by Frontinus
[23] Imperator Caesar Augustus Germanicus, cum subinde Chatti equestre proelium in silvas refugiendo deducerent, iussit suos equites, simulatque ad impedita ventum esset, equis desilire pedestrique pugna confligere; quo genere consecutus, ne quis iam locus victoriam eius moraretur.
[23] The Emperor Caesar Augustus Germanicus, when the Chatti, by fleeing into the forests, again and again interfered with the course of a cavalry engagement, commanded his men, as soon as they should reach the enemy’s baggage-train, to dismount and fight on foot. By this means he made sure that his success should not be blocked by any difficulties of terrain.
[24] C. Duellius, cum videret graves suas naves mobilitate Punicae classis eludi irritamque virtutem militum fieri, excogitavit manus ferreas. Quae ubi hostilem apprenderant navem, superiecto ponte transgrediebatur Romanus et in ipsorum ratibus comminus eos trucidabant.
[24] When Gaius Duellius saw that his own heavy ships were eluded by the mobile fleet of the Carthaginians and that the valour of his soldiers was thus brought to naught, he devised a kind of grappling-hook. When this caught hold of an enemy ship, the Romans, laying gangways over the bulwarks, went on board and slew the enemy in hand-to-hand combat on their own vessels.
IV. De Acie Hostium Turbanda
IV. On creating panic in the enemy’s ranks
[1] Papirius Cursor filius consul, cum aequo Marte adversus obstinatos Samnites concurreret, ignorantibus suis praecepit Spurio Nautio, ut pauci alares et agasones mulis insidentes ramosque per terram trahentes a colle transverso magno tumultu decurrerent. Quibus prospectis proclamavit victorem adesse collegam, occuparent ipsi praesentis proelii gloriam. Quo facto et Romani fiducia concitati proruere et hostes pulvere perculsi terga verterunt.
[1] When Papirius Cursor, the son, in his consulship failed to win any advantage in his battle against the stubbornly resisting Samnites, he gave no intimation on his purpose to his men, but commanded Spurius Nautius to arrange to have a few auxiliary horsemen and grooms, mounted on mules and trailing branches over the ground, race down in great commotion from a hill running at an angle with the field. As soon as these came in sight, he proclaimed that his colleague was at hand, crowned with victory, and urged his men to secure for themselves the glory of the present battle before he should arrive. At this the Romans rushed forward, kindling with confidence, while the enemy, disheartened at the sight of the dust, turned and fled.
[2] Fabius Rullius Maximus quarto consulatu in Samnio, omni modo frustra conatus aciem hostium perrumpere, novissime hastatos subduxit ordinibus et cum Scipione legato suo circummisit iussitque collem capere, ex quo decurri poterat in hostium terga. Quod ubi factum est, Romanis crevit animus et Samnites perterriti fugam molientes caesi sunt.
[2] Fabius Rullus Maximus, when in Samnium in his fourth consulship, having vainly essayed in every way to break through the line of the enemy, finally withdrew the hastati from the ranks and sent them round with his lieutenant Scipio, under instructions to seize a hill from which they could rush down upon the rear of the enemy. When this had been done, the courage of the Romans rose, and the Samnites, fleeing in terror, were cut to pieces.
[3] Minucius Rufus imperator, cum a Scordiscis Dacisque premeretur, quibus impar erat numero, praemisit fratrem et paucos una equites cum aeneatoribus praecepitque, ut, cum vidisset contractum proelium, subitus ex diverso se ostenderet iuberetque concinere aeneatores; resonantibus montium iugis species ingentis multitudinis offusa est hostibus, qua perterriti dedere terga.
[3] The general Minucius Rufus, hard pressed by the Scordiscans and Dacians, for whom he was no match in numbers, sent his brother and a small squadron of cavalry on ahead, along with a detachment of trumpeters, directing him, as soon as he should see the battle begin, to show himself suddenly from the opposite quarter and to order the trumpeters to blow their horns. Then, when the hill-tops re-echoed with the sound, the impression of a huge multitude was borne in upon the enemy, who fled in terror.
