Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube (13 page)

Manius rode to the first Legion, saluted the Legate, and they both rode among the Maniples, occasionally talking to a Centurion or Tribune.  The other two Legions were told to stand in a rest position.  Manius moved to the second Legion and then the third.  He paused at Legio XVII and spoke to several of the Centurions he knew well.  As he finished inspecting each Legion, he and the Legate rode to the front of the Legion and the Legate assumed his position at the front.  The inspection took about two hours.

At day’s end, Manius was pleased with what he found.  He had been concerned that Legio V Etrusci might not be up to Legionary standards, but found them combat ready with high morale.  After the inspection, Caile, the Legate of V Etrusci, requested permission to return to participate in the planning sessions as its Chair.  He was a brilliant man and enjoyed the intellectual challenge of planning and the give and take of the discussion.  He said he could not attend full time because of his other responsibilities, but would be there as often as time permitted.  Manius readily agreed.

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In early August 207, Tudrus, The Quadi Chief, led five men, including one of the scouts who made the trip earlier, and extra horses, to the Cimbri/Teuton camp.  It took 12 days.  Tudrus scouted the camp from the woods and circled around to the east side where he wanted his men to create a diversion.  It looked too easy.  Tudrus was delighted!  He said, “Let’s bring about 20 wagons to haul out whatever we can get.  They can’t pursue us and if they try, they will be ambushed.  I’ll send 100 men each to take out the two 20 man Teuton security posts that stand in our way.  They can then stand guard in case other Teuton guards come running over to see what’s happening.  We can assemble our men in these woods and easily run down to the camp.  I think we can even take their oxen.  They’re slow, but the pursuers should be slower.”

On September 1, 6,000 warriors and 20 wagons pulled by horses set off for Two Lakes.  Thirteen days later, the raiding party was hidden in the woods two miles from Two Lakes.  The Commander of the diversionary force had completed his reconnaissance and was ready.  The two 100 man teams were poised to eliminate the two 20-man guard posts and Tudrus was eager to get going.  Teams were designated to attack and kill any civilians who failed to run away; other teams were ready to take the livestock, the women, and valuables from inside the Teutons’ wagons.  Tudrus estimated the raid would take 20 minutes.  Another 1,000 men were positioned about one mile from Two Lakes on the road heading east.  They would ambush any would-be pursuers.

At 2:00 A.M. on September 14, 500 Quadi horsemen attacked the west side of the settlement.  They first killed the 20 Teuton guards blocking their path and then rode into the camp with lit torches.  Soon hundreds of wagons were ablaze and men and women chopped down as they tried to flee.  Timur and the entire camp were aroused instantly.  Teuton troops began running to the scene and engaged the Quadi horsemen who still outnumbered the Teutons.  As more Teutons arrived and the fighting became more intense, the Commander of the Quadi ordered a withdrawal.  They had accomplished their mission.  Teuton soldiers swarmed the area from around the lakes.

At about 2:30 A.M., Tudrus ordered his men to take out the two 20 man security posts, which they did in minutes.  Five thousand Quadi then ran into the camp unopposed and went about their individual tasks with confidence and precision.  About 30 minutes later, they were on the road heading east.  When they stopped for the night some 14 miles from Two Lakes, they counted up their spoils from the raid: 400 women, hundreds of livestock, and 20 wagon loads of goods.  The 1,000 men waiting in ambush maintained their position until sunrise and then rode to catch up to the main body.  There was no pursuit by the Teutons.

By 4:00 A.M., Timur and his Leaders had a fairly clear idea of what had happened.  The diversionary attacked killed over 200 men and women and burnt 300 wagons.  The main raiding party had killed about 350 men, kidnapped 400 women, and stolen animals and valuables.  Eighty soldiers were also killed in the raid.  By 5:00 A.M., the fires were put out and the shock was wearing off.  It was replaced with anger and mourning.  The mourning was for their friends and relatives and the anger was for Timur.

