Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube (27 page)

She then looked at the leader of the six and said, “I want you to leave here in two days.  Take with you two of the six men who will replace you in two weeks.  Once you select a location from which to observe the garrison, the extra two men should return to Bad Tolz and be prepare to lead the next six to the observation point.”

Bethica then turned to her planners and said, “We all heard the Proconsul’s suggestion to create a physical barrier to ensure the Teutons cannot storm the hill.  What are your thoughts?”

One of the planners from Legio XX said, “The caltrop idea is impractical since the Suevi Legions would be unable to attack the Teutons.  The caltrops may prevent the Teutons from getting to us, but they will also stop us from attacking them.  A log and branch barricade is also impractical; it would impede out movement as much as it would the Teutons’.  The only choice is to dig a ditch at night.  The two Suevi Legions and I Raetorum should be able to do it in a few hours.  Before we depart, we will teach your men how to organize the digging crews to do it in the fastest possible manner.”

Bethica responded, “I agree with you.  A ditch will be best.  Make sure the men bring enough shovels and baskets to carry away the dirt; and thank you for your help.  She continued, As a result of the Proconsul’s comments, I’ve made a decision to conduct another Leaders’ recon with the Legates of the two Suevi Legions and I Raetorum.  There is no need for Legio XX to go.  Your plan is unchanged.  I will depart with the scouts in two days.  I want to take the cavalry Commander to nail down his role, two Tribunes from each of the three Legions and 10 security personnel.  We need to determine where on the creek to position the Suevi Legion, how far the other two Legions must advance to be even with them, and where to position the cavalry.  Please set up the trip for me and let me know when all personnel have been notified.”

She then asked everyone except Davenhardt to clear the room.  Once they were alone.  Bethica said, I need for you to interact more with the Council at Innsbruck and more closely supervise the resettlement of the refugees.”  He had been pressing here for months to get married before the expedition departed Bad Tolz and she wanted to settle it.

“It sounds like you are sending me away,” he said.

“Davenhardt, “she said, “I do love you and we will marry, but only after this operation is finished.  I don’t want to leave you a widower.  I want you to stay behind.”

“I thought we would go together like we always do; why must I stay while you go.  Who will protect you?” he asked.

“As the Leader of my people I must go.  My body guards will keep me safe.”

“I can’t stand the thought that you may be killed or wounded.”

“You will be safe back here and that’s what I care about.”  Her eyes filled as she held him and kissed him.  She then handed him a piece of parchment.  “Give this to the Council.  It says you are the Acting Chief in my absence.  They know and respect you so you shouldn’t have any problems.  Go now.”

A few days later when Manius knew that Justus was out of his headquarters, he visited Legio XX and Tribune Valerian.  Manius said, “I want to speak to you privately Tribune, let’s go to Justus’ office.”  Valerian followed the Proconsul mystified as to why he wanted to talk privately.  When they were in the office, Manius spoke in a low voice.  “Tribune, you have an excellent record.  I know I can count on you.  Justus is young and untested.  Listen carefully to what I am about to say.  If at any time, Justus loses his nerve or acts erratically, you have my authority to relieve him and take Command of the Legion.  I’m concerned that he may jeopardize the mission.  Place men loyal to you in your Headquarters as body guards.  They must not hesitate to remove him if you so order.  Keep this between us. Hopefully, Justus will surprise us both, but let’s be prepared.”

*******

When Manius returned to his hut, his Chief Medical Officer was waiting outside to talk to him.  He seemed disturbed.  Manius invited him in and the two sat down.  “What’s on your mind Quintus, you seem upset.”

“Yes Sir, I am.  I need to talk to you about the condition of the Legionaries.”

Manius said, “Continue.”

Speaking rapidly Quintus said, “I’ve been doing this for a long time and am familiar with the normal cuts and bruises young men get while training, but what I’m seeing here, is beyond normal.”

Manius leaned forward, “Go on.”  He was concerned and his face showed it.

“There is one station at the Training Center that pits man against man where both are armed with shields and wooden swords.  I can’t tell you the number of broken bones, bones bruises, and damaged tendons I’m seeing from that one station.  The men don’t appear to be training; they are actually fighting as if it’s a life or death struggle.  I recommend we stop using that station immediately.  The other matter I want to mention Proconsul is that, in my opinion, the men are training too hard and too much.  Injuries go up when men are fatigued.  I think they need a break.”

Manius leaned back.  “Quintus, thank you for your professional opinion.  I think you may be right. Let’s ride over to that station and take a look.”

As Manius and Quintus watched the one-on-one combat, Manius leaned over to Quintus and said, “I see what you mean.  These men are fighting Teutons not fellow Legionaries.  Thank you Quintus, I’ll take care of this.”

Manius rode to the Training Center Headquarters and walked to the office of the Commandant, Tribune Carius.  “Tribune,” Manius said, “I was just watching the one-on-one combat and feel it’s become too dangerous to continue.  My Medical Officer reports that the Legionaries are suffering an abnormally high number of injuries.  I want you to stop using that station.  Quintus also says that he feels we are over training the men and that they seem fatigued.  Do you sense that?”

Carius did not answer immediately, but thought about how to respond.  Manius interjected, “Carius, I want your honest opinion and not what you think I want to hear.”

“Sir, I agree with the Medical Officer.”

“Thank you Carius; you’re doing a good job here,” said Manius

When Manius returned to his Headquarters, he told his aides, “Issue orders to the Legates and Specialty Troops to reduce the number of training days from six to five days a week and to grant the men one extra day off every two weeks, and that includes the Staff Officers.”

