Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube (28 page)

All eight Legions were equipped and trained with the pila, shield, and sword and knew how to maneuver.  With the arrival of Tribune Andreas’ force from Trento in May, the two Roman Legions and V Etrusci were at full strength.  After some coaxing, the Raeti and Suevi had adopted the Roman fighting formation of three battle lines know as the triplex acies.  They also adopted and practiced Roman horn signals and standard battle orders.

Manius and the Legates felt that they knew their enemy.  Elitovius had supplied a constant stream of information as to their weaponry, habits, location, and even the personalities of some of their leaders.  They also had detailed maps of the terrain over which they would travel and fight.  Manius was ready to begin!

Chapter VIII:  Battles of Augsburg and Landshut

Bethica and her Attack Group were the first out of Bad Tolz.  They had the farthest to go and departed on 30 May.  They were followed three days later on 1 June by Calvus, and his Attack Group.

As Calvus led his men out of Bad Tolz, Tribune Servilius stood by the gate.  As Calvus rode by, he shouted out, “Good luck Legate; may the gods be with you.”  Calvus stared at Servilius as he rode by; his face unchanged; his mouth moved to speak, but nothing came out.  It would take him several hours to process what had just happened.  Eventually, he figured out that Servilius, the man who transferred out of Legio XVII because he could not forgive him, had, in fact, just offered him an olive branch.  Calvus felt forgiven and renewed.

The mist and dense fog quickly swallowed up any trace of Calvus, Legiones XVII, V Etrusci, the two Suevi Legions, and hundreds of wagons that followed the marching troops.  Bad Tolz had transformed from a bustling training camp into a ghost town.  Only the Proconsul, Sergius, their respective staffs, the sick and injured, remained behind. Ansi and Atta were assigned to Servilius’ detachment and given administrative duties.  They departed Bad Tolz when the Expedition Headquarters left.

Sergius’ staff had the task to return the women to Jenbach and to their families, which began the day the troops departed.  The few who had gotten pregnant had already returned.  Most of the girls walked the 35 miles (56km) back to Jenbach.  Their personal possessions and the sick were put into the 20 or so wagons that followed along.  This long trip back was difficult on the girls; not because of the walking, but because they had formed relationships with the Legionaries.  About a dozen had no intentions of returning to their previous life.

After hearing about the world outside of their small farming community, they wanted to see and experience it for themselves.  For these women, the thought of living on a farm for the rest of their lives was crushing.  Some now had boyfriends and planned to reunite with them when the Legions came back through Innsbruck.  These women intended to follow the troops back to Rome.

Before departing for Landshut, Bethica sat down with Sergius to sound him out on a proposal she wished to make.  “Sergius,” she said, “My long range plan is to use this facility here at Bad Tolz to house refugees.  I will initially appoint my people to manage it, but let them eventually elect their own people to run the camp.  I want to build a new camp closer to Innsbruck to house my new army of four Legions.  You are the best man to do it.  I’ve watched how you built and managed this camp.  Anything you need will be made available and you can name your price.  If you agree, I would like you to find two or three likely sites while I am gone.  When I return from this campaign, I will decide on the exact location.  Do you have any comment?”

Sergius thought for a minute and said, “I accept your offer, but I warn you that me and my staff do not come cheap.”

Bethica simply said, “We will pay you what you ask.  I’m glad you accepted my offer.  We will talk more when I return.”

*******

The Legions were marching into the unknown.  Bad Tolz had become home despite the cold and difficult training.  The marching men experienced a touch of sadness, but also excitement for what lie ahead.

Calvus and his men turned west out of Bad Tolz, while Bethica and her group turned to the northeast.  Ten months of planning, discussions, terrain models, briefings, and training would soon be put to the ultimate test.  Had the planners gotten it right or would the Teutons outsmart them?

Manius planned to move his Headquarters the 35 miles (56km) to Munich the day after the Legions departed Bad Tolz.  His revised goal was to get to Munich a few days before the two Attack Groups initiated contact.  He dispatched cavalry scouts two days before the Legions departed to reconnoiter the route to Munich and to find a suitable location in the empty settlement for his Headquarters.

