Classical literature; Greece -- History -- Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C.; Greece -- History -- Spartan and Theban Supremacies, 404-362 B.C.
Presently the enemy issued forth and formed in line opposite, under
cover of their walls. Then their cavalry formed in close order and
commenced the attack. Dashing down upon the Laconians and Boeotians they
dismounted Polycharmus, the Lacedaemonian cavalry general, inflicting a
hundred wounds on him as he lay on the ground, and cut down others, and
finally put to flight the cavalry on the right wing. The flight of these
troopers infected the infantry in close proximity to them, who in turn
swerved; and it looked as if the whole army was about to be worsted,
when Derdas at the head of his cavalry dashed straight at the gates of
Olynthus, Teleutias supporting him with the troops of his division.
The Olynthian cavalry, seeing how matters were going, and in dread
of finding the gates closed upon them, wheeled round and retired with
alacrity. Thus it was that Derdas had his chance to cut down man after
man as their cavalry ran the gauntlet past him. In the same way, too,
the infantry of the Olynthians retreated within their city, though,
owing to the closeness of the walls in their case, their loss was
trifling. Teleutias claimed the victory, and a trophy was duly erected,
after which he turned his back on Olynthus and devoted himself to
felling the fruit-trees. This was the campaign of the summer. He
now dismissed both the Macedonians and the cavalry force of Derdas.
Incursions, however, on the part of the Olynthians themselves against
the states allied to Lacedaemon were frequent; lands were pillaged, and
people put to the sword.
III
B.C. 381. With the first symptoms of approaching spring the Olynthian
cavalry, six hundred strong, had swooped into the territory of
Apollonia--about the middle of the day--and dispersing over the
district, were employed in pillaging; but as luck would have it,
Derdas had arrived that day with his troopers, and was breakfasting in
Apollonia. He noted the enemy's incursion, but kept quiet, biding his
time; his horses were ready saddled, and his troopers armed cap-a-pied.
As the Olynthians came galloping up contemptuously, not only into the
suburbs, but to the very gates of the city, he seized his opportunity,
and with his compact and well-ordered squadron dashed out; whereupon the
invaders took to flight. Having once turned them, Derdas gave them no
respite, pursuing and slaughtering them for ten miles or more, (1) until
he had driven them for shelter within the very ramparts of Olynthus.
Report said that Derdas slew something like eighty men in this affair.
After this the Olynthians were more disposed to keep to their walls,
contenting themselves with tilling the merest corner of their territory.
(1) Lit. "ninety stades."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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