[4] Acilius Glabrio consul adversus Antiochi regis aciem, quam is in Achaia pro angustiis Thermopylarum direxerat, iniquitatibus loci non irritus tantum, sed cum iactura quoque repulsus esset, nisi circummissus ab eo Porcius Cato, qui tum, iam consularis, tribunus militum a populo factus in exercitu erat, deiectis iugis Callidromi montis Aetolis, qui praesidio ea tenebant, super imminentem castris regiis collem a tergo subitus apparuisset. Quo facto perturbatis Antiochi copiis utrimque irrupere Romani et fusis fugatisque castra ceperunt.
[4] The consul Acilius Glabrio, when confronted by the army of King Antiochus, which the latter had drawn up in front of the Pass of Thermopylae in Greece, was not only hampered by the difficulties of terrain, but would have been repulsed with loss besides, had not Porcius Cato prevented this. Cato, although an ex-consul, was in the army as a tribune of the soldiers, elected to this office by the people. [Having been sent by Glabrio to make a détour], he dislodged the Aetolians, who were guarding the crest of Mt. Callidromus, and then suddenly appeared from the rear on the summit of a hill commanding the camp of the king. The forces of Antiochus were thus thrown into panic, whereupon the Romans attacked them from front and rear, repulsed and scattered the enemy, and captured their camp.
[5] C. Sulpicius Peticus consul contra Gallos dimicaturus iussit muliones clam in montes proximos cum mulis abire et indidem conserto iam proelio velut equis insidentes ostentare se pugnantibus; quare Galli existimantes adventare auxilia Romanis cessere iam paene victores.
[5] The consul Gaius Sulpicius Peticus, when about to fight against the Gauls, ordered certain muleteers secretly to withdraw with their mules to the hills near by, and then, after the engagement began, to exhibit themselves repeatedly to the combatants, as though mounted on horses. The Gauls, therefore, imagining that reinforcements were coming, fell back before the Romans, though already almost victorious.
[6] Marius circa Aquas Sextias, cum in animo haberet postera die depugnare adversus Teutonos, Marcellum cum parva manu equitum peditumque nocte post terga hostium misit et ad implendam multitudinis speciem agasones lixasque armatos simul ire iussit iumentorumque magnam partem instratorum centunculis, ut per hoc facies equitatus obiceretur, praecepitque, ut, cum animadvertissent committi proelium, ipsi in terga hostium descenderent. Qui apparatus tantum terroris intulit, ut asperrimi hostes in fugam versi sint.
[6] At Aquae Sextiae, Marius, purposing to fight a decisive battle with the Teutons on the morrow, sent Marcellus by night with a small detachment of horse and foot to the rear of the enemy, and, to complete the illusion of a large force, ordered armed grooms and camp-followers to go along with them, and also a large part of the pack-animals, wearing saddle-cloths, in order by this means to present the appearance of cavalry. He commanded these men to fall upon the enemy from the rear, as soon as they should notice that the engagement had begun. This scheme struck such terror into the enemy that despite their great ferocity they turned and fled.
[7] Licinius Crassus fugitivorum bello apud Camalatrum educturus militem adversus Castum et Cannicum duces Gallorum XII cohortes cum C. Pomptinio et Q. Marcio Rufo legatis post montem circummisit; quae cum commisso iam proelio a tergo clamore sublato decucurrissent, ita fuderunt hostes, ut ubique fuga, nusquam pugna capesseretur.
[7] Licinius Crassus in the Slave War, when about to lead forth his troops at Camalatrum against Castus and Cannicus, the leaders of the Gauls, sent twelve cohorts around behind the mountain with Gaius Pomptinius and Quintus Marcius Rufus, his lieutenants. When the engagement began, these troops, raising a shout, poured down the mountain in the rear, and so routed the enemy that they fled in all directions with no attempt at battle.
[8] M. Marcellus, cum vereretur, ne paucitatem militum eius clamor detegeret, simul lixas calonesque et omnis generis sequellas conclamare iussit atque hostem magni exercitus specie exterruit.
[8] Marcus Marcellus on one occasion, fearing that a feeble battle-cry would reveal the small number of his forces, commanded that sutlers, servants, and camp-followers of every sort should join in
the cry. He thus threw the enemy into panic by giving the appearance of having a larger army.
[9] Valerius Laevinus adversus Pyrrhum, occiso quodam gregali tenens gladium cruentum, utrique exercitui persuasit Pyrrhum interemptum; quamobrem hostes destitutos se ducis morte credentes, consternati a mendacio in castra se pavidi receperunt.
