Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War

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LXXVIII. As he made this address, Nicias went along the ranks, and brought back to their place any of the troops that he saw straggling out of the line; while Demosthenes did as much for his part of the army, addressing them in words very similar. [2] The army marched in a hollow square, the division under Nicias leading, and that of Demosthenes following, the heavy infantry being outside and the baggage-carriers and the bulk of the army in the middle. [3] When they arrived at the ford of the river Anapus they there found drawn up a body of the Syracusans and allies, and routing these, made good their passage and pushed on, harassed by the charges of the Syracusan horse and by the missiles of their light troops. [4] On that day they advanced about four miles and a half, halting for the night upon a certain hill. On the next they started early and got on about two miles further, and descended into a place in the plain and there encamped, in order to procure some eatables from the houses, as the place was inhabited, and to carry on with them water from thence, as for many furlongs in front, in the direction in which they were going, it was not plentiful. [5] The Syracusans meanwhile went on and fortified the pass in front, where there was a steep hill with a rocky ravine on each side of it, called the Acraean cliff. [6] The next day the Athenians advancing found themselves impeded by the missiles and charges of the horse and darters, both very numerous, of the Syracusans and allies; and after fighting for a long while, at length retired to the same camp, where they had no longer provisions as before, it being impossible to leave their position by reason of the cavalry.

Further comments from E.C. Marchant, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 7:
book 7 (general note)
book 7, chapter 78: ama
book 7, chapter 78: ouden hêsson
book 7, chapter 78, section 2: to de
book 7, chapter 78, section 3: kai epeidê egenonto
book 7, chapter 78, section 3: têi diabasei
book 7, chapter 78, section 3: es to prosthen
book 7, chapter 78, section 4: katebêsan
book 7, chapter 78, section 5: Akraion lepas
book 7, chapter 78, section 5: autous
book 7, chapter 78, section 5: homoiôs
book 7, chapter 78, section 5: apochôrein

Further comments from Charles Forster Smith, Commentary on Thucydides Book 7:
book 7 (general note)
book 7, chapter 78: epêiei to strateuma
book 7, chapter 78: kathistas
book 7, chapter 78: ouden hêsson
book 7, chapter 78: tois kath heauton
book 7, chapter 78: en plaisiôi
book 7, chapter 78: prôton men hêgoumenon
book 7, chapter 78: tous de skeuophorous...entos eichon
book 7, chapter 78: te
book 7, chapter 78: tôn Surakosiôn kai xummachôn
book 7, chapter 78: esakontizontes hoi psiloi
book 7, chapter 78: stadious hôs tessarakonta
book 7, chapter 78: prôi
book 7, chapter 78: apedon
book 7, chapter 78: stadia
book 7, chapter 78: hêi emellon ienai
book 7, chapter 78: apeteichizon
book 7, chapter 78: Akraion lepas
book 7, chapter 78: autous
book 7, chapter 78: hekaterôthen
book 7, chapter 78: es to auto stratopedon
book 7, chapter 78: ouketi homoiôs
book 7, chapter 78: apochôrein
book 7, chapter 78: hupo tôn hippeôn

Cross references from C.E. Graves, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 4:
4, 59
4, 59

Cross references from Charles D. Morris, Commentary on Thucydides Book 1:
1, 41
1, 143

This text is based on the following book(s):
Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War. London, J. M. Dent; New York, E. P. Dutton. 1910.