During the normal morning staff briefing over the next couple of weeks, Quintus reported to the Proconsul that the number of training injures was dropping as well as the number of men with colds.  He reported a few cases of frost bite among the cavalry and men standing watch in the towers.  The Centurion in charge of Camp Safety reported a fire in a hut belonging to I Raetorum.  He reported that no one was injured but the hut was destroyed.

Manius noticed that the tension in the camp had dropped several notches and the morale had improved.  The men were now training at a proper level, both Attack Groups had conducted their Leaders’ Recon, and plans were set.

At the conclusion of one of the staff briefings, Manius said, “We’ve worked and trained hard for the past three months.  I want to slow everything down for the remainder of March and April.  I want to pick it up hard in early May, and then essentially stand down for the last two weeks in May to allow adequate time to prepare for the deployment.  When we leave Bad Tolz on 1 June, I want everyone fresh and ready to go.”

Legate Caile expressed everyone’s relief when he said, “Sir, I couldn’t agree with you more!”

*******

The Teuton and Cimbri Tribes felt they had never lived in a more beautiful location than around Two Lakes.  They were spending the winter in peace, warmth, and abundance.  Trade with the local clans was a daily and profitable experience.  Wild game was plentiful in the surrounding fields and wood and hunters rarely returned empty handed.  They knew that some day they would move across the Danube River, but they were in no hurry to see that happen.

Timur, on the other hand, fretted constantly about how to get his people across the river.  He also began to have second thoughts about the threat coming from the south.  The Suevi army had ceased to exist, but Bethica could still hire mercenaries and form an alliance with other powerful tribes to launch an attack from Innsbruck to retake the land.

He spent most of the 207-206 winter at the Two Lakes encampment with his people.  Periodically, he would be ferried over the Danube to visit the troops at Regensburg and discuss his concerns with Donar and his other advisors.

In March 206, Timur knew he had to make a decision to get his people over the River.  Full of resolve after a long winter, he went to Regensburg to talk to Donar and the others.  He had finally thought his way through the issues that had bothered him all winter.  He was relieved to be providing the leadership that the people and Army needed to conclude this last effort to successfully complete the long migration.  He said, “Today, we must resolve two issues.  One, how do we get our people over the Danube and two, we must prepare our Army to meet any new threat coming up out of Innsbruck.”

“Here’s the situation,” he continued.  “The Quadi located east along the Danube are blocking any possibility of crossing the Danube in that direction, but crossing to the west is still a possibility.”

“As you know, Four years ago, in March 210, we led 10,000 warriors west to Karlsruhe while looking for a way to get around the Danube.  The Marcomanni Chief told us to go to Karlsruhe and turn east.  He said the Danube is a stream at that point, but we would still have to cross the Iller River, which, he said, is narrow, slow moving, and would not present a problem.  It was at Karlsruhe, you remember, where we were intercepted by the Insubres and Suevi.  Since they outnumbered us, we turned around.”

“With the Suevi out of the way, perhaps the Insubres will not be so bold and attempt to block our movement.  Going west and crossing the Iller appears to be our only option.  Donar, I want you to send men to find crossing sites over the Iller and to begin building the bridges to support an August crossing.  In July, the people can start to move west to Karlsruhe and then east to the crossing sites.  The Army will assemble at Ulm in July and cross over the Iller on the new bridges to meet the people at Karlsruhe and escort them to the Iller.  Once our Army crosses the Iller, we may be confronted by the Insubres, but I think the chance of that happening is remote.  From what I have been able to find out about the Insubres, our Army is too big for them to want to fight us.”

He continued, “I now realize that I made a mistake in pulling out the Munich garrison in September.  I over reacted to the Quadi raid.  They were sitting along the major roads coming up from Innsbruck and would be the first to know if an attack was coming.  Donar, I want you to take the 20,000 men and 1,000 archers out of the Regensburg garrison and move them to Munich.  The fort is built and they are not needed here.  We have 30,000 men at Two Lakes if a need should arise.  That will give us 20,000 men at each of the three garrisons at Ulm, Munich and Landshut.”

“If an attack comes, the three can unite to oppose them and we can quickly reinforce them with the remaining 30,000 men, if need be.  In July, when the Army assembles at the Iller crossing, have the three garrisons each leave a 1,000 man contingent in place to continue watching for any enemy activity.  Donar, I want you to lead the detachment to Munich and remain there.  Assume command of the three garrisons.  This will allow you to coordinate their efforts should the Suevi attack and also put you reasonably close to the crossing site over the Iller.”

“The last issue we need to sort out is where the people will actually settle once across the Iller.  When I return to the encampment, I will meet with the Tribal and Clan Leaders to tell them what I want to do.  I have divided the land into two parts, east and west.  I have drawn a north-south line from Munich in the south to the Danube in the north.  The east side will be Cimbri land and the west side will go to the Teutons.”

“I will have the Tribal and Clan Leaders tour their areas beginning in May to identify sites for each Clan.  Donar, provide them with horses, wagons, supplies, and an escort.  Keep them moving so that they complete their survey by August when the people begin entering the land.  That’s all I have.  Donar, get the troops moving to Munich and the teams out searching for good crossing sites.”  Timur felt relieved.  Things were happening.

*******

By the end of May, 206, Manius, the Legates, the staffs, and the Tribunes and Centurions of the Legions felt confident that the eight Legions were prepared to take the offensive.  The men were physically fit, trained, and rested.  Bethica had conducted her second recon and re-briefed her plan to attack Landshut.  Manus praised her extraordinary effort and approved her revised plan.