The Grecian manner of disposing an army for bat tle, was, by drawing it up in one front, by which the success of the day depended upon a single effort. The infantry of the Greeks consisted of two kinds of sol diers. The one heavy armed, with bucklers, lances, pikes, and scymitars ; and the other, light armed, with javelins, bows, and slings. They were particu larly deficient in cavalry, which is generally ascribed to the mountainous nature of the districts of Greece, where, indeed, that species of force was not so requi site as in a champaign country. The light troops were generally posted in front of the line Of heavy armed infantry, for the purpose of skirmishing with the enemy ; and when they had shot their arrows, and discharged their javelins, they retired through the in tervals of the heavy armed troops, and forming a line in rear, continued their volleys during the. action. The Lacedemonian cavalry were always placed on the extremity of the left wing, a station which they claimed as an honour and a matter of right. Of all the Grecian nations, the Lacedemonians were the most warlike, and their military system the most perfect. According to their establishment, their army was divided into battalions of four companies each, consisting of 128 men, which were 'subdivided in four, or in divisions of four men in front and eight in depth, so that the battalion consisted of 512 soldiers.
The Macedonian phalanx, which produced such astonishing effects, as to be deemed almost invincible for several ages, was composed of 16,000 soldiers, heavy armed with a spear, a sword, and a shield. It was commonly divided into ten battalions of 1600 each, being 100 men in front and 16 in depth. But this arrangement was occasionally altered, according to circumstances, and the battalion was sometimes eight and at others 32 files deep. The spears of the soldiers who composed the phalanx, were 14 cubits in length, and they generally received or charged an enemy in close order. While the phalanx remained unbroken, it could not be resisted by any less com pact body, but it was assailable on the flanks and rear ; and if vigorously attacked on these quarters, the unwieldy pikes were only an encumbrance to the men. The phalanx required flat and level ground, as its whole force depended upon the close order of its files, which could not possibly be preserved on an irregular surface. It was only in particular situa tions, therefore, that it could act with effect, or pro duce those decisive consequences, which followed from its charge on the Athenians, at the battle of Chzronea.
r In the celebrated battle between the army of Perseus king of Micedon, and that of Paulus /Erni bus the Roman consul, fought near Pyxna, the pha lanx made dreadful slaughter among the Romans, and was every where irresistible, while it kept in close order, but the unevenness of the ground occasioned intervals in the ranks, which the Roman general ob.
serving, caused his soldiers to penetrate at these openings, in small bodies, and .make an attack on the phalanx in flank, by which it was totally overthrown. As the whole force of the phalanx consisted in the union of its parts, which gave it weight and solidity, it was easily destroyed when divided, and Paulus ../Emilius thus obtained a signal victory.
The Romans were the greatest masters of the art of war, of all the nations of antiquity ; and finally prevailed over all their enemies, by their skill, bra very, and perseverance, as long as they the laws and regulations connected with their mili tary institutions. But they were occasionly worsted in battle, and the genius of Hannibal for a time eclip sed their glory.
The Roman army was usually drawn up in three lines, which were several files deep, and the legions . generally possessed the centre. The rightand left wings were composed of the allies, or auxiliaries, and the cavalry were sometimes stationed behind the foot, that they might pass through the intervals between the divisions and suddenly fall upon the enemy. This form of arranging the army, however, was not inva riably adhered to, for sometimes the different kinds . of troops were placed in the same line. For 'ex ample, when there were two legions, the one with its allies was stationed in the first line, and the .other behind as a body of reserve. The Romans usually engaged with a straight front ; but occasionally they varied the line of battle by advancing or withdrawing particular parts. The wings were sometimes advan ced before the centre, or the reverse ; and they some. times formed themselves into the figure of a wedge, or into the shape of aforceps. But when surround ed by an enemy, they formed the orlds, or circular body ;• and when they advanced or retreated in se parate divisions, the sera[.
The velites, or light troops, began the battle ; and when repulsed, retreated between the intervals of the files, or, by the flanks of the army, and rallied in the rear. The hastati then advanced, and if defeated, retired into the intervals of the ranks of the prineipes, or, if greatly fatigued, behind them. The principes then engaged, and if defeated also, the trtarii then received the enemy with their ranks closed and , strengthened by the hastati and principes. By,this• arrangement of the Roman army, the enemy had to sustain and to repulse various attacks before they could totally overcome it, and obtain a victory.