THE FLIGHT OF THE EAGLES - 58BC Official AAR!

[Empedocles]

I have started an AAR based on 58BC. The main character is Sextus Tullius Pulcher a "new man" in Rome belonging to the "ordo equester" which is commissioned to Caesar's army at the beginning of his campaings.
I hope you like it. I don't know how far I will get.

The AAR will be divided in several "books" which in turns will be divided in "chapters". Each book will describe one mission of 58BC and I'll update this post on a regular basis.
Any suggestions or critic will be more than welcomed. Bear in mind that english is my second language.
All the chapters will also be uploaded in PDF format.

Here we go....


INDEX

BOOK I: The Helvetii War

Chapter I: First Blood

PDF Version

ONLINE Version

Chapter II: Holding the Centre

PDF Version

ONLINE Version

[Empedocles]

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[Empedocles]

Book 1, Chapter 1: First Blood

Rome, Ides of Junius.

These beings the words of Sextus Tullius Pulcher, son of Appius Tullius Pulcher, and their purpose is to bring some light into this time of trouble.

This diary will try to portray the events of our days times from my own point of view. I witnessed some of this events firsthand while serving as a legate under the command of Gaius Iulius Caesar.

I'll start saying a little more about me. I was raised in the villa my family has owned for generations near Arpinum in Latium where my honourable father paid several well known tutors to improve my education.

My family has belonged to the ordo equester for over two hundred years now. My great ancestor Aulus Tullius Pulcher was enrolled into the ordo on account of his pre-eminence in the community. Riding off to war on his own horse he charged down the Boii of the Cisalpina and later covered the gens Tullius name with honour at Malventum

I never knew my grandfather; he is supposed to have been a good honest man who was more concerned about his business than service in the courts or in the legions. Fortunately for me my father has excelled in both business and politics. He was a legate first Lucius Licinius Lucullus and later Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, retaining his honour by not joining the traitor Gaius Flavius Fimbria and going onto to command a legion during Pompeius’ glorius conquest of the east.

My father’s wide circle of influential friends and his own eye for an opportunity co-joined when he became the first member of our direct family to join the senatus. There he sits with our distant relative Marcus Tullius Cicero safe-guarding the interests of the res publica.

Maybe Gaius Caesar noticed this political connection when he requested my aid as a junior tribune in Gaul. This is the letter I received two months ago:

"Salve Sextus Tullius Pulcher,
First of all let me ask for your family, I recently received news that your mother has left Rome due to a condition in his heart. Is she all right?
I inquired Pompeius for recommendation on asking for members for my staff and he said that your father was a good men and he heard that you served well commanding a cohort in Macedonia two years ago.
Therefore, I Gaius Julius Caesar, proconsul of Galia Cisalpina and Illyricum is requesting your assistance as a juniour tribune under my direct command during the duration of my office.

There is lots of business that a man with wit and prudence can achieve.
I need you in Gaul at the idus of Quintilis as the latest.

Gaius Julius Caesar
Proconsul of Ylliricum, Cisalspine and Transalpine Gaul "

Of course noone noticed any sign of surprise when on the next session of the senate I was granted permission to serve him as a tribunes militium.

So, I packed my bags and I will head north along the Via Aemilia. I leave tomorrow morning accompanied by a handful of close friends and companions who will serve in more junior positions on Caesar's staff.

May Janus be at my side.



Gaul Narbonensis, road to Narbo, Nones of Quintillus

This is the first time I write since my last day in Rome and finally I have something interesting to write.
For the last days we are watching an increasing number of villagers traveling south or hiding in the forest afraid of some tribes that are supposed to be moving south and sacking everything in their path. Apparently they are 300000 men at arms strong but some villagers seemed confident that the Helvetii will move west and then north to attack Gergovia instead.
Just in case we are under heavy march and will be joining Caesar’s camp in two days.
I am starting to have a bad feeling about this adventure.
I pray that Fortuna Huiusque help us find our way.

Caesar Camp, north of Narbo, Quintillus

I arrived at the camp and reported at the Cohors Praetoria at the second hour of the day and I realized that something big was going on since lots of messengers and soldiers were delivering letters and sending dispatchs like if Mars will pay us a visit during the afternoon.
I reported to my superior, Titus Labienus, but he almost didn’t had time to welcome me. My orders are…. to be ready at all times for receiving orders….
Now I’m writing this lines in front of Caesar tent while a soldier is being whipped by a centurion for continued disobedience next to me. Military life will prove difficult to adapt.
Wait, Caesar has left the tent….

Caesar Camp, west of Narbo, Nones of Quintillus

They took my horse! Those brutal soldiers have decided that my horse will better serve under the legs of a barbarian and he was transferred to a group of germans warriors for the upcoming battle.
Caesar has spent almost an hour explaining to the Legion that they must face the Helvetii onslaught by themselves since the rest of the army is far away. He showed confident in the outcome and has promised rewards for bravery in battle, but most of the men are hurrying to write their testaments.
I was transferred to a cohors guided by a centurion called “Servius”. He has welcomed me as the second in command and carefully instructed me to stay close behind him when the battle starts. My dreams of being appointed scribe of the army has vanished since everyone is starting to raise a wooden palisade on the banks of a stream. Smokes from the other side of the stream tell us that the Helvetii are here....


