Book 6 · Chapter 5

So they spent the night, but at daybreak the generals led the way into a natural hiding spot, and the others grabbed their weapons and gear and followed along.

Before breakfast, they dug a ditch to block off the only way into the place and built a wooden fence all around it, leaving only three gates. Then a ship from Heraclea arrived with barley, animals for sacrifice, and wine.

Xenophon was up early and made the usual offering before heading out on a mission. The first animal sacrifice looked good. Just as the sacrifice ended, the seer, Arexion the Parrhasian, spotted an eagle, which was a really good sign, and told Xenophon to go ahead.

So they crossed the ditch and put down their weapons. Then a messenger announced for the soldiers to eat breakfast and start the mission with their weapons; the bunch of merchants and captured slaves would stay in camp. So most of the troops took off.

Neon stayed behind; it seemed best to leave that general and his men to guard the stuff in the camp. But when the officers and soldiers ditched them, they were so embarrassed to stay in camp while everyone else marched out, that they too took off, leaving only the guys over fifty.

These guys stayed put, while the rest started the march. They hadn't gone two miles when they stumbled upon dead bodies. When they got to the back of the group, lining up with the first bodies they saw, they started digging graves and burying everyone from front to back.

After burying the first group, they moved forward, and when they reached the back again, matching up with more unburied bodies, they buried all the soldiers in the line.

Finally, reaching the road that led out of the villages where bodies were everywhere, they gathered them up and laid them in a big, shared grave.

It was now around midday, and we pushed the troops forward toward the villages, but didn't actually go inside. Instead, we started grabbing supplies, taking anything we could see while staying covered by our lines.

Suddenly, we spotted the enemy coming over some hills ahead - a huge group of cavalry and infantry, all lined up. It was Spithridates and Rhathines, sent by Pharnabazus with their troops behind them. As soon as they saw us, they stopped, about two miles away.

"Then Arexion the seer made a sacrifice, and the first attempt was a good sign. Afterwards, Xenophon talked to the other generals: "I think we should send out one or more smaller groups to support the main attack.

That way, if we need help anywhere, we’ll have reserves ready, and the enemy will find themselves attacking fresh troops instead of a confused mess. Everyone agreed. "Then you lead the front straight at the enemy," he said. "Let’s not stand around arguing now that we’ve both seen each other.

I’ll pull back the last companies the way we decided and follow you. After that, we moved forward quietly. He then pulled back the last companies into three groups of about two hundred men each. He told the first one, on the right, to follow the main group about a hundred feet behind."

Samolas the Achaean was in charge of this group. The second group, in the center, was led by Pyrrhias the Arcadian. The last one, on the left, was commanded by Phrasias, an Athenian.

As we moved forward, the front group reached a big, tricky, wooded area and stopped, unsure whether to go through it or not. They sent a message for the generals and officers to come to the front.

Xenophon, wondering what was stopping us, and hearing the message passed along the ranks, rode up as fast as he could. As soon as they met, Sophaenetus, being the oldest general, said it wasn’t even worth discussing whether to cross that kind of gully or not.

Xenophon, a little fired up, retorted: "Sirs, I haven’t made it a habit to introduce you to danger you could avoid. It’s not about your reputation for bravery, it’s about getting home safe."

But now, we’re stuck: We can’t turn back without a fight; if we don’t attack, they’ll chase us as soon as we show our backs. So, what’s it going to be? Go out and meet them with our weapons ready, or turn and watch them attack us from behind?

You know, there’s nothing glorious about retreating, but attacking can even give a coward courage. I’d rather attack with half my men any day than retreat with twice the number. As for these guys, if we attack them, I don’t think they’ll even wait for us.

But if we retreat, we know they’ll be bold enough to chase us. If crossing this gully leaves a tough barrier behind us when we’re about to fight, that’s an advantage worth taking.

At least, if it were up to me, I’d want everything to look easy and open for the enemy, which might tempt them to retreat. But for us, we’ll thank the ground that shows us that we won’t be saved except through victory.

I'm surprised anyone thinks this particular gully is any worse than the other barriers we’re already through. How impossible was the plain, if we hadn’t conquered their cavalry! How insurmountable were the mountains we already crossed, with all their archers hot on our heels!

And when we finally reach the sea, the Pontus will be a pretty tough obstacle, with no boats to get us away and no corn to keep us alive while we wait. But we’ll be off again to find food as soon as we’re there. Isn't it better to fight today after a good breakfast than tomorrow on an empty stomach?

"Sirs, the omens are good, the sacrifices are promising; let's attack the enemy!"

"Okay, they've totally checked us out. We can’t let them just chill and eat or pick where they’re gonna crash."

After that, the officers told him to lead the way. No one questioned it, and he took the lead. His orders were to cross the ravine, where each soldier would find their own spot. He figured this way, the troops would gather faster on the other side than if they had to cross the bridge.

But once across, he went down the line and spoke to the troops: "Guys, remember what you’re already doing, thanks to the gods. Think about the battles you've won up close with the enemy; what will happen to those who run away. Don't forget we’re right at the edge of Greece."

"Follow in the footsteps of Heracles, our guide, and encourage each other by name. It would be amazing, with a brave and noble word or action - something said or done today - to leave a lasting memory in the hearts of those you love."

He spoke as he rode past, and at the same time, he started leading the troops in a battle line. He put the light troops on the flanks of the main force, and they moved against the enemy.

The order had been passed down the line: "Keep your spears resting on your right shoulder until the bugle sounds; then lower them for the charge, a slow, steady march, no one running. Finally, the password was passed: "Zeus the Savior, Heracles our Guide."

The enemy waited for them, confident in their strong position. But as the Greeks got closer, the light troops, with a loud battle cry, charged the enemy without waiting for an order.

The enemy rushed forward to meet them, both the cavalry and the main force of the Bithynians, and they pushed back the light troops.

But when the phalanx of heavy infantry quickly advanced and faced them, and at the same time the bugle sounded and the battle hymn rose from everyone’s lips, followed by a loud cheer, and then they lowered their spears - at that moment, the enemy stopped welcoming them and ran away.

Timasion and his cavalry followed closely, and, considering how few they were, they did a lot of damage. It was the left wing of the enemy, the line with which the Greek cavalry were positioned, that was scattered so quickly. But the right wing, which wasn’t being chased as hard, gathered on a hill.

When the Greeks saw them standing firm, it seemed like the easiest and least dangerous thing to do was to attack them head-on. Raising the battle hymn, they charged straight at them, but the others didn't wait.

Then the light troops chased them until the right wing of the enemy was also scattered, though with few casualties; because the enemy's cavalry was numerous and threatening.

But when the Greeks saw the cavalry of Pharnabazus still standing in a tight formation, and the Bithynian horsemen gathering together as if to join it, like spectators watching from a hill - even though they were tired, they decided to attack the enemy as best they could, and not let him regain his strength.

So they formed a tight line and moved forward. Then the enemy cavalry turned and ran down the steep slope as if they were being chased by cavalry. In fact, they sought shelter in a ravine that the Greeks didn’t know about. The Greeks turned too soon and gave up the chase, because it was too late.

Returning to where the first fight happened, they built a trophy and headed back to the sea around sunset. It was about seven miles to camp.