Here he gave his army a rest, and now came to the conclusion that had Arsaces been able to risk a battle he would not have withdrawn from his own country and could not have chosen a place more favourable to his army for the struggle than the neighbourhood of Hecatompylus.
It was evident then to anyone who gave proper consideration to the matter that as he was retreating he had other intentions. Antiochus therefore decided to advance into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hyrcania&groupId=640&placeId=1172">Hyrcania</a>.
Upon reach Tagae and learning from the inhabitants what a difficult country he would have to pass through before reaching the pass over Mount Labus, which leads down to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hyrcania&groupId=640&placeId=1172">Hyrcania</a>, and how great numbers of barbarians were posted at different spots where his march would be particularly hard,
he decided to break up his light-armed troops into several bodies and divide their officers among them, with instructions as to the route they should take. He also resolved to break up the pioneers whose duty it was to march together with the light-armed troops and make the ground occupied by these passable for the phalanx and the pack-train.
Having made this plan he gave the command of the first division to Diogenes, entrusting him with archers and slingers and those of the mountaineers who were expert in throwing javelins and stones, who also, whenever time and place called for it, fought singly and rendered most useful service on difficult ground.
After these he placed about two thousand Cretans armed with bucklers under the command of Polyxenidas of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a>, and lastly the light troops armed with breastplate and shield under Nicomedes of Cos and Nicolaus the Aetolian.
Walbank Commentary