Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube (17 page)

Legate Caile was impressed with the Tribune’s presentation.  He said, “I will inform the Proconsul of your proposal.  In the meantime, assume your concept will be adopted as presented and begin the logistics planning to secure enough mules, food, fuel, fodder, tents, wagon, etc., to sustain the men during the march north.”  Caile looked at Rasce and said, “Tribune Andreas will require cavalry to accompany the two formations as they march north.  Work out the details with him.”

Elitovius, the spy master, then said, “Legate, I apologize, but I must also add one more thing.  I was tasked by the Proconsul to coordinate with the Rhaetian and Suevi to develop a network of informants in Innsbruck to keep tabs on the Teuton spies.   With Proconsul Tullus’ approval, once we reach Trento, I will also begin to infiltrate people over the Brenner Pass and north into Teuton territory.”

Caile thanked Elitovius and added, “I would like you to do something else too.  Take responsibility for the wagons.  Getting these wagons from Trento to Innsbruck and then to Bad Tolz is going to take some imagination to accomplish in a plausible manner.  You are the best man for the job. Develop a timetable when to move specific wagons from Trento over the two Passes and which ones to return to maintain our ruse.  Figure out how to conceal the real cargo from detection.  You have the junior staff officers to help with the planning.  I would like you to brief your plan to Proconsul Tullus along with all the other information he will be hearing.  Thank you for your contribution.”

Two days later, the staff invited the Legates to a formal briefing and laid out the complete plan in detail.  Legate Caile had been discussing the Planning Group’s progress every evening with Manius and the other Legates so nothing said by the staff was a surprise.  Manius approved the plan and reiterated that the Legions will move north on 1 October.  He praised the staff for their work and told them to continue to refine the details.

The Planning Group then took a formal oath to not reveal anything about the plans to anyone.  Lugano swore he would only tell the King, and Davenhardt pledged to only inform Bethica.  Both Lugano and Davenhardt then departed for the long trip home.  They were accompanied by a Maniple from Legio XVII and a small cavalry detachment as well as numerous advisors and craftsmen.

In three days, the Legions would march north. They were already in the final stages of packing their gear and were simply awaiting the command to move, which came at 6:00 A.M. on 1 October.  The 100 Slingers from the Islands of Balearic, off the east cost of Spain, joined the Expedition at the last minute.

Sergius had already informed the staff of his transportation requirements and was given a position in the convoy.  He was unable to hire the 400 assistants he told the Proconsul he needed to run the camp effectively, but that was unrealistic and he knew it.  He hired 200 men and was satisfied.  If he needed more, he would task the Legions, who traveled with their own blacksmiths, carpenters, metal workers, wagon builders, and shield and pila makers.

He planned to ride a horse while his men rode in wagons.  These men were civilians not soldiers and unused to hardships.  He planned to stay close to the Proconsul, but not too close.  He wanted to be seen and involved, but from a respectable distance.  His job would only begin once the Legions arrived at Bad Tolz.  His architect should already be hard at work laying out the circular camp.  He hoped September and October would be enough time for the Suevi recruits to cut the necessary trees to build the camp.

Crossing the mountain posed a bit of a problem.  His contractors were in no shape to hike over a steep pathway.  He discussed the issue with Eliovitus.  They agreed to send the contractors over the Brenner Pass with the first convoy of humanitarian supplies.  Sergius decided to cross the mountain in the same manner as the Proconsul.  He was nervous with the idea of actually walking, but if the Proconsul walked, he would walk.

While the Legions completed their preparations, Manius had one more important thing to do before departing Rome.  He went to Army headquarters and sought out the person in charge of the Briefing Teams.  He found the Centurion-in-Charge and sat down to talk.  The Centurion was respectful and cooperative.  It was not every day that he received a visit from a Proconsul.

Manius said, “When I was deployed with Legio XVII in the Cisalpine, Briefing Teams from Rome visited me quarterly with news of the war, new tactics, equipment, future plans and so forth.  I want to have that continue during this deployment.”

The Centurion commented with a large smile, “Sir, you may not remember me, but I was one of the men who briefed you at Brixia in April.”

