His men carried hurdles and planks, to secure their footing
in the most treacherous parts of the swamp, and, proceeding thus, in
the first light of dawn they came up to the stockade. They found the
Syracusans assembled in force to resist them, and an engagement
ensued, which speedily ended in favour of the Athenians. The right
wing of the Syracusan army fled back into the city, while the left
wing retreated towards the suburb of Polichne, hotly pursued by the
picked troop [Footnote: P. 203.] of Athenian hoplites, who wished to
cut them off before they reached the river. By this rash movement the
Athenians came near to forfeiting the advantage which they had gained,
and brought upon themselves an irreparable loss. For the Syracusan
cavalry turned on their pursuers, and drove them back in disorder upon
the Athenian right. The sudden reverse created something like a panic
in that part of the line, and Lamachus, who was in command of the left
wing, hastened to their relief, and threw himself, with a handful of
men, between the Syracusan cavalry and the fugitives. This gallant
action turned the tide of battle once more, and gave the Athenians on
the right wing time to rally; but Lamachus and his followers, pushing
forward too hotly, were attacked by the enemy in a place where their
retreat was cut off by a ditch, and slain to a man.
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