Eumenes gained the support of Amphimachos, the satrap of Mesopotamia,Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XVIII 39,6 and XIX 27, 4. then marched his army into Northern Babylonia, where he put them into winter quarters. During the winter he negotiated with Seleucus, the satrap of Babylonia, and Peithon, the satrap of Media, seeking their help against Antigonus.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 12, 1–2. Antigonus, finding out Eumenes had left his provinces, took some time securing Cilicia and northern Syria before he marched into Mesopotamia. Unable to sway Seleucus and Pheiton, Eumenes had left his winter quarters early and marched on Susa, a major royal treasury, in Susiana.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 12, 5–13, 5. In Susa, Eumenes sent letters to all the satraps to the north and east of Susiana, ordering them in the kings' names to join him with all their forces.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 13,6-7. When the satraps joined Eumenes he had a considerable force, with which he could look forward with some confidence to doing battle against Antigonus.Richard A. Billows, Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State p.90. Eumenes then marched southeastwards into Persia, where he picked up additional reinforcementsDiodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 17, 3–7. Antigonus, meanwhile, had reached Susa and left Seleucus there to besiege the place, while he himself marched after Eumenes. At the river Kopratas, Eumenes surprised Antigonus during the crossing of the river and killed or captured 4,000 of his men.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 18, 3–7; Plutarch, Life of Eumenes, 14, 1–2. Antigonus, faced with disaster, decided to abandon the crossing and turned back northward, marching up into Media, threatening the upper satrapies.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 19, 1–2. Eumenes wanted to march westward, and cut Antigonus's lines of supply, but the satraps refused to abandon their satrapies and forced Eumenes to stay in the east. In the late summer of 316 BC, Antigonus moved southward again in the hope of bringing Eumenes to battle and ending the war quickly. Eventually the two armies in southern Media and fought in the indecisive battle of Paraitakene.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 26–32,2; Richard A. Billows, Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State pp. 95–98. Antigonus, whose casualties were more numerous, force marched his army to safety the next night.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 32,1–2 During the winter of 316–315 BC, Antigonus tried to surprise Eumenes in Persia by marching his army across a desert and catching his enemy off guard, unfortunately, he was observed by some locals who reported it to his opponents.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 37, 2–6; Plutarch, Life of Eumenes, 15, 3–4; Polyainos, Strategemata IV 6,11 and 8,4. A few days later both armies drew up for battle. The battle of Gabiene was as indecisive as the previous battle at Parataikene.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 42,1–3; Plutarch, Life of Eumenes, 16,5-6; Polyainos, Strategemata IV 6,13; Richard A. Billows, Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State pp. 100–102. According to Plutarch and Diodorus, Eumenes had won the battle but lost control of his army's baggage camp thanks to his ally Peucestas' duplicity or incompetence. This baggage also included all the loot of the Silver Shields (treasure accumulated over 30 years of successful warfare; it contained not only gold, silver, gems and other booty but also the soldiers' women and children) and they wanted it back. Antigonus responded to a request for the return of the baggage train sent by Teutamus, one of their commanders, by demanding they give him Eumenes, the Silver Shields complied, arrested Eumenes and his officers and handed them over.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 42, 4–43,8; Plutarch, Life of Eumenes, 16,4-17,1; Polyainos, Strategemata IV 6,13; Richard A. Billows, Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State pp. 102–103. The war was thus at an end. Eumenes was placed under guard while Antigonus held a council to pondered his fate. Antigonus was disinclined to kill Eumenes, in this he was backed up by his son Demetrius, but most of the council insisted he execute Eumenes and so it was decided.Diodorus Sicilus, Bibliotheca Historica, XIX 43, 8–44, 3; Plutarch, Life of Eumenes, 17, 1–19, 1; Richard A. Billows, Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State p. 104.
