By half past one in the afternoon, more than four thousand soldiers had gathered on the beach. Over a hundred longboats shuttled back and forth, carrying men and supplies ashore.
The weather was hot, and fresh water would not keep long in wooden barrels. Xerxes estimated that in another day, the water would begin to taste foul.
After that, its foul taste would only grow stronger.
To reduce illness, the navy drank boiled fresh water. If the water spoiled completely, they would drink small beer, which kept longer.
Xerxes thought, We must find a water source, or we cannot keep this siege going for long.
Soon, the Marine Battalion scouting ahead sent back a report:
Each of the two nearby villages had a well. The enemy had contaminated one, while the Marine Battalion had secured the other, but its yield was low-enough to supply roughly one infantry battalion.
The scouts had also bought a piece of information from the villagers: Mount San Calogero to the north had springs that supplied Sciacca with drinking water.
Xerxes studied Mount San Calogero through his telescope.
Broad stretches of low scrub covered the mountain, giving it a yellow-green cast. Rocks littered its middle and upper slopes, some dazzling white in the sunlight.
Relaying the villagers' information, the scouts estimated that the mountain lay twelve to fifteen miles from the coast.
Xerxes promptly issued his orders:
"Send the Hermes Brigade there. If there really are springs, take that mountain area at any cost! If we cannot secure a water source, the entire Sicilian offensive is finished!"
With the military situation urgent, the Hermes Brigade could not wait for all its men to come ashore. The brigade commander turned to Orlando. "Take the First Battalion ahead. The remaining troops will follow."
Orlando accepted his orders