THE INVASION OF GAUL (62 page)

“
Actuarius: Clerks, both civil and military. In the legions, Actuarii existed from the very top command levels, down to century levels, where excused-duty soldiers served in the role.”

The Pyre burned bright on the wall. There was a slight wind disturbing the smoke, though it blew high and away above the soldiers. Two legions and all the attached Auxilia stood before the wall with burning torches held high.

Fronto stood with the two cavalry officers and Crispus, Crassus and Caesar on the platform near the body. He could see Priscus down below in front of the Tenth. The primus pilus was sweating with the heat and the effort of continuously holding the torch high. The rest of the men would be suffering in much the same way. The pyre had only been lit for fifteen minutes, and they would have a long time to go yet.

Fronto wore Longinus’ good dress cloak that had been left to him and Varus bore the good quality Spanish cavalry sword that had been willed to him. The rest of his goods had been packed to send to his family, along with a letter from Fronto, one from Varus and one from Caesar. As a last gesture, before Varus lit the wood of the pyre, he laid his own much-used blade at the commander’s side. Fronto had caused much raising of eyebrows among the command when he brought forth his resplendent red and gold cloak and covered the torso with it.

Now they all burned together. Caesar had made a speech and then Varus had added his own words.

In the silence, broken only by the crackle of burning wood and the spit and hiss of flaming fats, Fronto suddenly put his hand to his brow, shading his eyes from the glare of the fire. Trying not to cause too much alarm, he sidestepped toward Crispus and whispered to him.

“
Can you see movement out to the left, beyond the ridge?”

Crispus sheltered his eyes and gazed out.

“
Yes. What’s happening?”

Fronto, still squinting, shook his head.

“
Don’t know. They’re not Ariovistus’ men, though. They’re moving in legion formation. It must be the rest of the army.”

He glanced up at Caesar to see the General smiling at him.

“
Absolutely, Marcus. What a distraction, eh? While the Germans marvel at the bright lights, four legions and thousands of cavalry walk right past them in the darkness.”

Fronto gawped.

“
The whole army here? Now?”

“
They will walk right around the edge of the field and into your camp. If all goes well, Ariovistus will not know that they’ve even moved. It should throw any tactics he has planned completely out of the window when the entire army forms up here at first light.”

Crispus shook his head.

“
The other camp must be occupied or at the very least maintain the illusion of occupation. Otherwise Ariovistus can retreat and occupy
our
camp.”

Caesar smiled.

“
Yes Crispus, I’ve thought of that. There are around four thousand men still there, two cohorts from each legion. They should make a good show of it and, if Ariovistus decides to try and retreat that way there will be a force to prevent him.”

By now a number of the men attending the funeral on the field had noticed the army on the move past them. Fronto looked around at Caesar.

“
Best tell them what’s happening.”

Caesar nodded and stepped to the front of the platform. With them on the wall, Varus and Ingenuus wore grim expressions and at the front of the two legions stood their tribunes, twelve in all.

“
Tribunes, to the platform.”

With much confusion and apprehension, the twelve men approached the pyre. Once they had struggled up the bank, they came to attention in front of the senior officers. Caesar looked along the line.

“
Gentlemen. The figures currently moving along the periphery of the field are your fellows from the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Twelfth Legions, along with the rest of the cavalry and auxiliary units. They will enter this camp shortly and will stay out the rest of the night here with you once the pyre burns down. In the morning, we will be moving on Ariovistus and battle will commence. Return to your legions and inform the centurions of this.”

The tribunes and prefects saluted the General, the tribunes with looks of eager anticipation, the two cavalry prefects with grim satisfaction.

“
Go now.”

As they made their way down the grassy slope to the troops below, Fronto stepped toward Caesar again.

“
Are the other legions properly informed or still in the dark?”

“
I sent a courier out to them hours ago. Balbus, Rufus and Galba have had their orders delivered and should have addressed their troops. The pyre should be starting to collapse in less than half an hour. Once that happens, dismiss the troops and send them to their tents. The legates, prefects and primus pilus of each legion will join me in the praetorium for a command briefing. I’m going now to meet the commanders when they reach the camp and give further orders.”

Fronto nodded unhappily. He could understand the tactical advantage of all this, but it seemed dishonourable to use the funeral of a well-respected Roman nobleman to pull the wool over the enemy’s eyes.

Fronto stood side by side with Crispus and Crassus as Caesar left the platform, staring at the burning timbers and the leaping flames now entirely obscuring the body. Ahead of them, spread out across the grass, the men of the legions stood silent, watching the last moments of the commander.

Less than an hour later, the troops had been dismissed for the night and twenty five men sat around the edges of the large tent at the praetorium of the camp. Caesar entered last and walked through the officers to the empty campaign chair.

“
I see we’re all here now. Good.”

He looked around. Fronto sat with Balbus and Crispus with Varus and Ingenuus close by. Crassus stood with the staff. The beam of self-satisfied smugness on his face irritated the General and he could see the rift between his senior officers widening by the minute. Something would have to be done to bring Crassus down to the level of everyone else, and yet without provoking his father into withdrawing support. He sighed.

“
Very well. Firstly, due to the recent morale problems among the legions and the need to give them as much support as possible, each of my senior staff will be taking a position with the legions and the cavalry tomorrow. No one will stay behind safe and sound.”

