of the mercenaries and the Royal Bodyguard. From this moment on he and his men strained every nerve to kill Darius, because if he died the Persian cause would be crippled. The moment Alexander sighted Darius' chariot he charged for it. Orxathres, Darius' brother, who led the Royal Household Cavalry, tried to protect his brother. Alexander was wounded in his thigh. Then a new chariot, lighter than Darius' original one, was somehow found and Darius jumped into it and fled. His rout of escape, it seems, was through the mountains to Dortyol and Hassa. By this time Alexander's center and left were both seriously threatened. Because of this, Alexander had to postpone his pursuit of Darius. Instead, he swung his entire right flank around in a wedge against the mercenaries' flanks, and got them out of the river, killing many of them. This was basically the end of the battle.