The six man recon party enroute to Munich found the going easy, even pleasant.  The two day ride was uneventful.  They found an adequate bridge over the Isar, crossed over, and froze in their tracks.  In the distance they could see men moving about and smoke coming up from numerous huts.  They quickly spun about and raced to the nearest trees.  Once hidden from view, they scouted for a place to view the settlement.  They forded the Isar and got to within a mile and a half.  From there, they watched the settlement and tried to get a rough count of the number of people.

One individual volunteered to get even closer.  He left his horse and began a slow approach.  By crawling and following water filled ditches, he got within 300 yards (274m).  He could now clearly see that these were Teuton warriors by the thousands.  He saw archers, a few horses, but no cavalry.  They were living in the abandoned settlement with no protective walls or ditches.  Satisfied, he worked his way back to the others and they began the return trip to Bad Tolz and the Proconsul with this unexpected news.

The scouts arrived back at Bad Tolz four days after they departed; they immediately went to Expedition Headquarters and began telling their story to the first officer they saw.  More and more staff began to gather, listen, and question the excited scouts.  Once the story unfolded, Canutus, the Operations’ Tribune, requested the Proconsul to come to Headquarters.  As soon as Manius opened the door, he knew something was wrong.  He sat down in front of a map, took a deep breath, and said, “Tell me what has happened.”  He tried to keep his voice calm and his face from showing concern, but he was concerned.  He felt coldness in his heart.  He was not in control.  His detailed and well thought out plan may be falling apart.  At this point, the Legions were only two days march from Bad Tolz.  He knew he could still make changes if he needed to.

Canutus, who was also exercising great control over his emotions, reported the scouts’ discovery in a professional calm voice.  When he concluded, Manius looked around the room and said, “I want everyone here to relax and settle down.  We have to expect that the enemy will do the unexpected.  It’s one thing to sit in a room and develop a plan; it’s another when that enemy has plans of his own.”

“I assume responsibility for this situation; I should have reconnoitered the Munich settlement months earlier.  It simply didn’t occur to me.  No one else here is at fault.  I’ll speak to the Proconsul about this oversight the next time I see him.”  Everyone laughed and the tension eased.  “Let’s assume the worst.  Let’s say that Timur has moved all his troops out of Regensburg and that Munich is now occupied by 50,000 troops.  Since it’s only 40 miles (64km) from Munich to Augsburg, a Teuton relief force could reach Augsburg in two days of hard marching.  Or they could go to Landshut, 70 miles (112.6km) to the east in three or four days.”

Manius studied the map on the wall, made a few measurements, and said, “Here’s what I want to do; tell me if you have a better idea.  Inform Bethica and Calvus that there may be 50,000 Teutons at Munich and to proceed with caution.  Continue with the plan to attack Augsburg and Landshut.  Immediately after the battle, I want the two Attack Groups to back track and meet me 20 miles (32km) south of Munich at my Headquarters between the settlements of Geretsried and Hozkirchen at a cross roads named Dietramszell.  It is eight miles (12.8) north of Bad Tolz.  Bring your dead back with you unless it is not practical.”

“Once our Legions assemble, we will advance on Munich.  Tell Bethica to consider shifting her return route farther to the east to put more distance between her and Munich.  Tell both Commanders that we will have scouts observe the Teutons at Munich and immediately inform them if they are moving in their direction.  I’m hoping that two nearly simultaneous attacks on Augsburg and Landshut will confuse the Commander at Munich and he won’t respond to either.  Does anyone have anything to add or subtract.  Have I forgotten anything?”  There was silence.  Manius was back in control and felt immense relief.

Manius’ role in calming the situation, making sense of the Teuton change in troop disposition, and issuing clear orders demonstrated to his staff his outstanding ability as a leader.

Canutus said, “Sir, when do you want to move the Headquarters?”

“Tomorrow,” replied Manius “and post a few scouts on the road out of Innsbruck to Munich.  I am expecting the briefers from Rome to arrival in early June.  They will need to be escorted to our field Headquarters.”