[9] Valerius Laevinus, in the battle against Pyrrhus, killed a common soldier, and, holding up his dripping sword, made both armies believe that Pyrrhus had been slain. The enemy, therefore, panic-stricken at the falsehood, and thinking that they had been rendered helpless by the death of their commander, betook themselves in terror back to camp.
[10] Iugurtha in Numidia adversus C. Marium, cum Latinae quoque linguae usum ei conversatio pristina castrorum dedisset, in primam aciem procucurrit et occisum a se C. Marium clare praedicavit atque ita multos nostrorum avertit.
[10] In his struggle against Gaius Marius in Numidia, Jugurtha, having acquired facility in the use of the Latin language as a result of his early association with Roman camps, ran forward to the front line and shouted that he had slain Gaius Marius, thus causing many of our men to flee.
[11] Myronides Atheniensis dubio proelio adversus Thebanos rem gerens repente in dextrum suorum cornu prosiluit et exclamavit sinistro iam se vicisse; qua re et suis alacritate et hostibus iniecto metu vicit.
[11] Myronides, the Athenian, in an indecisive battle which he was waging against the Thebans, suddenly darted forward to the right flank of his own troops and shouted that he had already won victory on the left. Thus, by inspiring courage in his own men and fear in the enemy, he gained the day.
[12] Croesus praevalido hostium equitatui camelorum gregem opposuit, quorum novitate et odore consternati equi non solum insidentes praecipitaverunt, sed peditum quoque suorum ordines protriverunt vincendosque hosti praebuerunt.
[12] Against overwhelming forces of the enemy’s cavalry Croesus once opposed a troop of camels. At the strange appearance and smell of these beasts, the horses were thrown into panic, and not merely threw their riders, but also trampled the ranks of their own infantry under foot, thus delivering them into the hands of the enemy to defeat.
[13] Pyrrhus, Epirotarum rex, pro Tarentinis adversus Romanos eodem modo elephantis ad perturbandam aciem usus est.
[13] Pyrrhus, king of the Epirotes, fighting on behalf of the Tarentines against the Romans, employed elephants in the same way, in order to throw the Roman army into confusion.
[14] Poeni quoque adversus Romanos frequenter idem fecerunt.
[14] The Carthaginians also often did the same thing in their battles against the Romans.
[15] Volscorum castra cum prope a virgultis silvaque posita essent, Camillus ea omnia, quae conceptum ignem usque in vallum perferre poterant, incendit et sic adversarios exuit castris.
[15] The Volscians having on one occasion pitched their camp near some brush and woods, Camillus set fire to everything which would carry the conflagration up to their entrenchments, and thus deprived his adversaries of their camp.
[16] P. Crassus bello sociali eodem modo prope cum copiis omnibus interceptus est.
[16] In the same way, Publius Crassus in the Social War narrowly escaped being cut off with all his forces.
[17] Hispani contra Hamilcarem boves vehiculis adiunctos in prima fronte constituerunt vehiculaque tedae et sebi et sulphuris plena, signo pugnae dato, incenderunt; actis deinde in hostem bubus consternatam aciem perruperunt.
[17] The Spaniards, when fighting against Hamilcar, hitched steers to carts and placed them in the front line. These carts they filled with pitch, tallow, and sulphur, and when the signal for battle was given, set them afire. Then, driving the steers against the enemy, they threw the line into panic and broke through.
[18] Falisci et Tarquinienses, compluribus suorum in habitum sacerdotum subornatis, faces et angues furiali habitu praeferentibus, aciem Romanorum turbaverunt.
[18] The Faliscans and Tarquinians disguised a number of men as priests, and had them hold torches and snakes in front of them, like Furies. Thus they threw the army of the Romans into panic.
[19] Idem Veientes et Fidenates facibus arreptis fecerunt.
[19] On one occasion the men of Veii and Fidenae snatched up torches and did the same thing.
[20] Atheas, rex Scytharum, cum adversus ampliorem Triballorum exercitum confligeret, iussit a feminis puerisque et omni imbelli turba greges asinorum ac boum ad postremam hostium aciem admoveri et erectas hastas praeferri; famam deinde diffudit, tamquam auxilia sibi ab ulterioribus Scythis adventarent. Qua asseveratione avertit hostem.
