Quintus Curtius Rufus, History of Alexander 9.1.17

9.1.17

Et vincula, quis conserta erant, iussit incidi, quo facilius singula circumvenirentur. Itaque VIII milibus suorum amissis in oppidum refugerunt.

The barbarians nevertheless sallied out to give battle, taking their waggons with them, which they fastened together each to each. For weapons of offence some had pikes and others axes, and they were in the habit of leaping nimbly from waggon to waggon if they saw their friends hard pressed and wished to help them. This mode of fighting being quite new to the Macedonians, at first alarmed them, since they were wounded by enemies beyond their reach, but coming afterwards to look with contempt upon a force so undisciplined, they completely surrounded the waggons and began stabbing all the men that offered resistance. The king then commanded the cords which fastened the waggons together to be cut - that it might be easier for the soldiers to beset each waggon separately. The enemy after a loss of 8000 men withdrew into the town. Next day the walls were escaladed all round and captured. A few were indebted for their safety to their swiftness of foot. Those who swam across the sheet of water when they saw the city was sacked, carried great consternation to the neighbouring towns, where they reported that an invincible army, one of gods assuredly, had arrived in the country.