Manius looked at him more closely; “Yes, I remember you.  You told us about Scipio’s tactic of using the Triarii as a separate maneuver element.  I appreciated that information.  I’m now commanding three Legions.  That number will grow to eight after we cross the Alps.  The Pass over the Alps is closed from December through May, but I would like to see a briefing team in June.  I will be out of contact with Rome from October to June for security reasons and be desperate for information.  I will ask the Briefers to take my reports back to Rome.  Send the Team over the Alps to Munich in early June.  I will meet them there.  I appreciate your time and look forward to seeing the Team.”

The Centurion said, “Sir, I’ll make sure we brief you in June and I’ll plan to be among them.  See you then Sir and good luck on your mission.”

Chapter VI:  Deployment to Bad Tolz

1 October 207 BC

The weather cooperated with the Legions as they embarked on their 430 mile (692km) march to Vipiteno, which is where they would turn east and walk into the Pfitsch Valley.  The temperatures averaged between 63 degrees (17c) at night to 72 (22c) during the day.  During the march, the Proconsul, Legates, and Tribunes setup their tents while the Legionaries spent the nights under the stars unless it rained.  It was a lot less work.  Nightly marching camps were established as soon as the troops left Rome and that was enough work.

The pace of the march for the troops was a standard 3mph with 10 minute breaks every hour for 6 hours a day.  This allowed the Legionaries to arrive first at the new camp site and have it completely prepared including the protective ditch and palisades before the slower moving wagons arrived.  Each Legion’s personnel stretched out for about two miles (3.2km) and were followed by another two miles of wagons.  In total, the three Legions covered 12 miles (19.3km) of road.

Since the country was at war, Proconsul Tullus and his subordinate Legates were mindful of their security.  Attacking a long drawn out column was a favorite tactic of not only Hannibal, but the numerous mercenaries sympathetic to Hannibal and hostile to Rome.  The cavalry of each Legion screened the left and right of the column and each Legion was prepared to form a defensive position should an attack occur.  None of the three Legates saw a need to conduct rigorous training enroute to Vipiteno since these Legionaries were already highly trained and in peak physical condition.  In fact, they wanted to save their strength for the final leg of the trip over the mountains.

The Logistic’s Tribune was still on the hook to procure an extra 200 mules per Legion.  Since he only had limited success while in Rome, his staff roamed the countryside seeking mules from among the local farmers as the Legions marched north.  They got some, but enjoyed their greatest success at the major settlements of Bologna, Verona, and Trento.

When the column arrived at Verona, Tribune Servilius requested permission to detach from the column to make a 70 mile (112.6km) detour to Mestre to visit the Veneti chief Axius.  He had befriended him during the Legio XVII expedition to the Cisalpine Gaul in 209 BC.  In exchange for laborers to help build the fort at Patavium, Servilius assisted Axius with building a wall to fortify his settlement and train his army.  Axius also took in most of the women that Servilius rescued from the Ardiaei after the Battle of Properi.

Permission was granted and four days later, Servilius arrived at Mestre to a warm greeting from Axius.  Servilius enjoyed his ride through the countryside.  It was pleasantly cool and he had no responsibility other than to himself.  It was a mini vacation.

He inspected the settlement and found it was properly fortified and had suffered no more attacks from mercenaries enroute to join Hannibal.  Most of the women had married Veneti men and had adjusted well to their new lives.  These young women had had a most difficult life.  They had been kidnapped from their homes in southern Italy by Hannibal’s men, watched as their parents were killed, lived in miserable conditions as sex slaves and servants, served as prostitutes to the Romans at Patavium, and now lived with the Veneti in the lowest possible social status.  At least they had food, shelter, and male protection.  After a two day visit, Servilius departed and rejoined the column between Bolzano and Vipiteno.  During his 10 day absence, the column had marched 113 miles (181.8km) mostly uphill.

*******

When the long column arrived at Trento, Manius and the three Legates paid their respect to Timo and Rosa during a short visit.  The marching Legions never stopped moving.  Timo had his 5,000 warriors, known as Legio I Raetorum, commanded by Legate Lugano ready to join the column and they fell in line behind the last Legion, Legio V Etrusci.  As the wagons arrived at Trento, they were diverted to the Wagon Cantonment some distance off in a heavily wooded area.  A dozen or so wagons stayed with the Legions as hospital wagons.  They would return to the Cantonment after the Legions climbed the mountain.  The cavalry continued on with the Legions.

