44.33
Lastly
he ordered the water-carriers to follow him to the sea, which was less than
300 paces distant, and to dig at short intervals from each other on the shore.
The towering height of the mountains led him to expect that as no rivulets
flowed from above the ground they contained hidden streams which flowed
as it were through veins into the sea and mingled with its waters. Hardly had
the surface of the sand been removed when springs bubbled up, muddy at
first and scanty, but they soon poured forth a clear and copious supply of
water, as though it were a gift from the gods. This incident added much to
their general's prestige and authority amongst the soldiers. Orders were then
issued for the troops to get their arms ready, and the consul with the military
tribunes and the centurions of the first rank went out to examine the place
where they were to cross, where the men under arms could find an easy
descent, and where the ascent of the opposite bank presented least difficulty.
After satisfying himself on these points, the consul's first care was that
everything should be done in an orderly fashion and without confusion, in
obedience to the word of command. When an order was promulgated to all
the troops at the same time, it was not distinctly heard by everybody, and in
their uncertainty as to what had been said, some made additions for
themselves and went beyond what had been ordered, while some did less
than they were told to do. Then confused shouts arose throughout the
column and the enemy knew the general's intentions before they did. He
therefore gave directions for the military tribunes to communicate the order
privately to the first centurion of the legion and he was to notify what was to
be done to each of the centurions, rank by rank, whether the order was to be
transmitted from front to rear of the column or from rear to front. He also
forbade the sentinels to follow the new fashion of wearing their shields; a
sentinel did not go into battle to make use of his arms; his duty was on
becoming aware of the enemy's approach to retire and call the rest to arms.
They used to stand, wearing their helmets and holding their shields in front
of them, and then, when they were tired, they leaned on their spears, rested
their heads on the rim of their shields and went to sleep as they stood, so that
the glitter of their armour made them visible to the enemy while they
themselves saw nothing in front of them. He also altered the regulations with
regard to the outlying pickets. They used to stand all day under arms, the
cavalry with their horses bridled, and in the days of summer under a
cloudless and scorching sun, the men themselves and their horses were so
languid and exhausted by the heat after so many hours that often, when
attacked by a small body of the enemy who were fresh and unwearied, they
were discomfited, though greatly superior in numbers. He thereupon gave
orders that those who were sent out in the morning should quit their posts at
noon and be relieved by others who went on duty for the rest of the day. In
this way it was never possible for a fresh and unwearied enemy to attack
them when they were suffering from fatigue.
