Chapter 3

During this day they bivouacked in the villages which lie above the plain of the river Centrites¹, which is about two hundred feet broad. It is the frontier river between Armenia and the country of the Carduchians. Here the Hellenes recruited themselves, and the sight of the plain filled them with joy, for the river was but six or seven furlongs distant from the mountains of the Carduchians. For the moment then they bivouacked right happily; they had their provisions, they had also many memories of the labours that were now passed; seeing that the last seven days spent in traversing the country of the Carduchians had been one long continuous battle, which had cost them more suffering than the whole of their troubles at the hands of the king and Tissaphernes put together. As though they were truly quit of them for ever, they laid their heads to rest in sweet content.

That day they camped in the villages above the plain of the river Centrites¹. The river is about two hundred feet wide. It forms the border between Armenia and the country of the Carduchians. Here the Hellenes rested and regained their strength. The sight of the plain filled them with joy, for the river was only six or seven furlongs from the Carduchian mountains. For the moment, they camped happily. They had provisions and many memories of the hardships they had left behind. For seven days, their passage through the country of the Carduchians had been one continuous battle. It had caused them more suffering than all their troubles with the king and Tissaphernes put together. They lay down to sleep in sweet contentment, as though they had truly escaped those troubles forever.

But with the morrow's dawn they espied horsemen at a certain point across the river, armed cap-a-pie, as if they meant to dispute the passage. Infantry, too, drawn up in line upon the banks above the cavalry, threatened to prevent them debouching into Armenia. These troops were Armenian and Mardian and Chaldaean mercenaries belonging to Orontas and Artuchas. The last of the three, the Chaldaeans, were said to be a free and brave set of people. They were armed with long wicker shields and lances. The banks before named on which they were drawn up were a hundred yards or more distant from the river, and the single road which was visible was one leading upwards and looking like a regular artificially constructed highway. At this point the Hellenes endeavoured to cross, but on their making the attempt the water proved to be more than breast-deep, and the river bed was rough with great slippery stones, and as to holding their arms in the water, it was out of the question—the stream swept them away—or if they tried to carry them over the head, the body was left exposed to the arrows and other missiles; accordingly they turned back and encamped there by the bank of the river.

At dawn the next day, they saw horsemen at a point across the river. The horsemen were armed from head to foot, as if they meant to prevent the crossing. Infantry were also lined up on the banks above the cavalry, threatening to prevent them from entering Armenia. These troops were Armenian, Mardian, and Chaldaean mercenaries serving Orontas and Artuchas. The Chaldaeans were said to be a free and brave people. They carried long wicker shields and lances. The banks where the troops stood were at least a hundred yards from the river. Only one road was visible. It led uphill and looked like a properly constructed highway. The Hellenes tried to cross at this point, but the water proved to be more than breast-deep. The riverbed was rough with large, slippery stones. They could not hold their weapons in the water because the current swept them away. If they tried to carry them overhead, their bodies were exposed to arrows and other missiles. So they turned back and camped there on the riverbank.

At the point where they had themselves been last night, up on the mountains, they could see the Carduchians collected in large numbers and under arms. A shadow of deep despair again descended on their souls, whichever way they turned their eyes—in front lay the river so difficult to ford; over, on the other side, a new enemy threatening to bar the passage; on the hills behind, the Carduchians ready to fall upon their rear should they once again attempt to cross. Thus for this day and night they halted, sunk in perplexity. But Xenophon had a dream. In his sleep he thought that he was bound in fetters, but these, of their own accord, fell from off him, so that he was loosed, and could stretch his legs as freely as he wished². So at the first glimpse of daylight he came to Cheirisophus and told him that he had hopes that all things would go well, and related to him his dream.

They could see large numbers of armed Carduchians gathered on the mountains where they themselves had been the night before. Wherever they looked, they fell into deep despair again. Ahead lay a river that was very difficult to cross. On the other side, a new enemy threatened to block their passage. Behind them, on the hills, the Carduchians were ready to attack their rear if they tried to cross again. So they halted there for the day and night, at a loss about what to do. But Xenophon had a dream. He dreamed that he was bound in chains, but they fell off on their own. He was free and could stretch his legs as much as he wished². At the first light of day, he went to Cheirisophus. He told him that he hoped everything would go well and described his dream.

