by Griff Hosker
“You are right Cominius. I will hold my ala to the north west on the track. With the stream to the west and the gate to the east that leaves them north east as their only escape.”
“Just where the general wanted them to be.”
“Metellus take Gaelwyn and scout ahead. See if there are any more settlements.”
Marcus and Decius found a nearby hill top from which to watch the Batavians attack. “It will be good to see how it should be done won’t it sir.”
“I think we did well but these boys have been doing this a lot longer, there must be things we can learn.”
“We may not need to learn them if the general is right one more battle and it is all over. We could find ourselves in the east.”
“Don’t get your hopes up Decius. The legions might go but they have plenty of cavalry in the east who are better than we are at what they do. We will still be here long into the peace. This will always be our home.”
The Batavians had onagers as well as the bolt throwers and the barrage of stones and bolts was intense. The palisade crumbled as though made of papyrus and the Batavians charged up the hill keeping an open formation. The onagers began to hurl their stones into the fort itself and from their vantage point Marcus and Decius could see the damage that they did continue to crush and maim even after they had crashed into warriors and villagers alike.
“That’s what we need next time sir. They can fire over their own men. Look it is all over.”
Sure enough the remaining villagers and warriors were fleeing north east to where Marcus assumed Calgathus was gathering his warriors. “We might as well go down to the fort. This looks like a good place for tonight’s camp. “
The camp was already built by the time a weary Metellus and a seemingly indefatigable Gaelwyn returned. “Nothing sir. There is barely a sheep track. Gaelwyn could find no sign of any warriors or people. The hills are steep and covered in forests.”
“Good well done Metellus.” He called over the two prefects and Decius. “This is as far as we go. We drive them towards Agricola.”
Calgathus was in his heartland in the Correen Mountains. His warbands had been arriving for the muster but increasingly there were refugees driven there by the Roman sweep. He had a huge number of mouths to feed for there were more women and children than he had expected. Fainch had kept in the background as he spoke with the other chiefs who had arrived. She had heard strident voices and knew that there was disagreement about their next course of action. She yearned to be involved but, unlike the Ordovices and Brigante the Caledonii did not listen to their women. Calgathus was a pragmatist and he would hear her out but she was frustrated because she had to wait.
Eventually the chiefs left and he summoned her to his side.”What will you do oh mighty king?”
“We will fight. This general has forced my hand. We have to fight for his forts are strangling my country. We cannot raid south and his army is squeezing the life out of my people. The question is where we fight. Some of my chiefs want to charge down and attack him where he is right now. Others want us to choose our battlefield to suit us. What is your opinion?”
“I think you should choose your battlefield. You want a hill with woods nearby for the legions fight better on the flat in open country. A hill means his machines cannot kill as many of your men. A hill also means your chariots can kill more men.”
Calgathus nodded. “What you say makes sense and I know of such a place not far from here.”
“How many men can you field?”
“As many as six Roman legions.”
“And they only have one.”
“You were right witch.”
“Right? When?”
“When you advised us to join together and fight in the land of the Brigante. Here our families suffer as well as the warriors. This general has chewed us a piece at a time. Tomorrow I will lead my army and people north to Raedykes it will stretch the Roman army and the field will help us to win. When we are there I will speak with my people. They must know why we fight and why we must win.”
His people gathered at Raedykes. It was a rounded hilltop with forests streaming away to the north. There was a smaller hill opposite and a plain between. In the distance the sea could be seen, grey and threatening. The king stood on his chariot at the top of the hill to address his people. “We are going to fight the Romans here in this place of our choosing.” His men roared their approval and beat their shields with their swords. “We will wait at the top of this sacred hill and we will wait for the Romans to come to us. Some of my warriors say that these Romans cannot be beaten. Remember they have never fought the Caledonii. They do not have their women watching them, encouraging them as we do. Warriors fight better when their women are close by. When they fall on the field they are left. They do not have their families to honour their glorious death they are thrown in to a hole in the ground and forgotten. We know why we are fighting. We are fighting for our land. Their land is far away. If we are strong and remember our families are watching, we will prevail and win. If we remember that this is our land and no one can take it from us then we will prevail. We will win and the Romans will die.” There was an enormous cheer at this statement and the women screamed their approval. When they had quietened down the king finished, “Then we can return to our homes and our lives and remember this glorious day when we defeated, finally, the Romans.”
The Roman army finally all met up at the coast. Marcus noticed that the fleet was in close attendance. The General waved an expansive hand in its direction. “Although it is unlikely that we will be able to call on naval support I felt that we should take every advantage available to us. Should the barbarians try to out flank us the fleet can use their artillery. Agrippa is not happy about having his ships on what he calls a lee shore, whatever that is but we need their artillery. Centurion we will build our camp there.” He pointed to an area behind a small knoll. “Prefect if you could send out your scouts we shall see where the enemy is.”
“Yes General. Gaius take Gaelwyn, Julius and Macro take a wide sweep and find out they are, exactly. It will be hard to hide almost forty thousand.”
