led six legions alwayes in a readinesse, without
burthen or carriage of any thing but their
Armes: after them he placed the baggage of
the whole Army. And the two legions which
were last inrolled, were a rereward to the Ar∣my,
and guarded the stuffe.
OBSERVATION.
THis treacherous practice of the surrendred
Belgae hath fortunately discovered the manner
of Caesars march, as well in safe passages, as in
dangerous and suspected places: which is a point
of no small consequence in martiall discipline,
being subject to so many inconveniences, and
capable of the greatest art that may be shewed in
managing a war. Concerning the discreet carri∣age
of a march, by this circumstance it may be ga∣thered
that Caesar principally respected safety,
and secondly conveniency. If the place afforded
a secure passage, and gave no suspicion of hosti∣lity,
he was content in regard of conveniency,
to suffer every legion to have the oversight of
their particular carriages, and to insert them a∣mong
the troups, that every man might have
at hand such necessaries as were requisite, ei∣ther
for their private use or publick discipline.
But if he were in danger of any sudden attempt,
or stood in hazard to be impeached by an ene∣my,
he then omitted convenient disposition in re∣gard
of particular use, as disadvantageous to
their safety; and carried his legions in that rea∣dinesse,
that if they chanced to be engaged by an
enemy, they might without any alteration of their
march or incumbrance of their carriages, receive
the charge in that form of battell as was best ap∣proved
by their military rules, and the ancient
practice of their fortunate progenitours.
The old Romans observed likewise the same
respects: for in unsafe and suspected places
they carried their troups againe quadrato, in a
square march, which, as Livie seemeth to note,
was free from all carriage and impediments which
might hinder them in any suddain alarme. Nei∣ther
doth that of Hirtius any way contradict
this interpretation, where he saith that Caesar so
disposed his troups against the Bellovaci, that
three legions marched in front, and after them
came all the carriages, to which the tenth legion
served as a rereward; and so they marched
pene agmine quadrato almost in a square
march. Seneca in like manner noteth the
safety of agmen quadratum, where he saith
that where an enemy is expected, we ought
to march agmine quadrato ready to fight. The
most materiall consequence of these places al∣ledged
is, that as oft as they suspected any onset
or charge, their order in a march little or nothing
differed from their usuall manner of imbattel∣ling;
and therefore it was called agmen quadra∣tum
or a square march, inasmuch as it kept the
same disposition of parts as were observed in qua∣drata
Acie, in a square body. For that triple
forme of imbatteling which the Romans gene∣rally
observed in their fights, having respect to
the distances between each battel, contained al∣most
an equall dimension of front and file: and
so it made Aciem quadratam a square body;
and when it marched, Agmen quadratum a
square march.
Polybius expresseth the same in effect, as often
as the place required circumspection; but altereth
it somewhat in regard of the carriages: for he
saith that in time of danger, especially where the
country was plain and champain, and gave space
and free scope to clear themselves, upon any ac∣cident
the Romans marched in a triple battel of
equall distance one behind another, every bat∣tell
having his severall carriages in front.
And if they were by chance attacked by an ene∣my,
they turned themselves according to the op∣portunity
of the place either to the right of left
hand; and so placing their carriages on the one
side of their Army, they stood imbattelled ready
to receive the charge.
The contrary form of marching, where the
place afforded more security, and gave scope to
conveniency, they named agmen longum a long
march or train; when almost every maniple or
order had their severall carriages attending upon
them, and strove to keep that way which they
found most easy both for themselves and their
impediments. Which order of march as it was
more commodious then the former in regard of
particularity, so was it unsafe and dangerous
where the enemy was expected: and therefore
Caesar much blamed Sabinus and Cotta for
marching, when they were deluded by Ambi∣orix,
longissimo agmine in a very long train; as
though they had received their advertisements
from a friend, and not from an enemy.
And albeit our modern wars are farre diffe∣rent
in quality from them of ancient times, yet
in this point of discipline they cannot have a
more perfect direction then that which the Ro∣mans
observed, as the two poles of their motions,
Safety and Conveniencie: whereof the first de∣pendeth
chiefly upon the provident disposition of
the leaders; and the other will easily follow on,
as the commodity of every particular shall give
occasion.
Concerning safety in place of danger, what
better course can be taken then that manner of
imbattelling, which shall be thought most con∣venient
if an enemy were present to confront
them? for a well-ordered march must either car∣ry
the perfect forme of a battel, or contain the
distinct principles and elements thereof, that
with little alteration it may receive that perfe∣ction
of strength which the fittest disposition can
afford it. First therefore a prudent and circum∣spect
Leader, that desireth to frame a strong and