Cyrus, the Younger, approximately 423 B.C.-401 B.C.; Greece -- History -- Expedition of Cyrus, 401 B.C.; Iran -- History -- To 640
The two prisoners were led forward to be examined, and the first
one was asked if he did not know of another road leading to the
pass. Although it was evident that he could, if he chose, give the
information of which the Hellenes were in such pressing need, he
persisted in saying that there was no other road.
They threatened him with death if he continued obstinate, but it was of
no avail, and fearing lest the other Carduchian should be encouraged
to follow his example, they determined to show that they were not to
be trifled with. It was absolutely essential to find another road, the
fate of the whole army depended on it, and in order to strike terror
into the heart of the second man, they hanged his comrade before his
eyes.
This had the desired effect, and when the second Carduchian was
questioned, he said, ‘There is another road. My country-man would
not betray the secret, because his daughter lives near it, with her
husband. I am ready to show it to you, and you will find it passable
also for the baggage animals.’
In war, terrible things occur. For the sake of the general good it is
often necessary to be cruel. But still we cannot help regretting the
fate of the brave man who for the love of his daughter gave himself
over to death.
On further questioning the Carduchian, the generals discovered that the
road which he promised to show them was at one point commanded by a
peak already in possession of the enemy, who must be dislodged from it
before the road could be used. This would probably be an enterprise of
some risk, and the generals resorted to an expedient often used in war
to rouse enthusiasm for a difficult and dangerous undertaking,--namely
that of calling for volunteers.
About two thousand men at once offered their services, of whom some
were officers and others private soldiers. Having first eaten a good
meal, they set out, as soon as it began to get dark, in a storm of wind
and rain, guided by the Carduchian, whom they had put into chains, lest
he should desert them on the way.
It was arranged that the band of volunteers should dislodge the
Carduchians from the height commanding the second road, and remain
there during the night. At dawn they were to descend towards the pass
and begin the attack upon it, giving at the same time a signal with the
trumpets. On hearing the signal, a part of the army left below was to
ascend as rapidly as possible by the first road, and join them at the
pass.
In order to divert the attention of the enemy from the movements of the
two thousand, Xenophon set out at the same moment with the hoplites,
and made a feint of advancing up the first road leading to the pass.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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