The other was well pleased, and with the first faint gleam of dawn the generals all were present and did sacrifice; and the victims were favourable in the first essay. Retiring from the sacrifice, the generals and officers issued an order to the troops to take their breakfasts; and while Xenophon was taking his, two young men came running up to him, for every one knew that, breakfasting or supping, he was always accessible, or that even if asleep any one was welcome to awaken him who had anything to say bearing on the business of war. What the two young men had at this time to say was that they had been collecting brushwood for fire, and had presently espied on the opposite side, in among some rocks which came down to the river's brink, an old man and some women and little girls depositing, as it would appear, bags of clothes in a cavernous rock. When they saw them, it struck them that it was safe to cross; in any case the enemy's cavalry could not approach at this point. So they stripped naked, expecting to have to swim for it, and with their long knives in their hands began crossing, but going forward crossed without being wet up to the fork. Once across they captured the clothes, and came back again.

The other man was pleased, and all the generals gathered at the first faint light of dawn to offer sacrifices. The signs from the sacrificed animals were favorable on the first attempt. After leaving the sacrifice, the generals and officers ordered the troops to eat breakfast. While Xenophon was eating, two young men came running up to him. Everyone knew he was always available, whether at breakfast or supper. Even if he was asleep, anyone with something to say about the conduct of the war was welcome to wake him. The two young men said they had been gathering brushwood for a fire. They had spotted an old man, some women, and some little girls on the opposite bank. The group was among rocks that came down to the river’s edge. They appeared to be putting bags of clothes in a cave in the rock. Seeing them, the young men thought it would be safe to cross. In any case, the enemy’s cavalry could not approach at that point. So they stripped naked and began to cross with their long knives in their hands. They expected to have to swim, but they crossed without getting wet above the crotch. Once across, they seized the clothes and returned.

Accordingly Xenophon at once poured out a libation himself, and bade the two young fellows fill the cup and pray to the gods, who showed to him this vision and to them a passage, to bring all other blessings for them to accomplishment. When he had poured out the libation, he at once led the two young men to Cheirisophus, and they repeated to him their story. Cheirisophus, on hearing it, offered libations also, and when they had performed them, they sent a general order to the troops to pack up ready for starting, while they themselves called a meeting of the generals and took counsel how they might best effect a passage, so as to overpower the enemy in front without suffering any loss from the men behind. And they resolved that Cheirisophus should lead the van and cross with half the army, the other half still remaining behind under Xenophon, while the baggage animals and the mob of sutlers were to cross between the two divisions.

So Xenophon immediately poured out a libation himself. He told the two young men to fill the cup and pray to the gods. These were the gods who had shown him the vision and shown them a passage. He told the young men to pray that the gods would bring them every other blessing as well. After pouring out the libation, he immediately led the two young men to Cheirisophus, and they repeated their story to him. When Cheirisophus heard it, he also offered libations. Afterward, they ordered the troops to pack and prepare to leave. They then called a meeting of the generals to discuss the best way to cross. They wanted to overpower the enemy in front without suffering any losses from the men behind. They decided that Cheirisophus would lead the way and cross with half the army. The other half would remain behind under Xenophon. The pack animals and the crowd of sutlers would cross between the two divisions.

When all was duly ordered the move began, the young men pioneering them, and keeping the river on their left. It was about four furlongs' march to the crossing, and as they moved along the bank, the squadrons of cavalry kept pace with them on the opposite side.

Once everything was in order, they began to move, with the young men leading the way and the river on their left. The crossing was about half a mile away. As they marched along the bank, the cavalry squadrons kept pace with them on the opposite side.

But when they had reached a point in a line with the ford, and the cliff-like banks of the river, they grounded arms, and first Cheirisophus himself placed a wreath upon his brows, and throwing off his cloak³, resumed his arms, passing the order to all the rest to do the same, and bade the captains form their companies in open order in deep columns, some to left and some to right of himself. Meanwhile the soothsayers were slaying a victim over the river, and the enemy were letting fly their arrows and slingstones; but as yet they were out of range. As soon as the victims were favourable, all the soldiers began singing the battle hymn, and with the notes of the paean mingled the shouting of the men accompanied by the shriller chant of the women, for there were many women ⁴ in the camp.

