The Fall of the Athenian Empire-(A New History of the Peloponnesian War) Donald Kagan - (1987)

THE WAR IN THE AEGEAN 39
ships they expected to sail from it. When Alcamenes' fleet came out
of harbor, the Athenians tried to draw him out to the open sea for a
battle, but the Spartan admiral turned back to his harbor. The Athenians
did not pursue, for they did not trust the seven Chian ships that
made up a third of their force. They withdrew to the Piraeus, where
they added ships to bring their fleet up to a total of thirty-seven. Then
they renewed the chase, pursuing the enemy fleet as it was making its
way southward along the coast. At the sight of the Athenians, Alcamenes
hastened to seek safety in the deserted port of Spiraeum, just
north of the Epidaurian border. 56 The Athenians caught one Peloponnesian
ship before it could reach safety, but the others reached the
harbor. The Athenians then attacked them by land and sea, destroying
most of their ships on the beach and killing Alcamenes.
The next day the Corinthians came with naval reinforcements, and
other allies in the neighborhood sent help too. But the Athenians were
not satisfied with the victory they had already achieved. They sent a
fleet to keep watch on the enemy and established their main camp on
a small island near by, sending to Athens for reinforcements. They
were determined to let no Peloponnesian fleet sail into the Aegean and
to seize whatever opportunity offered to destroy the enemy's forces.
The Peloponnesians were greatly daunted by what had taken place.
They found themselves needing to guard their ships in a deserted place
that offered neither supplies nor protection. They were so baffled that
their first thought was to burn the ships to prevent their falling into
Athenian hands. On reflection, they decided instead to draw the ships
up and shore and guard them with their soldiers until a chance of
escape should occur. Agis at Decelea learned of their situation before
the news got to Sparta, and he sent Thermon, a Spartan, to replace
the fallen Alcamenes as commander.
The news came to Sparta as a great shock. The first report the
Spartans received came by prearranged signal from a courier on horseback.
The ephors had ordered Alcamenes to dispatch such a messenger
as soon as his ships set sail so that they could send the five ships under
Chalcideus to join him. Spirits were high, and the men were eager to
sail. Then came the news of the defeat, the death of Alcamenes, and
the blockade at Spiraeum. The mood changed at once from excitement
to discouragement and gloom. "Having failed in their first
56
8.10.3. For the name and location of the port of refuge, see Andrewes, HCT V,
24-25.