As they rode off Decius said, “Forty thousand? I hope the general knows what he is doing because all I can see here is twelve thousand auxiliaries and less than six thousand legionaries.”
“Don’t forget the thousand marines.”
“Oh they will be really useful.”
“Don’t underestimate them Decius. They are just legionaries who fight on ships. Anyway let’s get this camp built.”
They had barely started when Julius Demetrius rode in. “We have found them sir. They are about two miles away at the top of a hill. There is a wood behind it.”
“Good lad, go and tell the general.”
“So attacking up hill again?”
“Decius we have fought with this general for seven or eight years. Has he ever disappointed? Had he ever made a decision we felt was a bad one?”
“No but if you keep sticking your chin out sooner or later someone is going to smack it.”
“Tomorrow we attack. Decius Brutus the legion will be in reserve before the camp.”
The unhappy centurion shook his head in frustration. “Well I hope you enjoy your fight tomorrow because we are caretakers again watching the general’s baggage.”
Agricola flashed an impatient look which was enough to silence him. “The Batavians and the Tungrians will advance up the hill and after a volley or two of arrows charge. Marcus’ Horse will be station on the extreme left flank, the Gallic Horse on the extreme right. “He looked at the two prefects. “ Your role is to prevent our being outflanked. If the attack looks like it is slowing we will release some of the legionary cohorts from guarding the baggage and they can bolster any flagging attack.” The prefects all turned and grinned at the red faced centurion. “We have never fought a pitched battle against the Caledonii and we know not how they fight.”
Marcus stood, “Gaelwyn, my scout sa
id that they still use chariots.”
“Do they? Do they indeed? Well we have all faced them before and we know they will not have the large horses we use but it is worth bearing in mind.”
Cominius joined in the debate, “I suspect a wild charge, like the Ordovices used. If they have the advantage of the slope then it could be effective.”
“Which is why you will need to keep your lines firm and support each other.”
The Gallic prefect spoke up, “What if they don’t try to outflank then what are our orders?”
“I will be watching from the small hill opposite. The buccina will sound cavalry charge if I think it would be appropriate. Any further questions? No? Then we will rise before dawn. I want to be in position early.”
If Agricola thought he was going to catch Calgathus asleep he was sadly mistaken. The Caledonii were up even earlier than the Romans and when the Roman army arrayed itself it faced an enemy filling, completely the side of the hillside. In front of them, engulfing the plain between the Romans and the foot soldiers there were chariots already in position. Agricola stood with the prefects at the top of the small hill. “Clever, very clever. I can see that I have a worthy adversary this time. Do you see the chariots will slow up my attack and they threaten to outflank our cohorts? Very clever. Right prefects to your men. The attack begins with two buccina blasts.”
Prefect Marcus Aurelius Maximunius lead his ala away to the left. He was aware that the Caledonii were watching his movements. He planned to use a little initiative. Gaelwyn had spotted a small ridge which would give them a better view of the hill and some momentum when they set off. The hill was steep in places although mercifully without rocks and trees. His horses would not be able to gallop at full speed but they would not have obstacles and pitfalls in their way. Once in position he took his place at the front of the line with Gaelwyn on one side and the signifier on the other. Behind him Decurion Princeps Decius was next to the aquifer. The rest of the Decurions lined up before their respective turma. Marcus glanced down the line and felt pride. He slid his sword from its scabbard, the gleaming blade polished like silver. Ulpius would be with the Allfather watching him. He held the sword in the air and as one man his ala roared, “Marcus!” The Caledonii looked over nervously anticipating a charge.
Marcus smiled; anything which discomfited the enemy would help. He looked at Gaelwyn. “You need not be here Gaelwyn. You could remain behind with the scouts.”
Flashing a disparaging look he said, “Am I a woman that waits to make the food? I am a Brigante and I am one of Marcus’ Horse. My place is here with you.” He glanced over his should er at Decius and said mischievously. “You need at least one warrior to watch your back.”
“Cheeky bugger!”
The banter was interrupted by the two buccina blasts. The attack began. “I hope Cominius and Furius know how to handle chariots.”
“Do not worry Decius the chariots will pose no threat but there are a huge numbers of warriors for the prefects to face”. The auxiliary cohorts looked pitifully small as they stepped across the green hillside to dace the warbands who made the grass invisible. The chariots raced back and forth, their archers shooting ineffectively at the advancing Batavians. Suddenly the Batavian line halted. The Tungrians still went forward. The whole of the front line of the Caledonii seemed to lurch forward in anticipation of a swift victory for surely the Roman line was crumbling.
“Should we go in sir?”
“No Gaius the prefects know what they are doing.” Suddenly the sky in front of the Batavians was covered in arrows which plunged down on to the chariots. Every arrow found a target as the archers had aimed all across their front. Some horses crashed dead whilst those whose drivers and archers had perished ran back and forth in panic. Some escaped east or west but most of them ran up hill rather than face the wall of iron that was the auxiliary line. The Caledonii suddenly sprang aside to allow the frightened beasts to escape; some of the warriors were too slow and were trampled underfoot by the terrified beasts and their chariots...