When they reached a point in line with the ford and the river’s cliff-like banks, they set down their weapons. First, Cheirisophus placed a wreath on his head, threw off his cloak³, and picked up his weapons again. He ordered everyone else to do the same. He told the captains to form their companies in deep columns with open ranks, some to his left and some to his right. Meanwhile, the soothsayers were sacrificing a victim over the river, and the enemy were shooting arrows and slingstones. But the enemy were still out of range. As soon as the sacrifices showed favorable signs, all the soldiers began singing the battle hymn. Their shouts mingled with the hymn and the higher-pitched singing of the women, for there were many women ⁴ in the camp.

So Cheirisophus with his detachment stepped in. But Xenophon, taking the most active-bodied of the rearguard, began running back at full speed to the passage facing the egress into the hills of Armenia, making a feint of crossing at that point to intercept their cavalry on the river bank. The enemy, seeing Cheirisophus's detachment easily crossing the stream, and Xenophon's men racing back, were seized with the fear of being intercepted, and fled at full speed in the direction of the road which emerges from the stream. But when they were come opposite to it they raced up hill towards their mountains. Then Lycius, who commanded the cavalry, and Aeschines, who was in command of the division of light infantry attached to Cheirisophus, no sooner saw them fleeing so lustily than they were after them, and the soldiers shouted not to fall behind⁵, but to follow them right up to the mountains. Cheirisophus, on getting across, forbore to pursue the cavalry, but advanced by the bluffs which reached to the river to attack the enemy overhead. And these, seeing their own cavalry fleeing, seeing also the heavy infantry advancing upon them, abandoned the heights above the river.

So Cheirisophus and his detachment entered the stream. Meanwhile, Xenophon took the fittest men from the rearguard and ran back at full speed to the crossing opposite the way into the hills of Armenia. He pretended to cross there to intercept the enemy cavalry on the riverbank. The enemy saw Cheirisophus’s detachment crossing the stream easily and Xenophon’s men running back. Fearing they would be cut off, they fled at full speed toward the road leading out of the stream. But when they reached the road, they raced uphill toward their mountains. Lycius commanded the cavalry, and Aeschines commanded the light infantry attached to Cheirisophus. As soon as they saw the enemy fleeing so fast, they pursued them. The soldiers shouted that they should not fall behind⁵, but follow the enemy all the way to the mountains. After crossing, Cheirisophus did not pursue the cavalry. Instead, he advanced along the bluffs that reached the river to attack the enemy above. They saw their cavalry fleeing and the heavy infantry advancing toward them. So they abandoned the heights above the river.

Xenophon, as soon as he saw that things were going well on the other side, fell back with all speed to join the troops engaged in crossing, for by this time the Carduchians were well in sight, descending into the plain to attack their rear.

As soon as Xenophon saw that things were going well on the other side, he hurried back to the troops crossing. By then, the Carduchians were clearly visible, coming down into the plain to attack the troops from behind.

Cheirisophus was in possession of the higher ground, and Lycius, with his little squadron, in an attempt to follow up the pursuit, had captured some stragglers of their baggage-bearers, and with them some handsome apparel and drinking-cups. The baggage animals of the Hellenes and the mob of non-combatants were just about to cross, when Xenonphon turned his troops right about to face the Carduchians. Vis-a-vis he formed his line, passing the order to the captains each to form his company into sections, and to deploy them into line by the left, the captains of companies and lieutenants in command of sections to advance to meet the Carduchians, while the rear leaders would keep their position facing the river. But when the Carduchians saw the rearguard so stript of the mass, and looking now like a mere handful of men, they advanced all the more quickly, singing certain songs the while. Then, as matters were safe with him, Cheirisophus sent back the peltasts and slingers and archers to join Xenophon, with orders to carry out his instructions. They were in the act of recrossing, when Xenophon, who saw their intention, sent a messenger across, bidding them wait there at the river's brink without crossing; but as soon as he and his detachment began to cross they were to step in facing him in two flanking divisions right and left of them, as if in the act of crossing; the javelin men with their javelins on the thong, and the bowmen with their arrows on the string; but they were not to advance far into the stream. The order passed to his own men was: "Wait till you are within sling-shot, and the shield rattles, then sound the paean and charge the enemy. As soon as he turns, and the bugle from the river sounds for 'the attack,' you will face about to the right, the rear rank leading, and the whole detachment falling back and crossing the river as quickly as possible, every one preserving his original rank, so as to avoid tramelling one another: the bravest man is he who gets to the other side first."