Timur immediately crossed the Danube and met with Donar.  Timur was extremely shaken and not in his right mind.  He knew he had failed his people and their anger penetrated every fiber of his body.  He almost yelled at Donar, “Since there is no Suevi Army expected to come north from Innsbruck, I want the 20,000 men at Munich to return to Regensburg immediately and continue working on the fort.  Next, I want the 20,000 men here at Regensburg to go to Two Lakes to provide more security for the people.” There would now be no Teuton troops in Munich.  Donar objected to this move, but Timur over rode his concerns. Timur said, “We have 20,000 men at Augsburg and 20,000 at Landshut.  They can handle anything coming up from Innsbruck.”

The people at Two Lakes were shaken to their core.  They had been violated and none felt secure.  They blamed Timur, but the sight of 20,000 more warriors establishing positions around the lakes eased their concerns somewhat.  Many demanded Timur go after the Quadi and retrieve the women and livestock.  Timur knew it would be a fruitless venture and result in many more deaths.   Instead, he rode to the Marcomanni headquarters and complained bitterly to the Chief, who made many unfulfilled promises.  Tudrus had paid him well.  In the end, the women, livestock, and valuables were gone forever.

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The next item on Manius list of priorities was to find a strong Praefectus Castorum, Camp Commandant.  The encampment that Manius expected to build and occupy in Austria for six months would be the equivalent of a large city. There would be numerous timber shelters to house the Legionaries, officers, specialty troops, bath houses and latrines, meeting rooms, recreation center, stables, warehouses, workshops, etc.  Since the Commandant is responsible to manage all aspects of the camp including camp security, he has the authority to task the Legions for men to perform some of these duties, but required his own staff of between 200 and 400 men to manage it all.

The design of a camp for eight Legions has to be carefully prepared to allow for roads, drainage, fire breaks, water and food distribution centers, and Maniple assembly areas.  Templates to lay out a typical Roman camp for one Legion were readily available, but not for a semi-permanent winter camp for eight Legions.

Manius sought out recommendations for his Camp Commandant from among trusted friends.  The one man most frequently identified for the job was a retired Centurion by the name of Sergius Priscus.  He had an unblemished record of Legionary service and impressive skills as camp manager.  Manius was warned that he also was demanding and a perfectionist.  Despite this, he was the number one choice.

Manius found him at Campus Martius where he was the camp manager for the Legionary Training Center.  Manius first spoke to the Commandant of the Training Center, who was an old friend and had already promised Manius 2,000 new recruits.  Manius came right to the point and said, “I need Sergius to run my camp once we deploy from Rome.  Can I have him?”

The Commandant stared at Manius for a second as if he could not believe what he had just heard.  Manius quickly said, “Surely there are other good men to replace him.”

The Commandant shook his head and said, “You misinterpret my hesitation.  The man has been a thorn in my side from the day he walked in here.  Sure, he’s good, but he’s also obnoxious.  If you want him and he wants to join your Expedition, take him!  I was about to replace him anyway.”

As Manius walked to the Manager’s office, he grew increasingly skeptical of Sergius.  Maybe he was making a bad choice.  He opened the door with the authority of a Proconsul and asked to see the Camp Manager.  He was told by the nervous clerk that he was on the training field inspecting the damage from the recent heavy rains.  Manius said, “Send for him and tell him Proconsul Manius Tullus is waiting.  I’m a busy man.”  Manius wanted to establish the proper relationship with Sergius.  “If he’s demanding,” he thought, “I’ll be even more demanding!”

The clerk left on the run and Manius looked around the office for clues as to the man’s habits.  The room was tidy with scrolls neatly stacked and organized.  On the wall was a map of the Campus with numerous annotations of things to be fixed or inspected.  Scattered about the room for display were several awards for bravery and several battle souvenirs.  He found a Roman helmet with the side crushed in and a thin two inch cut running in the depression.