Manius asked that Sergius, the Commandant at Bad Tolz, come see him.  Manius was determined to make amends to Sergius for his unfriendly behavior. Manius welcomed Sergius with a warm smile and asked him to take a seat.  Aides brought them wine.  He complimented him for a well run camp and said that if he ever needed anyone to speak on his behalf, he would be happy to do so.  Manius said, “When the last man clears the camp, you and your staff are free to leave.  I would ask that you take any sick we leave behind back to Rome with you.”  Sergius was touched by the kindness of the Proconsul and complimented him in return.  Sergius then informed Manius that he planned to stay at Innsbruck and assist the Suevi by building a four Legion camp as requested by Bethica.  He said he would, however, make sure the sick are returned to Rome.  The two shook hands and Sergius departed.

Sergius departed the camp at Bad Tolz on 10 June and was provided a suitable home in Innsbruck.  He had waited to depart until after he was sure that the garrison at Augsburg had been attacked.  The Roman Pay Master made the final payment to Sergius when the encampment emptied in June.  Sergius made sure the camp was clean and orderly before departing.  It was his nature.  It now belonged to the Suevi.

*******

By early June, Donar’s men had completed building four pontoon bridges over the Iller River.  They were still working on the roads leading to and from the bridges and anticipated completing the work by late June.  The Teuton Army was expected to cross these bridges in July and then march the 80 miles (128.7km) to Karlsruhe to link up with the convoy.

At the same time that the bridges were being built, the Clan Leaders were busy riding throughout the newly seized land staking out territory for each Clan.  It was tedious and time consuming work, but it was getting done.

The 300,000 Teuton and Cimbri Tribes were in no hurry to depart Two Lakes; they were content where they were and resisted all attempts to get them to pack up the wagons.  Timur had to stop this mutiny immediately before it got out of control. He instructed the 30,000 men assigned to guard the camp to now help the people prepare to move.  He told them not to use force, but to simply provide assistance and be a motivating factor.  Some within the Clans welcomed the help while others bitterly complained about this heavy handed tactics.  Slowly, the people complied and preparations were underway.

*******

Augsburg

Calvus had maintained a six man detail near Augsburg to watch the Teuton garrison.  They performed their duties faithfully throughout the bitter winter.  They found a good observation spot about two miles from the Teuton garrison.  At night, they stayed in an abandoned hut.

Periodically, they saw Teuton archers leave the settlement to go hunting.  Usually, they went north or west.  One day in early June, while Calvus and the Legions were marching to Augsburg, a single hunter left the garrison and began walking directly to the scouts’ location.  He had never hunted the woods south of the garrison and was eager to see what he could find.  The two scouts backed away from the edge of the woods and hid themselves about 20 feet (6m) apart.  They had their pila and sword, but not their bulky shields or armor.  They quickly pulled off their excess clothing and prepared to fight.  One crouched behind a large rock while the other hid behind a tree.

The archer entered the wood line, paused to notch an arrow, and began to carefully scan the woods for any movement of game.  Instead of deer he was looking for, he saw what looked to be a pack lying on the ground.  Curious, he walked over to it, removed the arrow from the bow, and squatted down to have a closer look.  He opened it and saw food items.  He froze for an instant, slowly placed the arrow on the string, and stood up.  His eye caught movement off to his left as the Roman stepped out from behind the tree.  He saw a man with his arm pulled back and a spear pointed right at him.  The Teuton pulled back the string, barely aiming, and let the arrow fly.

The pilum and arrow crossed paths.  The arrow hit the man in his shoulder as the pilum whizzed inches past the archer’s chest.  The archer was so focused on the man with the spear, he never saw the second Roman behind the rock who rose up, took aim, and threw.  Years of training and hours of practice guided the pilum the 30 feet (9m) to the target.  The Roman could hear the sound of the impact and the muted sound of pain as the archer grasped the pilum with both hands.  It entered the right side of his chest, broke a rib, and continued through both lungs to exit on the left side.  The archer fell still grasping the wooden shaft sticking into his chest.  He couldn’t breathe and only made soft gasping sounds.  The Roman drew his sword and expertly severed the man’s jugular veins and carotid artery on the left side of his neck.  He died within moments.