Cheirisophus held the higher ground. Lycius and his small squadron had tried to continue the pursuit. They had captured some stragglers among the enemy’s baggage-bearers, along with some fine clothing and drinking cups. The baggage animals of the Hellenes and the crowd of noncombatants were just about to cross. Xenonphon turned his troops around to face the Carduchians. He formed his line opposite them and ordered each captain to divide his company into sections. The sections were to deploy into line to the left. The company captains and the lieutenants commanding the sections were to advance to meet the Carduchians. The rear leaders were to hold their positions facing the river. But the Carduchians saw that the rearguard was separated from the main body and now looked like a mere handful of men. They advanced all the faster, singing songs as they came. Meanwhile, Cheirisophus was secure. He sent the peltasts, slingers, and archers back to join Xenophon and follow his orders. They were in the act of recrossing when Xenophon saw what they intended. He sent a messenger across, telling them to wait at the river’s edge without crossing. Once he and his detachment began to cross, they were to step into the river facing them. They were to form two divisions, one on either flank, as if they were crossing. The javelin men were to have their javelins ready on their throwing thongs, and the bowmen their arrows on their strings. But they were not to advance far into the stream. He gave his own men this order: "Wait until you are within sling range and the shield rattles. Then sound the paean and charge the enemy. As soon as the enemy turns and the bugle at the river sounds the attack, turn about to the right. The rear rank must lead, and the whole detachment must fall back and cross the river as quickly as possible. Each man must keep his original rank, so that you do not get in one another’s way. The bravest man is the one who reaches the other side first."

The Carduchians, seeing that the remnant left was the merest handful (for many even of those whose duty it was to remain had gone off in their anxiety to protect their beasts of burden, or their personal kit, or their mistresses), bore down upon them valorously, and opened fire with slingstones and arrows. But the Hellenes, raising the battle hymn, dashed at them at a run, and they did not await them; armed well enough for mountain warfare, and with a view to sudden attack followed by speedy flight, they were not by any means sufficiently equipped for an engagement at close quarters. At this instant the signal of the bugle was heard. Its notes added wings to the flight of the barbarians, but the Hellenes turned right about in the opposite direction, and betook themselves to the river with what speed they might. Some of the enemy, here a man and there another, perceived, and running back to the river, let fly their arrows and wounded a few; but the majority, even when the Hellenes were well across, were still to be seen pursuing their flight. The detachment which came to meet Xenophon's men, carried away by their valour, advanced further than they had need to, and had to cross back again in the rear of Xenophon's men, and of these too a few were wounded.

The Carduchians saw that only a tiny handful remained. Many who were supposed to stay had gone off, anxious to protect their pack animals, personal belongings, or mistresses. The Carduchians bravely charged those who remained, firing slingstones and arrows. But the Hellenes raised their battle hymn and ran at them. The Carduchians did not wait for them. They were well armed for mountain warfare, where they could make a sudden attack and then flee quickly. But they were not nearly well enough equipped to fight at close quarters. At that moment, the bugle signal sounded. Its notes sent the barbarians fleeing even faster, while the Hellenes turned in the opposite direction and hurried to the river. A few of the enemy noticed and ran back to the river. They fired their arrows and wounded a few Hellenes. But most of the enemy were still fleeing even after the Hellenes were well across. The detachment that had come to meet Xenophon's men had advanced farther than necessary, carried away by their courage. They had to cross back behind Xenophon's men, and a few of them were wounded too.