I just read Peter Green's book about Alexander and in that book he says that Alexander crossed the granicus river in the middle of the night with the fires still lit at the camp. He did that according to Green so that the persiens didn't notice the crossing. So according to Green Alexander crossed the river at night and than fought the battle on flat terrain against the Persians. However almost all other sources like wikipedia says that Alexander charged them head on and attacking them while crossing the river.
My question is which one is correct. Green's battle seem a lot more like something Alexander would do. He was considered to be the best commander who ever lived by a lot of famous commanders like Napoleon, Caesar, Hannibal etc. Which make me think that green's version is a lot more accurate for a commander with that reputation. Which one is correct? What do the original sources about the battle say?
Alexander the Great at the Battle of Granicus attacked at the dawn. Ancient Historians like Arrian play on a relationship with the elderly Parmenion that Alexander should do what he advises but Alexander does the opposite and succeed, it's an attempt to glorify the king. Prior to the Granicus Battle, Parmenion advises Alexander to attack at dawn but the young king does the opposite.
However, within his text on Alexander, Robin Lane Fox states that Alexander attacked not at night but during the dawn as the Persians 'Bivouacked on a hill a mile or two back, it was not a Persian practice to begin a march before sunrise' (pg. 110.) as their habits and circumstances made an attack at dawn ideal. Citations from the Landmark Arrian in regards to his conversation with Parmenion state "Diodorus (17. 19.1-3) however, reports Alexander did exactly what Parmenion advises: [...] he brought the army across at dawn, before the Persians could organise themselves to oppose him" (pg. 28.).
Therefore, it is likely Alexander didn't attack during the night but rather the dawn due to not only Persian Camping habits but in an attempt to gain the advantage on opponents who'd be disorganised.
Sources: 1: Arrian., Mensch, P. and Romm, J., 2010. The Landmark Arrian. 1st ed. New York: Pantheon Books, p.28.
2: Lane Fox, R., 1997. Alexander The Great. London: Folio Society, p.110.