[20] When Atheas, king of the Scythians, was contending against the more numerous tribe of the Triballi, he commanded that herds of asses and cattle should be brought up in the rear of the enemy’s forces by women, children, and all the non-combatant population, and that spears, held aloft, should be carried in front of these. Then he spread abroad the rumour that reinforcements were coming to him from the more distant Scythian tribes. By this declaration he forced the enemy to withdraw.
V. De Insidiis
V. On Ambushes
[1] Romulus, per latebras copiarum parte disposita, cum ad Fidenas accessisset, simulata fuga temere hostes insecutos eo perduxit, ubi occultos milites habebat, qui undique adorti effusos et incautos ceciderunt.
[1] Romulus, when he had drawn near to Fidenae, distributed a portion of his troops in ambush, and pretended to flee. When the enemy recklessly followed, he led them on to the point where he was holding his men in hiding, whereupon the latter, attacking from all sides, and taking the enemy off their guard, cut them to pieces in their onward rush.
[2] Q. Fabius Maximus consul, auxilio Sutrinis missus adversus Etruscos, omnes hostium copias in se convertit; deinde simulato timore in superiora loca velut fugiens recessit effuseque subeuntes adgressus non acie tantum superavit, sed etiam castris exuit.
[2] The consul Quintus Fabius Maximus, having been sent to aid the Sutrians against the Etruscans, caused the full brunt of the enemy’s attack to fall upon himself. Then, feigning fear, he retired to higher ground, as though in retreat, and when the enemy rushed upon him pell-mell he attacked, and not merely defeated them in battle but captured their camp.
[3] Sempronius Gracchus adversus Celtiberos metu simulato continuit exercitum; emissa deinde armatura levi, quae hostem lacesseret ac statim pedem referret, evocavit hostes. Deinde inordinatos adgressus usque eo cecidit, ut etiam castra caperet.
[3] Sempronius Gracchus, when waging war against the Celtiberians, feigned fear and kept his army in camp. Then, by sending out light-armed troops to harass the enemy and retreat forthwith, he caused the enemy to come out; whereupon he attacked them before they could form, and crushed them so completely that he also captured their camp.
[4] L. Metellus consul in Sicilia bellum adversus Hasdrubalem gerens, ob ingentem eius exercitum et CXXX elephantos intentior, simulata diffidentia intra Panhormum copias tenuit fossamque ingentis magnitudinis ante se duxit. Conspecto deinde exercitu Hasdrubalis, qui in prima acie elephantos habebat, praecepit hastatis, tela in beluas iacerent protinusque se intra munimenta reciperent. Ea ludificatione rectores elephantorum concitati in ipsam fossam elephantos egerunt. Quo ut primum illati sunt, partim magnitudine telorum confecti, partim retro in suos acti totam aciem turbaverunt. Tunc Metellus, hanc opperiens occasionem, cum toto exercitu erupit et adgressus a latere Poenos cecidit ipsisque [ut] elephantis potitus est.
[4] When the consul Lucius Metellus was waging war in Sicily against Hasdrubal — and with all the more alertness because of Hasdrubal’s immense army and his one hundred and thirty elephants — he withdrew his troops, under pretence of fear, inside Panormus and constructed in front a trench of huge proportions. Then, observing Hasdrubal’s army, with the elephants in the front rank, he ordered the hastati to hurl their javelins at the beasts and straightway to retire within their defences. The drivers of the elephants, enraged at such derisive treatment, drove the elephants straight towards the
trench. As soon as the beasts were brought up to this, part were dispatched by a shower of darts, part were driven back to their own side, and threw the entire host into confusion. Then Metellus, who was biding his time, burst forth with his whole force, attacked the Carthaginians on the flank, and cut them to pieces. Besides this, he captured the elephants themselves.
[5] Thamyris, Scytharum regina, Cyrum Persarum ducem aequo Marte certantem simulato metu elicuit ad notas militi suo angustias atque ibi, repente converso agmine, natura loci adiuta devicit.
[5] When Thamyris, queen of the Scythians, and Cyrus, king of the Persians, became engaged in an indecisive combat, the queen, feigning fear, lured Cyrus into a defile well-known to her own troops, and there, suddenly facing about, and aided by the nature of the locality, won a complete victory.