33.18
In
every direction alike Philip's fortunes were sinking. Just at this time the
Rhodians determined to win back from him the district on the mainland
known as Peraea, which had been held by their forefathers. An expedition
was despatched under the command of Pausistratus, consisting of 1300
Achaean infantry and about 1800 miscellaneous troops drawn from various
nations -Gauls and Pisuetae; Nisuetae, Tamians and Trahi from Africa, and
Laudicenes from Asia. With this force Pausistratus seized Tendeba, an
extremely advantageous position situated in the territory of Stratonice, the
king's troops who had held it being unaware of his advance. Here he was
joined by a body of 1000 Achaean infantry and 400 cavalry specially raised
for this campaign. They were commanded by Theoxenus. Dinocrates, one of
the king's lieutenants, marched to Tendeba with a view of recovering the
place, and from there to Astragon, another fortified position in the same
district. All the scattered garrisons were recalled, and with these and a
contingent of Thessalians from Stratonice itself he went on to Abanda where
the enemy lay. The Rhodians were quite ready for battle, and as the camps
lay near one another they at once took the field. Dinocrates posted his 500
Macedonians on his right and the Agrianians on his left, and formed his
centre from the troops of the various garrisons, mostly Carians, whilst the
flanks were covered by the Macedonian horse and the Cretan and Thracian
irregulars. The Rhodians had the Achaeans on their right and a picked force
of mercenaries on their left; the centre was held by a mixed force drawn from
several nationalities; their cavalry and such light infantry as they had
protected their flanks.
On that day the two armies only stood on the banks of the stream,
which was then running low, and after discharging a few missiles at each
other returned to camp. The following day they were marshalled in the same
order, and the action which followed was a much more keenly contested one
than might have been expected from the numbers engaged. There were not
more than 3000 infantry and about 100 cavalry on each side, but they were
fairly matched not only in numbers and equipment, but also in courage and
tenacity. The battle was begun by the Achaeans, who crossed the rivulet and
attacked the Agrianians, and they were followed by the whole line, who went
over the brook at the double. For a long time the struggle remained doubtful,
till the Achaeans, who numbered . . ., compelled the 400 to give ground.
With the enemy's left pushed back, they concentrated their attack on his
right. As long as the Macedonian ranks were unbroken and the phalanx kept
its close formation they could not be moved, but when their left was exposed
and they tried to bring their spears round to face the enemy who were
making a flank attack, they at once got into confusion and fell foul of one
another, then they turned and at last, flinging away their arms, broke into
headlong flight. The fugitives made for Bargyliae, and Dinocrates also fled
thither. The Rhodians kept up the pursuit for the remainder of the day and
then returned to camp. Had they gone on to Stratonice straight from the
battle-field the city would in all probability have been taken, but they lost the
chance of doing this by wasting their time in recovering the fortified posts
and villages in Peraea. During this interval those in command at Stratonice
regained their courage, and before long Dinocrates with the survivors from
the battle entered the place. The city was subsequently besieged and
assaulted, but all to no purpose, nor could it be secured until some years
later, when it was made over to the Rhodians by Antiochus. These incidents
occurred almost simultaneously in Thessaly, Achaia and Asia.