There was a general rumble of assent from the officers.

“
I will assign my staff after the briefing. They will act as lieutenants for the legions’ current commanders. The cavalry will be split into two wings. Publius Crassus will command the left wing and I will personally command the right.”

The General became aware of unhappy grumbling among some groups, so he pressed on before anyone could speak.

“
I have not yet decided who will take a more permanent control of the cavalry. Crassus and I will control a wing each tomorrow and both of us will have the close support of three regular cavalry prefects. When tomorrow is done with, I will consider the question more closely.”

He glanced around. The grumbling had died away, but the silence that replaced it was equally filled with distrust and discontent.

“
In respect of the infantry, the six legions will all commit side by side, advancing in three lines as per our previous engagements. The first two lines will carry out the attack, with the third in reserve to support any weak area. I will leave it to individual command units of the legions, though I would recommend that the legate moves with the first and second lines, while his lieutenant remains behind the second line, with the third. Again, that is your decision. Officers who are stationed at the rear will be able to identify weak spots and draw support from the third line.”

“
The non-mounted Auxilia will be split into six groups, each with one of my staff to command and each assigned to a legion. They will move with the legions, though the exact nature of their placement I will leave to the commanders of the units involved. The only men left behind here will be the actuarii, the quartermasters, the medical units and a small guard to protect them and the pay chests.”

Nods and murmurs of approval.

“
At first light, the troops will come to order within the defences and will then cross into the field, falling into position as fast as this can be achieved. As soon as the last unit is in place, we will move on the German camp at a steady field march. I hope to draw them out rather than fight them across their defences, but if they are still reluctant I will press them. I intend for this to end tomorrow. If Fortuna is with us, they will be surprised at the size of the force on this side and will be badly prepared. Does anyone have anything to add, ask or suggest?”

The room stood silent for a moment before Ingenuus raised his hand.

“
Caesar, I would like to formally request assignment to the right wing.”

The General nodded, entirely prepared for this,

“
I understand. Granted. Do I presume the same request goes for you, prefect Varus?”

Varus shook his head.

“
My unit and the others that have seen action under my command work best on the left wing. It would be foolhardy to ignore the benefits of their experience for the sake of a grudge.”

Crassus looked up sharply and then nodded.

“
He’s right General. I do not have a great deal of experience at cavalry command and having an officer who knows the strategy of a left wing offensive would be invaluable.”

Caesar smiled.

“
Then I hope you’re both very successful.”

Balbus coughed and gestured to the General.

“
What about the artillery? Are we leaving them on the wall here or are we going to try and take them with us?”

The General raised his hands in a gesture of defeat.

“
I don’t see how we can realistically take them. We’ll be on the offensive and moving fast. I think we have to discount artillery support this time.”

Balbus nodded.

“
If that’s all then, I suggest you retire to your units and get as much sleep as possible before dawn. It’s going to be a busy day, gentlemen.”

The officers bowed as they left the tent, dispersing and heading back to their own men. Varus jogged and caught up with Balbus, Crispus and Fronto.

“
Pardon me for interrupting sirs, but I’m going back to the pyre. It’s still a long way off burning out and I’d like a chance to sit and drink a few toasts to him. Would any of you care to join me? I’ll understand if not; there’s not a lot of time left for sleep.”

Fronto smiled at the cavalry prefect.

“
I’ll happily join you, Varus, so long as you can get the wine. I ran my stock dry earlier.”

Balbus and Crispus glanced at each other. The younger of the two yawned and then smiled.

“
Oh who cares? If I’m this exhausted now, what difference can an extra hour make? Count me in, and I
do
have almost a full chest of good wine. I’ll send someone for it.”

The four of them made their way slowly to the now bare artillery platform upon which the embers of the pyre were burning down low, still warm and orange. Soon the detail would gather up the ashes and the bone fragments and put them in a ready-prepared funerary urn for transport back to Longinus’ family.

Crispus looked over at Varus as they sat.

“
You held the commander in very high esteem, did you not?”

The prefect nodded.

“
He was the man who assigned me as prefect of the Ninth’s cavalry while we were still in Spain. He’s been my commander ever since I joined the Ninth, and he always looked after the cavalry something special. He taught me everything I know about horse tactics.”

Fronto smiled.

“
And I gather that’s quite extensive knowledge; I hear only good things. You’ll command the cavalry yet. Caesar would have passed it to you purely on Longinus’ recommendation if it weren’t for the all-glorious, sun-shines-out-of-my-arse Crassus and his father.”

Varus laughed, as did the others. Balbus was first to straighten his expression.

“
You
do
realise, I presume, that Crassus is going to do something horribly wrong or stupid tomorrow. He doesn’t know the first thing about a cavalry battle and he has absolutely
no
respect for anyone below Senatorial level. I’d have preferred it if you’d taken Caesar’s offer and stayed on the right wing. Caesar
is
a good horseman and a good tactician.”

Varus shook his head.

“
I
need
to be near Crassus. If anything’s going to go wrong, the cavalry are going to need someone they know and trust to put it right. I have to be there to make sure he doesn’t kill everyone in a mad rush for glory.”

Fronto gestured to Crispus and pointed at Varus.

“
That’s
what makes a good commander. The men should always come first.”

Balbus shook his head sadly as he reached out for the jug of wine.