4. Demosthenes in Amphilochia - 426/5 bce

The Athenians set up a trophy and both sides recover their dead. Meanwhile, Ambracians from the city advance to Idomene, intending to reinforce their forces at Argos and unaware that the battle has already taken place. The Ambracians encamp upon the smaller of the two hills of Idomene. In the evening, Demosthenes leads his forces out and occupies the higher of the two hills. At dawn, while it is still dark, Demosthenes attacks the Ambracians while they are asleep and overwhelms them. Demosthens had "purposely put the Messenians in front with orders to address [the Ambracians] in the Doric dialect, and thus to inspire confidence in the sentinels, who would not be able to see them, as it was still night." Most of the Ambracians are killed, either at the first attack or while they are attempting to flee, pursued through unfamiliar territory by the light-armed Amphilochians who know the landscape well.

"This was by far the greatest disaster that befell any one Hellenic city in an equal number of days [three] in this war." pa/qoj ga\r tou~to mia~| po/lei (Ellhni/di e)n i)/saij h(me/raij me/giston dh\ tw=n kata\ to\n po/lemon to/nde e)ge/neto. 3.113.6

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