Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube (33 page)

“Perhaps, once they get run off from those two places they will join forces and try to scare us,” said one of the Commanders.  Donar laughed.

“Maybe,” he said, but in the meantime, I want to start running out foot patrols to the east, west, and south.  I know Timur said that the land south of Munich is Suevi territory, but if anyone is down there and planning on harassing us, I want to know about it.  Let’s start the patrols the day after tomorrow.  I want 500 men in each of the three groups.  Send them out a distance of 20 miles (32km).  That’s two days of walking out, three to observe, and two to get back.  Keep them out for a week at a time and then rotate them.  Let’s maintain these patrols until we know for sure what is happening.”

*******

As Hludwig got within 800 yards (731m) of the Suevi, he could see that their line was deep and thick with men.  They were grouped in squares of 100 men each, with others behind them, and stacked in three lines.  He felt he had the wrong formation and stopped his advance.  He felt their lack of shields would make it easy for his archers to bring them down and for his men to easily cut through them.  He was concerned, though, that if the enemy charged and rapidly closed the distance, his archers wouldn’t be effective for long and the Suevi might penetrate his thin line.

He called his two Commanders.  “Our line is too thin.  Bunch the men up to match their line, but still leave a small overlap on the flanks.  When we meet, I want the men on the flanks to get around behind them.  Have the archers stand by.”

*******

Justus was up before the sun, he was still highly agitated.  He couldn’t eat; he said he was too nervous.  When he heard the signal horns and the Suevi Legions begin to shout, he lost all control. He told Valerian in too loud a voice, “Begin the attack.  I order you to get these men moving.”  He then began walking around telling the troops to get up and attack.

Valerian nodded to the Centurion.  Justus was restrained, a gag placed over his mouth, and he was carried through the brush to the stream. Soft sounds of wading could be heard, and then it was silent. Valerian told the men to finishing eating.

*******

Bethica led her two Legions as they advanced another 300 yards towards the Teutons to give the appearance they were attacking.  The Scorpio were positioned on each flank, but remained where the men had dropped their pila and shields.  They were prepared to go into action when ordered as were the Slingers.  She could see the Teutons’ long line moving towards her. It was a frightening scene.  She turned to look at her men and saw nothing but determination.  She drew her sword and ran along the front yelling encouragement.  Her Legates did the same.  The Legions’ morale soared.  They knew they had a good plan and would soon take revenge against the hated Teutons.

When Bethica judged she had advanced enough, she halted the Legions and continued encouraging them.

Hludwig could see that the Suevi had stopped advancing and considered charging them, but knew his men were not in shape to handle it.  The Teuton archers would fire an arrow every so often to test the range, but they all fell short.  The Teuton closed the distance to 400 yards (365.7m) and the archers drew their bows.  Finally, the enemy was within range.

As the arrow storm rose in the morning sky, the Suevi turned and ran back the 300 yards to where they had dropped their equipment.  The arrows thudded to earth harmlessly.

Hludwig was delighted and perplexed.  He said to those around him, “Look at the cowards run!  Are they here to fight or play games with us?”  Since the Suevi were once again standing as if to fight, he ordered his men to continue advancing.  The Teuton morale was sky high.  They had forced the Suevi farmers to run.  They already felt victorious.

Once again the Teutons were within arrow range and another deadly cloud filled the sky.

This time, the Suevi bent down and picked up their new shields.  They squatted behind the shield as if it were another training exercise at Bad Tolz and waited.  Bethica and her Legates moved to the rear of the Legions and out of range of the arrow cloud.  The Scorpio crews and Slingers ran to the rear.  Moments later, the quiet was broken by the sounds of hundreds of arrows hitting shields and ground.  The noise was deafening, but no one was hit.  They men stood up and saw that another flight of arrows was already enroute.  They squatted again; and again stood up after the second impact.  Their shields were covered in arrows and the men began pulling them out.  None had penetrated the wood.

Hludwig stopped his advance about 300 yards from the Suevi.  He rode up and down in front of his men waving his sword.  He was deeply disturbed by the deceit the Suevi employed concerning their shields.  First no shields and then shields that withstood arrows.  He was getting a bad feeling, but now he had to encourage his men and be confident.  His men were ready.  They were tired and hungry, but ready to end this.

They looked with distain upon the Suevi.  All they could see were shields and swords. Hludwig reminded them of their victory over the Semnones and the three Suevi garrisons.  He yelled, “Use your spears; cut them down.  This is our land.  Put an end to the Suevi.  Are you ready?”  The men yelled back, but seconds before Hludwig could order the Charge.  Horns and shouting erupted on his right flank about 800 yards (731m) away.  All eyes turned.

Five hundred horsemen with archers sitting behind the riders emerged out of the tree line.  The horses were aligned and began to walk towards the waiting Teutons.  Initially, Hludwig and his men were mesmerized and just watched.  Then Hludwig yelled for the archers on his left flank to reposition themselves to face this new threat.  The archers were almost a mile away on the opposite side of the formation.  It would take five to 10 minutes just to give them the order and another 15 minutes for the men to run across the width of the battlefield.  Bethica was counting on this delay.

The cavalry began to trot.  Hludwig yelled for the men in the path of the horses to turn, form a line and prepare for a cavalry charge.  Leaders of 500 and 1,000 men yelled and pushed the men in an attempt to form a defense.  It was chaos.  The men were no longer skilled warriors.  Many were now frightened and could not understand the shouted commands.

When the cavalry was about 600 yards (548m) from the milling Teutons, they broke into a charge with spears lowered and threw the Teuton right flank into complete panic.  Small groups formed to meet the charge, but most pushed and shoved to get away.

