37.20
At this
juncture a force despatched from Achaia, numbering 1000 infantry and 100
cavalry, approached Elea. On their landing they were met by a party sent by
Attalus to conduct them to Pergamum. They were all veteran troops with
war experience, and under the command of Diophanes, a pupil of
Philopoemen, the foremost Greek general of his day. Two days were
devoted to resting the men and horses, and also to keeping the enemy's
advanced posts under observation and ascertaining at what points and at
what hours they came on and went off duty. The king's troops made it a
practice to advance up to the foot of the hill on which the city stands. In this
way they acted as a screen, and the plundering parties behind them were not
interfered with, as none came out of the city, not even to attack the
advanced posts with missiles at long range. After the citizens had been once
cowed by defeat they shut themselves within their wall, and the king's troops
looked upon them with contempt and became careless. A great many did not
keep their horses either saddled or bridled; a few were left standing to arms,
while the rest were dispersed all over the plain, some betaking themselves to
games and sports, others feeding under the shade of the trees, some even
stretched in slumber.
Diophanes observed all this from Pergamum on the hill, and
ordered his men to arm themselves and be in readiness at the gate. He then
went to Attalus and told him that he had made up his mind to attack the
enemy. With very great reluctance Attalus gave his consent, for he saw that
he would have to fight with 100 cavalry against 600 and 1000 infantry
against 4000. Diophanes went out from the gate and took up a position not
far from the enemy's advanced posts and waited his opportunity. The people
of Pergamum looked upon it as madness rather than courage, and the enemy,
after keeping them under observation for some time, and seeing no
movement of any kind, became careless as usual, and even ridiculed the
smallness of their opponents' force. Diophanes made his men keep quiet for a
while, then, when he saw that the enemy had broken up their ranks, he gave
the infantry orders to follow as rapidly as possible, and putting himself at the
head of his troop of cavalry, charged the enemy's detachment at full speed,
infantry and cavalry alike shouting their battle-cry. The enemy were thrown
into a state of panic, even the horses were terrified and broke their halters,
creating confusion and alarm amongst their own men. A few were not
scared, and stayed where they were tethered, but even these the riders did
not find it an easy task to saddle and bridle and mount, for the Achaean
troopers were creating an alarm and terror out of all proportion to their
numbers. The infantry, coming up in their ordered ranks, prepared for battle,
attacked a foe carelessly scattered and almost half asleep. The whole plain
was covered with the bodies of the slain, and men were everywhere fleeing
for their lives. Diophanes kept up the pursuit as long as it was safe, and then
retired to the shelter of the city walls, after winning great glory for the
Achaeans, for the women as well as the men had watched the action from
the walls of Pergamum.
