Bibliotheca Historica

​When night came, some deserters arrived from the camp of Antigonus, saying that Antigonus had ordered his soldiers to strike camp around the second watch. But Eumenes, reasoning correctly, assumed that the enemy would withdraw to Gabene.

​For this region, being three days’ journey away, was untouched and full of grain and fodder, and in general of things capable of supplying large armies abundantly with provisions.

​In addition to these advantages, the location itself was helpful to them, having rivers and difficult ravines. Therefore, hastening to anticipate the enemy, he did much the same thing. Having persuaded some of his mercenaries with money, he sent them out as deserters, instructing them to say that Eumenes had decided to attack the rampart by night; and he himself sent his baggage on ahead, and ordered his soldiers to strike camp as quickly as possible after having had their dinner.

​When all of this had been quickly accomplished, Antigonus, hearing from the deserters that the enemy had decided to fight by night, refrained from his march and drew up his force for battle.

​While he was occupied with these matters and anxious about what was to come, Eumenes and his men, without being noticed, got the start of him and made their march with speed toward Gabene. Antigonus kept his force under arms for a certain time, but when he learned of the withdrawal of the enemy from his scouts, realizing that he had been outgeneraled, he nevertheless clung to the same purpose.

​Therefore, having ordered his soldiers to strike camp, he led them forward, making his march rapid and very much like a pursuit. But since Eumenes was ahead by two watches, seeing that it was not easy for his whole army to overtake those who had gained such a head start, he devised something like this.

​Entrusting the rest of his force to Pithon, he ordered him to follow at leisure, while he himself, taking his cavalry, rode at full speed, and having overtaken at daybreak the rear guard of the enemy as they were descending from a certain ridge, he stationed himself on the heights, making himself visible to the enemy.

​Eumenes and his men, seeing the enemy’s cavalry from a considerable distance and thinking that their entire force was near, halted their march and drew up their army as though a pitched battle were about to take place immediately.

​Thus the commanders of both camps outgeneraled each other in the manner described, as if competing beforehand in intelligence and showing that they had their hopes of victory in themselves.

​In any case, Antigonus by this device prevented the enemy from advancing further, and having given himself a respite to wait for his army, when the camp arrived, he drew up the whole force for battle and marched down in good order against the enemy in an imposing manner.