Still the auxiliaries came on although because the Batavians had halted the line was oblique and the Tungrians were the first to strike the Caledonii. These warriors of Belgae descent were mighty swordsmen , armoured as they were and protected by shields their opponents stood no chance. It was like a farmer scything his corn as they cut swathes through the Caledonii. The wounded fell to the floor to be trampled by hob nailed caligae. When the Batavians hit the line the effect was the same.
“They should have charged down the hill.”
“You are right Decius although even then it would have taken a powerful body of men to crash through three lines of Batavians.”
“And don’t forget the Ninth; it looks like Decius Brutus is just itching to get to grips with them.”
The eight thousand auxiliaries made relentless and inevitable progress up the hill. In their wake the ala could see the writhing bodies of the dead and dying and almost to a man they were Caledonii. “Looks like this will be over before noon.”
“Don’t be so confident Decius this Calgathus has shown himself to be a cunning commander. This battle has some way to go.”
At the top of the hill Calgathus and his war chiefs watched with dismay as the Romans cut down their warriors with impunity. “We have more men oh king but they cannot get to the enemy for our own warriors.”
“Send them around the side and we will attack them in the side and the rear.”
Within a few moments two warbands, with four thousand warriors in each began to move swiftly east and west to outflank and destroy the Romans. The attack on the hill had slowed down mainly because of the slope and the mass of bodies. The hill was slick with blood and the auxiliaries were fighting the hill as much as their enemies.
“Prefect.”
Gaelwyn pointed to the north to where they could see warriors flooding west. ”I see them Gaelwyn. Ala form column!”
“What is the plan sir?”
“They plan to outflank our friends. We will go further west and outflank them. They may be faster than us in those woods but in the open they stand no chance. If we can catch them from the flank or rear we can drive them back into their own men.”
Standing on the small knoll the general was itching to be amongst the fighting. He saw the outflanking barbarians and was gratified to see the two cavalry units respond. He turned to an aide, “Send a message to Decius Brutus and ask him to move forward a thousand paces.” When the man had gone he turned to one of the tribunes. “Just in case the cavalry fail to halt this attack. Actually I have no doubt that they will but the poor Ninth need something to do.”
The Caledonii to the west of the battle were totally oblivious of the cavalry threat. Marcus had taken the ala below the skyline, confident in his men’s ability to make up any lost ground. The tribesman ran in a compact group; their leader Lulach determined to hit the Romans hard in their flank. His warband was made up of huge warriors armed with long swords and war hammers; when they struck the whole battlefield would hear the sound.
Strabo’s First Spear was the first one to see the threat. “Prefect Strabo, look!” He pointed to their left where, in the distance they could see a dark shadow moving swiftly across the green hillside.
“I see it. Second and third centuries form a line to the left. First Spear take charge.”
“Sir.” Calmly and efficiently the one hundred and sixty men turned and formed two lines at an oblique angle to the main line. They still managed to march forward while keeping their attention on the approaching barbarians.
“Keep it steady lads. I don’t want anyone falling over.”
“There’s a lot of them sir.” The voice came from one of the Usipi recently drafted in to the Batavians. He had never stood in line before and was intimidated by the horde approaching at great speed.
“Quiet lad. I know there are more of them but they are all piss and wind! Shield and sword, shield and sword. Look for the weak point trust the m
an next to you and we’ll be on the top of the hill before you know it.”
Gaelwyn waved from the top of the ridge. “Halt. Right turn!” The column instantly turned into two lines. “Forward. Moving forward at a walk they rode to the top of the ridge. A thousand paces below them the warband was rapidly approaching the left flank of the Batavians. “Trot”
As soon as the ala began to trot down the hill the Caledonii became aware of their presences. “Do not worry about the horses we will be upon these foot warriors before they strike.”
“Gallop!” The hooves thundered, making the ground shake and some of those warriors on the extreme right began to glance nervously over their shoulders. They heard the buccina sound just as the warriors at the point struck home. The Batavian front line sagged under the pressure. First Spear yelled,” Third Century, put your backs into it and lock shields!”
The second rank did as they were ordered and the line bowed but did not give. In the front rank the second century was fighting for its life. Their swords sought out the bare flesh of the enemy and hacked and slashed creating savage wounds if not deadly ones. The war hammers and swords beat hard upon the shields and helmets of the auxiliaries but for all their noise they were largely ineffective.
Marcus’ Horse thundered down the slope their swords and javelins a glittering sea of death sparkling in the early sun. Each trooper was leaning forward extending his sword or javelin. Marcus and Decius had decided to forego their bows as they need impact. The Caledonii began to turn to try to halt the avalanche that was descending upon them. It was hopeless. The horses and riders rode over the front ranks as if they did not exist. The warriors behind the front ranks had their backs to the horsemen who took every advantage they could. Javelins and swords instantly created a corpse and soon the pressure on the front slackened. First Spear saw it and decided to go on the offensive. “Push! Heave! Send these barbarians to Hades!”