When the horses were about 300 yards (274m) away, they abruptly pulled up and the archers jumped off and began firing arrow after arrow into the Teuton mass.  Hundreds of Teutons were hit and dropped to the ground.  The cavalry then formed up into a line and renewed their charge toward the Teutons with their long spears extended to kill.  Thousands of Teutons had now turned from facing forward and were facing the horses.  The Teuton formation was disintegrating.

When the first of the Teuton archers reached the right flank, and began to fire on the horses, the Roman archers were pulled onto the backs of the horses and they rode out of range of the Teuton arrows.  Once out of range, they wheeled about as if to charge, but held their threatening position and forced thousands of Teutons to continue facing them.

Bethica rode her horse over to her left flank to watch the cavalry and archers attack the flank of the Teutons. She was pleased to see the ensuing panic, but wandered too close to the flank.  When the Teuton archers finally arrived and the cavalry withdrew, she turned her horse to return to the center rear of the formation.  Since she was the only one mounted, she was easily seen by the Teuton archers.

She was about 300 yards (274m) away, but presented a tempting target.  Several Teuton archers decided to take a shot.  Five arrows rose high in the sky; they were immediately followed by another five; then another five.  The first group landed all around Bethica; one hit her horse in the left rear and caused the horse to rise up, but she managed to hold on.  The second flight of arrows whizzed around her; one hit the right side of her Suevi helmet.  The point barely penetrated her helmet, but wrenched her head and body violently sideway; her helmet went flying and revealed a two inch furrow in her scalp, which began bleeding profusely.  Another arrow that was bearing in on her chest, hit her in the left shoulder as she twisted from the impact on her helmet.  It sunk in past the barb.  She fell from the horse badly wounded.

He guards dismounted and gathered around her.  Blood steamed down her face and neck.  Her pain was intense, but there was very little blood coming from the shoulder wound.  She looked at the arrow and realized that to try to pull it out would cause more damage and bleeding.  She considered turning over Command, but realized the man designated as her Second-in-Command was Justus and he was on the other side of the battlefield.  Her three Legates were now fully engaged in the battle and to remove one may upset the momentum of the battle.  She thought to herself, “I have to continue as Commander.”  She said to her body guard, “Cut off the arrow close to the skin; I don’t want the men to see that I’ve been wounded.  Wrap my head wound and get me another helmet.”

She said, “Help me up and put me on another horse.  We need to get out of range of the archers.”  She told her guards to ride close to her to prevent her from falling off her horse if she got dizzy.  Her face was ghostly pale and she retched twice while riding away.

Now that the threat from the Teuton archers was removed from the creek side of the battlefield, it was time for the 2,000 Suevi “bait” to go into action.  They suddenly emerged from the tree line and sounded horns and taunted the Teutons a mere 200 yards (182m) away.  They were armed with only their swords, but charged to within 100 yards (91m) of the Teutons.  The Teutons reacted immediately.  Without order, about 3,000 men left their position and raced at the Suevi, who spun about and ran for the trees.  The Teutons followed.  More joined in the chase.

Hludwig and his Commanders saw the men race after the Suevi and disappear into the tree line.  They tried to call them back, but the men were after blood and kept running.  Hludwig was a good Commander, but knew he was rapidly losing control of his men and the battle.  The cavalry charge had reoriented his entire right flank and now his left was disintegrating.  He reasoned his only option was to charge the Suevi to his front, but before he could give the command, his front began taking heavy casualties.

Four thousand Teutons raced into the tree line in pursuit of the Suevi.  When they emerged from the trees they were on the edge of a 15 foot (4.5m) creek and facing Suevi warriors with their arms cocked back to throw their pila.  Intermingled with the Suevi were 500 archers with their strings pulled taunt.  The sudden rush of pila and arrows left no survivors.  The Suevi Legion and the archers immediately waded across the creek to kill the wounded.  They then passed through the trees and into the open field where they formed a triplex acies facing the Teutons.

As soon as the Teutons entered the tree line in pursuit of the Suevi, the Scorpio crews and the Slingers opened fire.  The snap of 25 Scorpio releasing their arrows from each Suevi flank could be heard above the yelling men.  The Slingers took aim and threw their lead slugs at the stationary targets.  Two inch lead pellets traveling 90mph (94km) penetrated clothing, skin, and knocked the Teutons off their feet.

Teutons were falling in devastating numbers.  Hludwig yelled charge and the line surged forward.  They closed to within 80 feet (24m) of the two Legions when Bethica ordered the Legions to pick up their pila and throw.  The effect of 20,000 pila thrown within seconds against shields that offered no protection was crushing.  More Teuton dead piled up.  Their charge was stopped.  The Suevi Legion and I Raetorum were given the order and charged the Teutons.  Shield collided with such force that the Teutons were knocked off their feet or pushed back.

Hludwig and his leaders saw the Legion come out of the woods, form up, and run to attack his flank.  His front was crumbling under the impact of the Suevi charge.  He yelled, “Retreat; get back to the settlement.”

Valerian had Legio XX lined up and the torches were lit as soon as the Teutons left the settlement.  He waited until he could see the Scorpio begin to fire and yelled, “Forward.”  Their orders were to kill any Teutons they encountered in the settlement and to burn the huts.  The men entered the huts and killed any men they found.  Fires were set in numerous huts and they began smoking heavily.

What the Legionaries did not expect to find were women.  Hundreds of them!  Every hut had one or two.  Because of their youth, they were spared until Valerian could give orders.  When Valerian was told that these were Suevi refugees that had been kidnapped by the Teutons, he issued orders to gather them up and move them to the woods the Legion had just left.  He designated a Maniple to guard them and keep them quiet.  Many were in shock and hysterical.  Valerian ordered the Legion to stay away from the open area by the front of the settlement and to hide in the huts.  They knew their job was to engage any Teutons who returned.