Timo told his visitors, “My silversmiths and iron workers have begun to fabricate the requested 10,000 Romans style pila for use by the Suevi.  Interestingly, once we started making them, we decided that our troops would be well served by also having pila.  The small number of completed pila intended for the Suevi is stored, covered, and guarded in the Wagon Cantonment.”

Timo handed Manius one to inspect.  It felt and looked about the same as a Roman pilum, but there were differences.  It was heavier than the Roman version but not by much. Instead of the standard 9 to 11 pound (4kg) Roman pilum, the Raeti version weighted about 12 pounds (5kg).  Also the Roman 2 foot (.6m) long metal shank was made of soft iron, except for the tip, to facilitate bending after penetrating an enemy’s shield, while the Raeti version was hardened iron for its entire length.  Manius told Timo it was a good weapon and thanked him for his contribution.

Timo then handed Manius the new Raeti shield and said, “When we heard about the Teutons’ throwing spear and more powerful bows, we scrapped the old wicker shields in favor of one more along the line of the larger, stronger, rectangular shaped Roman ones.  The men will need to be able to squat down and cover themselves with their shields against incoming arrows and spears.  This shield will offer that kind of protection.  It is 5/8 inch (1.4c) thick and made of sturdy oak wood.  Manius stood up and took the shield; he hefted it and said, “Any Legionary would feel well protected with this.  It should serve your men well.”

Timo added, “Per Lugano’s prior agreement, the Brenner Pass will be blocked to all north bound traffic to Innsbruck until May 206, when the Legions plan to take offensive operations.  It was mostly impassable from mid December to May anyway, so this action should not arouse suspicion.”

Timo told Manius and the Legates that he had selected a remote area well hidden in the woods that was fortified with walls and a ditch as a place to park all the wagons until they began crossing the Reschen and Brenner Passes.  He said he planned to post a mixed Roman and Raeti guard at the facility 24 hours a day.  The Roman guard, a full Maniple, from Legio XVII would be led over the same route to Bad Tolz as the Legions when the weather permitted, probably in April 206.

Manius told Timo, “Include in that crossing the 2,000 newly graduated Legionaries, the last of which should arrive at Trento in April 206.  They will be led by Tribune Andreas.  These men will be used to replace the sick and injured in Legiones XVII, XX, and V Etrusci.”

Before the scheduled dinner with Timo that evening, Manius dispatched his Chief Engineer Tomaeus along with Timo’s engineer to assess the security of the Wagon Cantonment.

Dinner with Timo and Rosa in the Great Hall was not a simple affair.  The four men were treated to a variety of Raeti food in several courses.  Manius sampled everything, but ate a lot of the fish.  After dinner, the four leaders bade farewell and rejoined the marching Legions.  That evening, Proconsul Manius Tullus was plagued with cramps, diarrhea, a fever, and was throwing up.  His Medical Officer, Quintus, tried to keep him hydrated as the fever and diarrhea grew worse. Manius credited the fish he had eaten for his condition.  The next day, he was barely able to mount his horse.  He suffered terribly during the 35 mile (56km) uphill march to Bolzano.  After the second day, the medical staff put him in a hospital wagon so he would be more comfortable.  Without all the wagons, the Legions were now making about 14 miles (22.5km) per day despite going uphill.  Most of the men were in their late teens to early 30s and were fit and strong.

*******

On 2 November, the Legions closed on Vipiteno, the last settlement before entering the Brenner Pass.  Manius told the Legates to give the men a two day break since they were ahead of schedule.  It was a welcomed relief for him and the Legions.  The uphill march to Trento and Bolzano had taken its toll on men and animals.  By the time, Manius reached Vipiteno, he was feeling better, but was still weak.  He had been fed a diet of blackberry leaves to chew, lentil soup, and pomegranate juice to combat the diarrhea, and it seemed to help.  His temperature returned to normal.