Helvetii Camp, west of Narbo, Nones of Quintillus

I have survived my first battle. I didn’t knew that man was capable of such atrocities… I’m completely drunk by now trying to erase from my mind the memories of blood and the killing of civilians. I had to fight on foot like a regular soldier and by a struck of luck I now enjoy the gratitude of my soldiers.
Here is my account of the battle:

It all began at night when the Helvetii tried to assault the fortifications on the stream. They were heavily repulsed but they managed to divert a great force of 3000 men under the command of Numedius. The “X” legion was ready for battle.




My cohors formed line on the left side of the army, the Aeudi cavalry formed right behind us and I could see the Germans standing in the back of the army next to Caesar using my horses. I heard that Caesar ordered every horse within the army to be gifted to them. I whispered a pray to Mars to take care of my horse and to Venus Victrix for delivering us to victory.



While I was busy praying I saw how the archers of our army started firing arrows of fire at the hear of the enemy army. Sooner than expected the men were ordered to throw their pila and prepare for the barbarian charge.



The enemy army tried a feint and started changing their impulse from the right side of the legion to the left one. My unit was under direct attack but Servius managed to keep the morale of the legionaries high and we stood our ground.



I don’t remember exactly what I did during this episode of the battle, but I stayed behind the lines trying not to get stuck by a javelin or stone. Sudendly the strategy of the Helvetii general surprised us since he ordered a full cavalry charge on our left flank directly into my cohort!



We started to loose our ground and I started to turn back when I saw that a javelin has hit Servius in his chest killing him in a second. Suddenly an enemy soldier called “Botroas” appeared from nowhere but I managed to kill him with my sword!


At this point of the fight I can’t recall the exact chain of episodes but I remember hearing the soldiers shouting at me asking if we should retreat or stay there. I was stonned by the death of the Botroas and watched his blood on my chest and couldn’t reply any coherent answer when I surprised myself shouting with a grave voice:
“FORWARD!!!! ATTACK!!!! KILL THEM!!!!”
I began to run to the enemy with my sword on one hand and the broken cloath of Serivus in the other….



Chaos ensued and the lines were broken, but the enemy cavalry charge lost momentum and they were stuck with their horses and the men began to throw the cavalrymen from their horses. Suddenly the Aeudi appeared from our left and crushed the Helvetii soldiers.
We heard a strong cry, the enemy general was dead!!!! One of my soldiers, Lucius something, killed him by slashing his horse feet and finishing him with the scutum.



The battle then turned into a massacre since the helvetii have lost all guide and they started to rout. The cavalry chased them and I wished I had my horse to kill them! I ordered my men to break the lines and kill as many barbarians as possible. I would reward them later.



I ended the night completely exhausted from the battle, puking everything I eat in the past days directly on the ground while I heard the screamings of the wounded soldiers when the legionaries plundered their possessions. Some women were found in the baggage train of the Helvetii. I won’t write what happened to them.
After the trumpets to form the marching columns were heard some men from my cohors cheered me up for my bravery and for leading them to victory. If they only knew that I have ******* my pants during the fight and that I only killed one barbarian in the fight they won’t be so amazed with me.
I’m writing this letters on a bonfire inside the legion’s camp. Although it’s prohibited to drink wine during a night camp my men have some on their bags and I’m drinking it with enthusiasm.
The “X” has perfomed really well today halting the Helvetii onslaught and forcing them to find another way into Transalpine Gaul. We will shadow their moves.
The casualties of the battles are:


But the battles weren’t over….

[DaVinci]

Empe, that's great written and pictured

I would be interested which soldier you were of the cohort ... the Centurio?

[Salvor Hardin]

I guess so. The one charging alone like a madman

[DaVinci]

Charging with full pants brought the initial needed power it seems ... maybe the Helvetii fled due to the chemical ... eh, rather biological weapon of this Centurio?

[Drtad]

Very nice job, Empe! Just one small criticism:

I have ******* my pants during the fight

Roman cohorts don't wear pants.

(do they?)

[Empedocles]

@Da Vinci, that's right. he's the crazy centurion running amok on the battlefield.

@Drtad, they had to wear some kind of underpants. right?

