Hippocrates then commanded an Athenian force which invaded Boeotia. Hippocrates was given command of the land force that was to take Delium and he succeeded in doing so and fortifying a garrison there. When Hippocrates learned that the Boeotian army was approaching, Hippocrates began to retreat to Athens; he was unable to do so, and was defeated at the Battle of Delium by the Boeotian army under Pagondas.
Hippocrates subsequently took charge of an Athenian military campaign in Boeotia. He was assigned command of the ground forces destined to capture Delium, which he successfully accomplished by establishing a defensive position there. Nevertheless, when Hippocrates learned that the Boeotian army was approaching, he initiated his retreat back to Athens; however, this proved impossible, and he ultimately suffered a defeat at the Battle of Delium against the Boeotian forces under Pagondas.