Quintus and the Great revolt

The Proconsul, Caesar, has spent the summer gloriously invading Britain.  Autumn is now ending, and he has returned to the mainland.

At this time, the Roman Proconsul had eight legions under his command, but the harvest in Gaul has been bad. He has been forced to divide up his legions and send them into different parts of the province. His military headquarters is in Samarobriva on the frontier between Gallia and Belgica. Four legions will be quartered among the Belgae. 

One legion has been sent out in winter quarters in the territory of the Morini at Portus Itius. Another legion is billeted with the Nervi and one in the territory of the Remi.  Finally one legion, supported by an extra 5 newly recruited cohorts, totaling about 7.500, has been sent to Atuatuca - in the centre of the Eburones’ territory. 

As the legions march towards their winter quarters, Caesar decides to stay at his headquarters in Samarobriva until he receives the message that all troops have reached their destinations and fortified their camps.

Legio XIV Gemina, has had it`s original commanders removed. The Legion is now commanded by the legate Quintus Witmorus, a veteran soldier and originally a protege of Pompey the Great, now one of Caesar`s inner circle. 

The half legion of recruits is commanded by the political Tribune Quilpius Cacophonous, known for his loud voice and strong opinions.  Senior Centurion of XIV Gemina is Marcus Cadaverus.  He has concerns about those recruits but believes that the camp is well sited.

In the territory of Belgea all seems quiet. The tribes were beaten in battle by the proconsul three years ago, and 60.000 were slain, although he showed himself a merciful general by letting the families return to their homeland. The rebellion was brought to a successful close and Roman rule in the area was preserved thanks to the pro-Roman parties that were given power among the tribes. 

The revolting Gauls

In the Oppidum of the Eubrones are the Chieftain Prefix and his brother Suffix.  They have been very worried about having a Roman camp on their doorstep.  After two weeks Prefix reveals to the Romans that there is a barbarian conspiracy afoot.  An army of German mercenaries have crossed the Rhine and are on their way here.  The Belgae intend to rise up in rebellion and attack the four Roman camps within their territory simultaneously.  They ask you to leave Eurbrones territory. 

Quintus has a choice:

1. Stay in camp and hope for the best, 
2. March out and attack the Eurbrones Oppidum, 
3. Send out scouts, 
4. March to join Labenius in the territory of the Remi, 
5. March to join Cicero in the territory of the Nervii,
6. Call a council of war and listen to the views of your subordinates

The Primus Centurion tells you his views privately.  These Gauls are liars and planning to ambush you.  He thinks that these Belgae have form for hiding in woods and striking out suddenly. 

Your Tribunes however can`t believe this, thinking that these Eurbrones would not dare to attack Rome on their own, and therefore their story must be true. 


The Roman Commander Quintus responded in the traditional manner...

By Jupiter's Mighty Arse! I expecting trouble from these benighted heathens and I wasn't wrong. An army of Germans have crossed the Rhine at this time of year? Sounds highly unlikely to me but I guess stranger things have occurred. Also the Meuse is no paltry river itself at the moment. In order to join Labenius I should have to cross it myself, twice, so that is a last option at the moment. In fact I will not be going anywhere until I have more information.

Have the speculatores carry out reconnaissance to the east across the Meuse bridge and also to the west and south-west either side of the road. I presume that if any trouble is coming it will be from the high ground to the south which is well within view from our vantage.

The XIV Legion readies itself in 6mm!

Put the Legion on alert. I want those new recruits put through their paces, extra drill, kit inspection, the works. I presume that the good Tribune has no objections to a spot of discipline?! Old Pompey used to say that the best soldier was far more terrified of his centurion than he was of the enemy. Also a full report on the state of the fort, its defences, supplies etc.

In the meantime please have my personal priest, Bulbus consult the auguries. It would be nice to see if the Gods at least are on my side.

Quintus Witmorus

During the night the Primus Centurion of the Gemina carried out his orders:

Bulbus Priest of Jupiter’s Mighty Arse, has inspected the testes of a Ewe. One suspects his eyesight is failing.  He declares that the auguries are good but the senior Tribune, Quilpius Cacophonous, has been stirring it up around the camp.  The Centurions are unhappy that the young gentleman is talking doom, and blaming Caesar.  As a result his command, the five cohorts of recruits are in a state of unrest.  He is demanding a council of war.  He has done nothing to implement your orders for extra drill.

 

Is it just me or is that a 10mm hillfort not a 6mm one?

Scouts have returned.  There are no signs of any Gauls in the fields.  The Meuse is already high from the autumn rains,and the route to the Legatus Titus Labienus at Bibrax is heavilly wooded and mountainous.  The route to the poet's brother Legatus Quintus Cicero is one of rolling valleys and lighter woods.  If there are German mercenaries out there they would have to come across the Meuse. 

 

The Primus Centurion believes, as you do, that the Gauls are in the high ground and woods to the south and around the Oppidum.  There may be as many as 20,000 of this tribe.  With your light troops you can probably muster  half that. The Centurion also wants to arrest and execute the Tribune Quilpius Cacophonous, but then the centurion is not a subtle fellow.  He claims that the Proconsul told him that he should divide all Gauls into three parts. He has had the entire Legio Gemina up, since dawn, inspecting kit and sharpening weapons.

A late morning report by the Senior Tribune of the XIV Legion, Gaius Crismus Bonus, had a similar theme:

Legatus Quintus,

 

Additional information is reported in.

 

The Senior Military Tribune of the XIV Gemina, a solid type named Gaius Crismus Bonus, reports that the Camp is fully in order as far as the Legio Gemina is concerned. 

 

Supplies for three weeks have been gathered. 

You have 1000 Gallic cavalry, mainly from Cisalpina and hostile to these local Belgae tribes, serving under a Tribune of Auxiliaries, Bilious Vexatious .  There are also 1000 light troops, paid mercenaries, who are a mixture of Gallic tribes.  The XIV Gemina was recruited in the Province 4 years ago, so is not the untrained formation that the proconsul seems to think.  After all it has been entrusted with the most northerly and isolated outpost, and did good work at the battle of the Sambre three years ago against these same Belgae.  Morale is good, mainly due to the fact that they are all terrified of the Primus Centurion.

 

The half legion of recruits has more issues.  These were raised in Central Gaul, and their Military tribune is not present, the Junior Political tribune serving in that role.  That young gentleman has been weeping in sight of his men and writing farewell letters to his fashionable friends in Rome.  The Senior Centurion of the Recruits, Dextro Illegitimus, is very unhappy with his commanding Tribune but will not come forward out of a sense of loyalty to this newly formed (Half) legion.

 

The camp has a solid rampart and ditch and is much stronger than an ordinary marching camp.  It is on slightly higher ground than the surrounding plain, but clearly not as high as that Gallic hillfort on the hills to the south.  There is a strong spring inside the walls so that water is not an issue.