[Empedocles]

2nd chapter has been uploaded in .pdf format. I will post the online version in a couple of hours, I'm too lazy now.
regards

[Empedocles]

Book I, Chapter II: Holding the Centre


Roman camp, east of Massilia, Idus of Quintillis

It’s been two days since the previous battle. We have marched all day long since then. My feet are all covered of wounds from the terrain we must march. I don’t know how this men manage to have enough energies at the end of the day to build the forts and have dinner later. I always feel sleep the minute I finish my duties of organizing the supplies of the cohort.
A new centurion has been appointed to command the cohort, his name is Luscius Varrus and he comes from Arpinium. He has seen battle against the Spanish tribes and the men are happy to have him around. He understood quickly that I must be treated with respect and he does not expect too much of me.
We have followed the movement of a Helvetii army which is leaded by the son of the Helvetii king, a man called Orgetorix. The Helvetii are moving north to avoid encountering Caesar but we will attack them tomorrow probably.
Varrus was summoned to the Legate’s tent for receiving instructions on the upcoming battle. He said that our cohort performed well in the last battle but the Aeudi will receive most of the honours for killing Numeius since Caesar is more than willing to praise the allied valour. Our men are angry on this decision and the phalerae some of them received did nothing to aplacate their hate to the Aeudi.
Our cohort will remain in the center of the line now and Caesar will use the cavalry extensively in the next battle. We must hold our ground and follow the legates orders.
The X will fight alone again…



The enemy army composition was pretty much the same as the previous one. I could see that several enemy soldiers wear mail armour and Luscius told me they were the elite of the Helvetii. Fortunately for me we will not face them.
They formed their battle line in open terrain guarding their wagons.



Caesar delivered a strong speech about the responsibility for bringing the eagles into victory. He is well known in Rome for speaking with a loud and strong voice so I wasn’t surprised when I could hear him from long distance.
He was surrounded by his bodyguard of Ubii cavalrymen and I swear I could see my horse from where I stood. I hate germans. If I ever come back to Rome I will not treat my slaves as well as I used to.



Caesar’s plan was simple. Use the legionary cohors in the center to hold on the enemy charge and win supremacy over the right flank near the woods. The allied Aeudi, Remi and Volcaronum equites commanded by their own chieftains will flank the enemy army through our left and attack the enemy general position.



My cohort was placed in the center along with the rest of the semi hardened veterans of the X.
We threw our pila just before the final clash between the armies.


We faced an unit of fierce axemen from one of the tribes of the Helvetii. At the beginning of the battle, Luscius Varrus and me continually encouraged the men from the end of the line but as the battle began to start in the entire front he advanced through the ranks and fought at first line against the enemy soldiers. This proved to bust the morale of our man and some of them began chanting as they fought.
How much bravery can be found in a Roman army is beyond any rational belief. All the hardships this men have to endure every day for a minimal wage makes the battles looks as pleasure trips instead of the bloody carnage they are.
The Republic rest in good hands with these men.


While we were busy holding the line the allied cavalry began to outlflank the enemy position by marching as far as the eye could tell.



Caeasar’s idea proved to be succesfull. When the enemy saw that our cavalry was flanking them some of their warbands began to move to face this new threat relieving the center from pressure. The enemy was so surprised when they perceived that the cavalry will continue to ride to attack Orgetorix’s bodyguard that they did nothing to prevent this.
I was watching at the exact moment when the enemy standard fell to the ground and I observed the fall of Orgetorix with my very eyes. After the battle I learned that the Gallic cavalry didn’t managed to kill him but the job was finished by a mercenary archer from the island of Crete named Klyponos. Unfortunately for him he was struck by seven swords a second after he killed Orgetorix. Apparently the Helvetii bodyguard does not joke when they swear to follow their warlord to the death.



A band of botroas refused to surrender and fought to the last man. They were fierce warriors and I fell pity for them. I was now encouraged by Luscius to follow him into the heat of battle to finish them off and I killed three enemies with my sword. My father will be proud when he hears this.



When the trumpets sounded the Victoria hymn we suddenly realized we were alive and survived our second encounter as a group against the enemy horde. I was grateful to Mars and promised to make a donation to his temple next time I visit one.


The men received 1 hour of free looting around the enemy camp and some came back with luxuries from Orgetorix’s tent. The Aeudi and Remi cavalry were ordered to look for survivors in the area to enslave them. The third and fifth cohorts would finish the enemy wounded soldiers.
The victory was complete this time thanks for the tactic of Caesar. Every man fulfilled his duty and I was proud for the action my unit has seen. Some of the men were discontent with Caesar since he obviously preferred to use the cavalry instead of the infantry in this battle, but he proved to be a valuable commander when he began to walk from tent to tent asking the men their names and stories. He didn’t visit us.


The next days were a surprise for me. I would not continue fighting but will travel to Narbo for a more suited task to myself. And I got my horse back…

Sextus Tullius Pulcher
Tribuni angusticlavii
VI Cohort. Tenth Legion.

[Solaris]

I cringe when I read some made up Roman names. Ah well, at least the rest of the AAR is good!

[Bello Gallicum]

Very well written. Love to hear the rest of the story.

[Octavius Vatco]

Look? Why is it that your number of men deployed before the battle is different from the number of men deployed after the battle message?? It was 1617 then at the end it becomes 1408??

[Empedocles]

maybe the pictures are from different battles. I have played this mod several times.

[Salvor Hardin]

I have played this mod several times.

A thousand times, I guess.

Fortunately for the team, as your beta-test has been a founding stone of this project

[ricardius]

I would like to see a battle could you post them?