<head>Campaign of Antiochus in Bactria</head>When the news came that Euthydemus with his army was before Tapuria, and that ten thousand cavalry were in his front guarding the ford of the river Arius, Antiochus decided to abandon the siege and deal with the situation.
The river being at a distance of three days' march, he marched at a moderate pace for two days, but on the third day he order the rest of his army to break up their camp at daylight
while he himself with his cavalry, his light-armed infantry, and ten thousand peltasts advanced during the night marching quickly.
For he had heard that the enemy's horse kept guard during the day on the river bank, but retired at night to a town as much as twenty stades away. Having completed the remainder of the distance during the night, as the plain is easy to ride over,
he success in getting the greater part of his forces across the river by daylight.
The Bactrian cavalry, when their scouts had reported this, came up to attack and engaged the enemy while still on the march.
The king, seeing that it was necessary to stand the first charge of the enemy, called on one thousand of his cavalry who were accustomed to fight round him and ordered the rest to form up on the spot in squadrons and troops and all place themselves in their usual order,
while he himself with the force I spoke of met and engaged the Bactrians who were the first to charge.
In this affair it seems that Antiochus himself fought more brilliantly than any of those with him.
There were severe losses on both sides, but the king's cavalry repulsed the first Bactrian regiment. When, however, the second and third came up they were in difficulties and had the worst of it.
It was now that Panaetolus ordered his men to advance, and joining the king and those who were fighting round him, compelled those Bactrians who were pursuing in disorder to turn rein and take to headlong flight.
The Bactrians, now hard pressed by Panaetlus, never stopped until they joined Euthydemus after losing most of their men.
The royal cavalry, after killing many of the enemy and making many prisoners, withdrew, and at first encamped on the spot near the river.
In this battle Antiochus's horse was transfixed and killed, and he himself received a wound in the mouth and lost several of his teeth, having in general gained a greater reputation for courage on this occasion than on any other.
After the battle Euthydemus was terror-stricken and retired with his army to a city in Bactria called Zariaspa.
Walbank Commentary