Despite his illness, he continued to meet every evening with the four Legates to discuss the day’s activities and go over plans for the following day.  It had been a relatively easy march so far and the Legionaries were performing in an exemplary manner.  They spotted a few mercenary bands in the countryside, but they gave the Romans a wide berth and were of little concern.  The temperatures had dropped considerable since arriving at Vipiteno and the troops broke out their tents.  Nights fell to the low 40’s, but daytime temperatures were still a pleasant low 60’s (15.5c).  There was no frost on the ground.

The topic of conversation around the Legionaries’ fires that evening was the challenge facing them for the next seven days: the 16 mile (25.7km) uphill Zillertal Valley and the man-killing steep winding path to the mountain summit.  The troops had been told that steps and hand grips had been placed on the pathway by the Raeti at strategic points to make it easier, but they were still concerned.

Raeti guides who were familiar with altitude sickness briefed the Commanders and staff on what to look for and how to care for individuals suffering from the change in elevation.  This information was passed down to the Centurions who talked to their men. The Raeti guides said, “Most altitude sickness starts at the 8,000 to 10,000 foot range, but can occur at lower heights.  We will be climbing to almost 8,000 feet (2,438.4m) so here’s what you need to do.  Before starting the ascent, have the men drink plenty of water.  During the ascent, stop every 30 minutes to rest for 5 minutes.  Every hour, sound a horn as a signal for everyone, man and animals, to take a drink of water.”

He continued, “If a man feels sick, has a headache, throws up, or shows signs of disorientation, walk him back down the hill.  He will not improve by continuing to climb.  Once at the top, if men begin to feel sick, get them down the far side as quickly as possible.  It’s a much easier descent on that side of the mountain.”

Many Legionaries wondered about the safety of their mules that carried the heavy loads.  The mules could be ornery and rebellious, but with a little coaxing, they generally performed well.  Without the mules, the men would have to carry the extra weight so the mules were a much valued asset.  A mule is a cross between a male donkey and a female horse and retains the best characteristics of each.  The mule is sure footed, walks faster than a donkey, has a tougher hide, requires less water, and little sleep. These animals could also be eaten in desperate situations.  The cavalry questioned whether their horses could make the steep climb.

Proconsul Manius Tullus, now 52 years old and weak from the food poisoning, knew he would embarrass himself if he tried to climb the steep pathway to the summit by his own foot power.  He told his fellow Legates that he intended to ride a mule, with a few spares in tow, led by strong men to the summit and asked if anyone else wanted to do the same.  Legate Silvius, Commander of Legio XX said he too would rather ride than walk because his hips and lower back were causing him pain.

Legates Calvus, Caile, and Lugano declined the offer.  For them, it was a matter of setting the example and they opted to lead their Legions up the hill.  Manius made the same offer to Joseph and Sergius; it was readily accepted.  Joseph felt he could do it even with only one arm, but felt his overall poor physical conditioning, compared to the Legionaries, would open him to ridicule.

While the Legions were still walking the 16 mile long Pfitsch Valley, the four men rode ahead to the base of the mountain.  They brought with them the Standards of the three Legions and Flag of the Raeti Legion, which they planned to mount prominently at the top of the mountain to serve as an incentive.  Because the area was so isolated, there was no fear of a security breach by this display.  Proconsul Tullus and Silvius planned to establish their tents atop the mountain on each side of the path and greet the Legionaries as they topped the summit.

Manius, Silvius, Sergius, and Joseph mounted their mules and the climb began.  Each of the three had three extra mules following behind so they could rotate riding them.  Legionaries also followed behind to catch any mules that might slip and begin rolling downhill.

It was clear that the Raeti had made significant improvements to the path.  It had been widened and steps cut into the ground at the sharp turns.  Poles poked up from the ground at extra steep inclines to serve as hand grips.

The straight line distance from the base of the mountain to the summit was only 1.5 miles (2.4km), while the pathway totaled 5.3 miles (8.5km).  Without the path, Legionaries would be climbing hand over hand on all fours and it would be impossible for the animals.  The hob nails on the bottom of the Legionaries sandals would prove invaluable during the ascent.