When Sergius was told about Proconsul Tullus, he ran and walked the mile back to his office and arrived out of breath with sweat dripping off his forehead.  He gasped, “Proconsul, sorry to keep you waiting.  I came as quickly as these old legs would carry me.”

Manius looked at Sergius and was pleased.  The man cared enough to run.  What Manius did not know was that Sergius had heard of the Proconsul’s search for a Camp Commandant and was eager to get out from under his current boss.

Sergius said, “Sir, may I sit?”  Manius did not answer.

Manius said, “I would like you to join my Expedition as my Camp Commandant.  You have been highly recommended by several people.  If you are not prepared to answer now, I will look elsewhere.  Yes, take a seat.”

Sergius said, “I will have to talk to my boss to see if he will release me.  We have a contract.”

Manius said, “You and I both know he is on the verge of firing you.  He finds you difficult; I think the word he used was ‘obnoxious.’  I am willing to take a chance because you have a good record as a Centurion and camp manager.  I need the best and I think you are the right man for the job.”

Sergius said, “Yes sir, the Commandant and I do not get along.  We are two different people.  And yes, I would be honored to join the Expedition.  May I remind you Sir that I will need about 400 assistants to properly manage your camp.  I trust there are sufficient funds available to cover their pay?”

Manius walked over to the helmet on display and asked, “Is this yours?”

“Yes,” replied Sergius.

“What battle?” asked Manius.

“Telamon, 225 BC,” replied Sergius.  I was with the Principe.  We moved forward of the Hastati.  I just stabbed a Gaul and maybe leaned too far forward.  The next thing I remember is being dragged off the battlefield.  I was out of it for several months.”

“I suffered a similar hit at Cannae,” said Manius.  “It scrambles your brain.  I was also at Telamon.  We lost a lot of men.”  Manius paused for a moment remembering, then abruptly said, “Report to my Headquarters as soon as you can and don’t worry about the money.  We have a lot to talk about.”

“Proconsul, before you go, can you give me an idea of how many Legions you will be commanding?  I assume two Legions; I need this information in order to begin hiring my staff,” said Sergius.

Manius replied, “I expect to have eight: two Roman, one Roman Auxiliary, and five recruited from the operational area.”

“Eight!  That’s an enormous Army!  I assume they will be deployed to separate parts of the region?”

“No,” said Manius.  “They will all be together throughout the winter because we have to train and equip them.”

“Over forty thousand men in one winter camp!  I don’t know if that’s ever been done before!  Besides tripling my fee, I will need to find a camp architect who can put this together as well as hire first class survey men.”  Sergius’ mind was racing through all the tasks that lie ahead.  “Since this will be a temporary winter camp, the men will need timber shelters; that means thousands of logs and nails.”

The Proconsul cut him off.  “Sergius, you will get your fee; I’ll leave the details to you.”

*******

Joseph, Levi’s son and husband of Decima, Manius’ adopted daughter, was appointed chief scribe on the Expedition Staff.  He had 10 men who helped him carry out his responsibilities, which were numerous.  There were dozens of reports to be written and sent to Rome; numerous orders and staff guidance that constantly flowed from the Expedition Staff and down to the Legions.  He was also the Official Historian for this Expedition and a personal and dear friend of Manius.  His history of Legio XVII’s mission to the Cisalpine and Austria was still a draft, but he would get back to it.

He was a trained Legionary and fought with Legio XVII at the Battle of Innsbruck against the Suevi who, strangely, were now their allies.  During the fight, he lost his left arm at the elbow and somehow survived.  Initially, it was difficult for him to admit his limitation and accept the fact that he could no longer fight with his friends and tent mates in the Hastati.

As he walked to the Proconsul’s tent for dinner with Manius and the Legion Legates, a smile crossed his face as he said to himself, “Decima may be pregnant!  I know I did my part and maybe even a little more to make it happen.”  He felt particularly manly as he entered the tent.