Caesar's Gallic War Translation ch. 21-29
TWENTY ONE
On the same day, informed by scouts that the enemy had encamped at the foot of a mountain 8 miles from his own camp, he [Caesar] sent persons [scouts] to find out what the nature of the mountain was, and of what kind of ascent there was around the sides.
It was reported to be easy.
During the third watch, he [Caesar] ordered Titus Labienus, his legate with praetor status, to climb the highest ridge of the mountain with two legions and those guides who knew the path; whom he shows his plans to.
He himself after the fourth watch marched to the place on the same road, which the enemy had gone on and he sent all the cavalry in front of him.
Publius Considius, who was considered most experienced in military practice and had been both in the army of Lucius Sullae and afterwards Marcus Crassus, was sent ahead with the scouts.
TWENTY TWO (I)
At first light, when the top of the mountain was reached by Labienus and he [Caesar] himself was no further than 1 ½ miles away from the enemy camp, his arrival was not known nor Labienus’ as he found out afterwards from captives. Considius ran to him charging, he said that the mountain, which he [Caesar] wished to be held by Labienus, was held by the enemy; he learnt this by the Gallic arms and uniforms.
Caesar led his forces up onto the nearest hill, he built up a battleline.
Labienus, as he had been ordered by Caesar not to join battle, unless Caesar’s own forces had been seen near the camp of the enemy, so that the attack might be upon the enemy at one time from all sides, once the mountain had been ceased he was waiting for our men and was refraining battle.
TWENTY TWO (II)
Late in the day, Caesar finally learnt from the spies that the mountain was held by his own men and that the Helvetians had moved camp and that Considius reported what he had not seen instead of what he had, because he was terrified by fear.
On that day in that interval which he had been accustomed to [the usual distance], he follows the
On the same day, informed by scouts that the enemy had encamped at the foot of a mountain 8 miles from his own camp, he [Caesar] sent persons [scouts] to find out what the nature of the mountain was, and of what kind of ascent there was around the sides.
It was reported to be easy.
During the third watch, he [Caesar] ordered Titus Labienus, his legate with praetor status, to climb the highest ridge of the mountain with two legions and those guides who knew the path; whom he shows his plans to.
He himself after the fourth watch marched to the place on the same road, which the enemy had gone on and he sent all the cavalry in front of him.
Publius Considius, who was considered most experienced in military practice and had been both in the army of Lucius Sullae and afterwards Marcus Crassus, was sent ahead with the scouts.
TWENTY TWO (I)
At first light, when the top of the mountain was reached by Labienus and he [Caesar] himself was no further than 1 ½ miles away from the enemy camp, his arrival was not known nor Labienus’ as he found out afterwards from captives. Considius ran to him charging, he said that the mountain, which he [Caesar] wished to be held by Labienus, was held by the enemy; he learnt this by the Gallic arms and uniforms.
Caesar led his forces up onto the nearest hill, he built up a battleline.
Labienus, as he had been ordered by Caesar not to join battle, unless Caesar’s own forces had been seen near the camp of the enemy, so that the attack might be upon the enemy at one time from all sides, once the mountain had been ceased he was waiting for our men and was refraining battle.
TWENTY TWO (II)
Late in the day, Caesar finally learnt from the spies that the mountain was held by his own men and that the Helvetians had moved camp and that Considius reported what he had not seen instead of what he had, because he was terrified by fear.
On that day in that interval which he had been accustomed to [the usual distance], he follows the