Soldier of Rome: March to Oblivion (The Artorian Dynasty, #3) by James Mace

Author:James Mace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: roman empire, roman legion, ancient history, austria, danube, flavian dynasty, domitian
Publisher: Legionary Books
Published: 2022-06-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter XXI: A Bloody Retreat

***

The relief column heading east was much larger, consisting of seven cohorts of legionaries. One century from each was left to guard the fortress, giving Silva around 2,500 soldiers with which to extract his remaining cohorts. All travelled light, with just javelins and some hard rations stuffed into their hip pouches. As they were on foot, it would take them a little over three hours to travel a similar distance the cavalry had achieved in less than one. A section of troopers from Silva’s bodyguard rode ahead to act as scouts. It surprised the legate when one of these men returned sooner than anticipated. The column had been on the march for less than two hours.

“The cohorts have formed into squares and are retiring on their own,” the soldier reported.

“What of enemy resistance?” Silva asked.

“Two, maybe 3,000 enemy warriors haranguing the front and flanks. It is the rear of the column which is facing the greatest threat from Sarmatian cavalry.” He then looked over his shoulder and pointed to a small rise about a mile distant. “From there you can see and hear the action, sir. The ground is open and will allow our soldiers to deploy into battle lines.”

“Very good.” Silva dismissed the soldier and turned to the pilus priors who rode with him. “Return to your cohorts and make ready. Once we reach the ridge, we’ll form into battle lines. Four cohorts will assail the barbarians on the flanks. The remaining three will push past our squares and attack the enemy’s heavy cavalry.”

Centurions and options quickly dismounted and left their horses with their manservants. Every century marched in column, with the centurion at the head, along with the signifier. Each optio trailed behind their respective centuries. Each century’s tesserarius kept to the centre of the formation. Without the need for subsequent orders, the entirety of the legion increased its stride as they approached the ridge. Silva, his escorts and staff officers, along with the legion’s aquilifer, had reached the top. Cohorts veered to either side of the ridge. The lead centuries crested a small rise, able to see the ongoing battle across the open plain leading from the river.

Three cornicens atop the ridge sounded their war horns. This served to both signal the legion to form into battle lines, while also announcing their presence to both the enemy and their beleaguered cohorts. Silva’s intent was to draw the barbarians away from Philo’s battered squares and into the ranks of his fresh troops. Each centurion stepped to the right of his column with his gladius held high. He slowed his pace, allowing time for his century to swing in a wide arc, like the opening of a door, until all were online with him. The optio at the back and tesserarius in the centre kept their ranks in order. Subsequent centuries would press to the left, dressing off the optio of the century to their immediate right. Each century was now arrayed into battlelines four ranks deep.

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