[1][2][3] A fragment of the Άστράτευτοι or Άνδρογύνοι of Eupolis says, Πείσανδρος εἰς Πακτωλὸν ἐστρατεύετο, Κἀνταῦθα τῆς στρατιᾶς κάκιστος ἦν ἀνήρ ("Peisander served at Pactolus, and was the worst man in the army").
[5] Meineke suggested that he may have been tried on a charge of ἀστρατείας γραφή (astrateias graphe, cowardice)[6] (although there is no evidence for this); saying that that would explain the line in the Maricus of Eupolis, ἄκουε νῦν Πείσανδρος ὡς ἀπόλλυται ("listen now to Peisander perishing").
On his arrival, he urged these measures on his countrymen as their only means of obtaining the help of Persia, without which they could not hope to win advantage over their enemy the Lacedaemonians (Spartans); while ingenuously suggesting that the people would always have the option of restoring the former order afterwards.
At his instigation they also removed the command of the fleet from Phrynichus and Scironides [ca; es; it], who were opposed to the new movement; the former of whom he accused of having betrayed Amorges and caused the capture of Iasos.
On his arrival at Athens with a body of heavily-armed hoplites, drawn from some of the states he had revolutionised, he found that the clubs had almost effected his object already, principally by assassination and the general terror thus produced.