"To cross it in the face of an enemy required not only soldiers, but planning, deception, and logistical preparation on a remarkable scale. Military strategists have once again learned during the ongoing war in Ukraine that attempting to cross a river in the face of active enemy resistance is one of the most difficult tasks undertaken by an army on the offensive. The challenges involved in moving men and equipment across a water barrier are compounded by enemy fire."
"Frontinus explained that Alexander had his troops stage several mock crossings in the face of the defenders. These repeated feints led Porus to concentrate his army where Alexander had deployed his decoy forces. After the majority of the Indian army was committed, Alexander led his army upstream to make a crossing and thereby get around the flank of the enemy."
Rivers functioned as formidable military obstacles requiring soldiers plus extensive planning, deception, and logistical preparation to cross under enemy resistance. Modern conflicts such as the war in Ukraine confirm that attempting a river crossing while exposed to active enemy fire ranks among the most difficult offensive operations. Enemy fire and the challenge of moving men and equipment across water barriers compound the difficulty. Military manuals from the Hellenistic period through the Roman Principate treated forcing river crossings as central problems. Sextus Julius Frontinus recorded historical examples and recommended misdirection and feints. Alexander’s use of mock crossings against Porus demonstrates drawing defenders away and crossing elsewhere to flank.
Read at Medievalists.net
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