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CHAP. XV.
Caesar coming to his Armie, advanceth forward, and incampeth near unto the Enemie.
WIthin two dayes after Caesar came in∣to the Camp with nine hundred horse, which he had kept with him for a convoy. The bridge broken by the tempest, was almost re-edified, and that which remained undone, he command∣ed to be finished in the night. And having seen the nature and situation of the place, he left six cohorts to keep the Camp and the bridge, with all the carriages of the Armie. And the next day, putting all his forces into a triple battell, he marched towards Ilerda: and there standing a while in Armes, offered battell, in an equall and indifferent place. Afranius brought out his forces, and made a stand in the midst of the hill, under his Camp. Caesar perceiving that Afranius at that time was not disposed to fight, determined to incamp himself some 400 paces from the foot of the hill. And least the souldiers should be interrupted in their works by the sud∣den assaults and incursions of the enemy, he for∣bad them to fortifie it with a rampier or wall, which must necessarily be discovered and seen afarre off; but caused a ditch to be made of fifteen foot in breadth, in the front of the Camp next unto the Enemie. The first and second bat∣tell (according as was directed) continued in Armes; and the third battell performed the work behind them unseen, before it was under∣stood by Afranius that Caesar would incamp in that place. Which being finished, he drew his le∣gions within the ditch, and so stood in Armes all night.
The next day he kept all his Armie within the ditch. And forasmuch as the matter to make the Rampier was to be fetched farre off, he kept the like course for the finishing of the rest; al∣lotting each side of the Camp to be fortified by a severall legion, with a ditch to be sunk about of the same scantling: and in the mean time, made the other legions to stand ready in Armes against the enemie.
Afranius and Petreius, to the end they might amuse the souldier, and hinder the work, brought down their forces to the foot of the hill, and pro∣voked them to fight. Howbeit, Caesar intermitted not the work, trusting to three legions in Armes, and the munition of the ditch. The Enemy not making any long stay, or advancing further then the foot of the hill, led back their troups in∣to the Camp. The third day Caesar fortified his Camp with a Rampier; and commanded the rest of the cohorts and the carriages which were left in the other Camps, to be brought unto him.
OBSERVATION.
IT may be observed for Caesar's custome throughout the whole course of his wars, to ap∣proch as near the enemie as conveniently he could; that so he might the better observe his passages, and be ready to take the favour of any opportunitie, which either the nature of the place, or the motions of the adversary would afford him. Which was the rather his advantage, in re∣gard of his dexteritie, and superlative knowledge in the use of Armes, together with the experience of his old legions: whereby he was able, not one∣ly to improve his own designes to the utmost of an honourable successe, but to return the disgrace of any attempt made upon his Armie, upon the heads of them that were authors of the same. For otherwise, his accosting so near an enemie, might have turned to his own losse; as being full of hazard, and subject to more casualties then he that standeth further off. And therefore the rule is, That he that desireth to ••it near his adversarie, must be exceeding circumspect, and sure of some advantage, either from the place, or the over-awing power of his forces, or else out of his own vertue, or by some other means, to over-sway the inconveniences which attend such ingagements. As may appear by that which Frontinus observeth hence, touching the straight whereinto Caesar was fallen; being ei∣ther to give battel, which the enemie refused; or to make good that place, from whence he could not retreat but with danger. Whereupon, a little before night be stole the making of a ditch on the back of his Armie; and retiring himself within the same, stood in Armes all night, for his better safetie.
The use of such ditches are of much impor∣tance, and have oftentimes redeemed an Ar∣my from great extremities: and were so fre∣quent upon all occasions with the Romans, that he that shall deny them to be good ditchers, shall do them wrong. And not onely they, but other Nations could tell how to make use of the Spade.
Pericles of Athens, being forced by them of Peloponnesus into a place that had but two out∣lets of escape, sunk a ditch of a great lati∣tude thwart one of the passages (as though he meant to keep out the enemie) and set his souldiers to break out the other way. The Peloponne∣sians thinking he could no way escape by the passage where the trench was cut, applied them∣selves wholly to the other place, where the souldiers made shew of breaking out: whereby (through the help of bridges which he had for∣merly provided) he escaped over the ditch with∣out resistance. Sometimes they added other helps to these trenches, especially when they sought handsome means to get themselves a∣way: