Thirty Days Before Tragedy
Chapter 1
At the beginning of October, 328 BC. Inside the palace of Samarcand, Northwest of Sogdiana
Hephaistion was busy working with his supply staff organizing army supplies in the Supply Office. He just came back to Samarcand three days ago after a twenty-day round loop inspection of the four new Alexandrias that were currently under construction throughout Sogdiana.
"From what we have planned we should have enough supply for the army until next month." Hephaistion felt much relieved after going through all the records with his Deputy Supply Officer Iasos and his other staff.
"Yes Sir. Then with what we have gotten in Bactria we shouldn't have any problem through the winter. Had the King decided when we depart for Bactria?" Iasos asked.
"Most likely we'll leave here the last week of October before snow storm starts. We'll need to take some supply with us for the journey back to Bactria besides leaving enough for the garrisons and the new Alexandrias." Hephaistion said while walking toward the door with Iasos. His other staff collected all documents spreading out on the table and put them back into various wooden boxes.
"How was your recent inspection of new Alexandrias?" Iasos had not finished his question when Alexander's page Hippias ran toward them from a distance with his face flushed in read.
"Hephaistion, General. Hurry. The King is asking for you immediate presence."
"What happened?" Hephaistion walked quickly toward Alexander's main commanding hall with Hippias and Milyas, Hephaistion's own page on duty, following behind him.
"Some bad news came in from Bactria."
"Oh, Gods!"
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Immediately after entering the big hall, Hephaistion saw Alexander pacing back and forth while talking to Hylas, an infantry captain in Craterus' battalion. The man was supposed stationing in Bactra, the capital city of Bactria/Sogdiana, under Craterus' overall command.
"We have some bad news Alexander?"
"Hephaistion come here. Hylas, tell Hephaistion what you told me."
"Yes my King. General, Spitamenes attacked us at Bactra three days ago during the night. His men killed our guards and took most of our livestock with them to the west. We found it out in the morning and General Craterus led a chase after them. We killed some of their men and got some livestock back, but Spitamenes escaped and took away more than half of our livestock across the desert and disappeared into the mountains. General Craterus thought this was a serious matter and sent me to report to the King." Hylas said briefly.
"How many of our men died and how many livestock left?" Hephaistion asked while his heart sank with what he heard.
"About one hundred-fifty of our men died, including our guards and those died on the chase. We killed about three hundreds of them. We have about 5000 cattle and 8000 sheep left."
"That is about a third of what we originally had. Alexander, I think we'll have to change our plan for the winter."
"That's what I am thinking. Hylas, go take a good rest with your escort and get ready for tomorrow morning. We might need you and your men go back to Bactra then."
"Yes my King."
"Hylas, my page Milyas is outside the door. He will arrange lodge and food for your men."
"Thank you General." Hylas saluted to both the King and the General and left the hall.
"Gods, this Spitemenes son of a whore. I will kill him with my own hands." Alexander raged.
"Yes this bastard hit and ran again. We should leave some cavalry in Bactria. Our infantry is not a match in speed with Spitemenes."
"My infantry is the fastest infantry in the world." Alexander was angry. "We thought he was hiding in Sogdiana when we started this campaign. This son of a whore really moved around fast."
At the beginning of the spring, in order to catch Spitamenes and his men, hearing he was moving toward the Sogdiana northwestern boarder close to Scythians and trying to get help from Scythians, Alexander split the Companion Cavalry and Light Infantry, all mounted now, into five columns and swiped all the way from Bactra through Sogdiana from south to north through five different valleys. Most of the Heavy Infantry was left in Bactria under Craterus' overall command to guard the rear as well as build several new Alexandrias in Bactria, while some of the Heavy Infantry were already left in Sogdiana the winter before building new Alexandrias before Alexander's main army went back to Bactria from Sogdiana and wintered in Bactra. The five columns, under Alexander/Cleitus, Hephaistion, Ptolemy, Perdiccas, and Coenus/Artabazus, spent the whole summer swiped valleys, re-captured the towns that were taken by Alexander last year but revolted, and re-united in Samarcand just a month ago, but they didn't find Spitamenes and his main army.
"There is no doubt about our infantry and they are the bravest too." Hephaistion tried to lift up Alexander's spirit.
"We'll have to send some cavalry back to Bactria as soon as possible to protect what left to us. You went through supplies today, didn't you? What's the situation?"
"We have enough here for the five columns till next month with enough left for garrisons throughout the winter till March. But with what happened in Bactra we won't have enough if all five columns go and winter there. We'll be half way short."
"Then we'll have to split again. Maybe three cavalry hiparchies and all light infantry winter here in Sogdiana and two cavalry hiparchies go to Bactria. We should keep enough force here in Sogdiana - I think Spitamenes will most likely attack here next. Besides he's got several chieftain friends hiding in those Sogdiana rocky forts with arms and willing to help him."
"I agree with you. He's probably hiding somewhere in the mountainous area north to the desert where Craterus' chase ended. He can either ride down the mountains to Sogdiana or route back to Bactria. He's got options. "
"Let's have a council meeting to hear what others might say Hephaistion. Just let you know that I might send you with some cavalry to Bactria if that's what we need to do. I shall stay in Sogdiana to block Spitamenes if he comes this way and to finish those rocks. You will need to take overall command in Bactria when you get there and I won't trust anyone else with such a task."
"But Alexander, isn't Craterus in charge ….?"
"No, you should be in charge when you get there. I may need some infantry's help to take these high rocks in spring. You can send Craterus with some infantry to north then. We'll see how things go."
"All right then Alexander. It will be a long winter for us. I'll miss you."
"I will certainly miss you too Phai. You know I dare not give anyone but you the command of half the cavalry and all the infantry left in Bactria. Someone dangerous with that position will be the death of us both." Put both hands on Hephaistion's shoulders, Alexander looked into his eyes intensely. Ever since the Philotas incidence, Alexander was very cautious in assigning important military commands.
"I know Alexander." Hephaistion nodded and padded Alexander's shoulder too. "We'll need more supply here in Sogdiana too if you stay here for the winter. Let me go back to my supply office to arrange that."
"That can wait until after the council meeting." Alexander kissed Hephaistion's cheek quickly and walked to the door and told his pages to call all council staff and generals for a meeting.