CHAP. XXIII.
Caesar purposeth to alter the course of warre; and attempteth to cut off one of Pompey's Legions.
CAesar understanding of the losse,* 1.1 and perceiving that Pompey was got out of the fortifications, and was incamped upon the Sea, in such sort as he might freely go out to forrage, and have no lesse accesse to his ship∣ping then formerly he had; changing his course of warre, which had not succeeded to his ex∣pectation, he incamped himself fast by Pom∣pey. The works being perfected, it was obser∣ved by C••sar's Discoverers, that certain Co∣horts, to the number of a Legion, were brought behind a wood into the old Camp. The site of the Camp was after this manner. The dayes before, Caesar's ninth Legion opposing themselves against Pompey's forces, and working upon the fortifications (as is before declared) had their Camp in that place, ad∣joyning unto a wood, and not distant from the sea, above four hundred pases. Afterwards, Caesar changing his mind for some certain causes, transferred his lodging somewhat far∣ther off from that place. A few dayes after the same Camp was possest by Pompey. And forasmuch as he was to lodge more legions in that place, leaving the inner Rampier stand∣ing, he inlarged the fortification, so that the lesser Camp being included in the greater, served as a Castle or Cittadell to the same. Besides also, he drew a fortification from the right angle of the Camp, four hun∣dred pases out-right, to a River, to the end the souldiers might water freely, without dan∣ger. And he also changing his mind, for some causes not requisite to be mentioned, left the place too: so that the Camp stood empty for many dayes together, and all the fortificati∣ons were as perfect as at the first.
The Discoverers brought news to Caesar, that they had seen an Ensign of a Legion car∣ried thither. The same was likewise con∣firmed; from certain Forts which stood upon the higher grounds. The place was distant from Pompey's new Camp about five hundred pases. Caesar hoping to cut off this legion, and desirous to repair that dayes losse, left two co∣horts at work, to make a shew of fortifying, and he himself (by a contrary way, in as co∣vert a manner as he could) led the rest of the Cohorts, in number thirty three (amongst whom was the ninth legion, that had lost ma∣ny Centurions, and was very weak in souldiers) towards Pompey's legion, and the lesser camp, in a double battel. Neither did his opinion deceive him: for he came thither before Pompey could perceive it.
And albeit the fortifications of the Camp were great, yet assaulting it speedily with the left Cornet, wherein he himself was, he drave Pompey's souldiers from the Rampier. There stood a* 1.2 Turn-pike in the Gate, which gave occasion of resistance for a while: and as our men would have entered, they valiantly de∣fended the Camp; T. Pulcio, by whose means C. Antonius Army was betraied, as we have formerly declared, fighting there most vali∣antly. Yet neverthelesse our men overcame them by valour; and cutting up the Turn-pike, entered first into the greater Camp, and afterwards into the Castle, and slew many that resisted, of the legion that was forced thither.
But Fortune, that can do much in all things, and specially in warre, doth in a small mo∣ment of time bring great alterations; as it then happened. For the Cohorts of Caesar's right Cornet, ignorant of the place, followed the Rampier which went along from the Camp to the River, seeking after the Gate, and ta∣king it to be the Rampier of the Camp: but when they perceived that it joyned to the River, they presently got over it, no man resisting them; and all the cavalry followed after those cohorts.
OBSERVATIONS.
POmpey having cleared his Army of that siege, it booted not Caesar to prosecute his purpose any longer: for when the end is mis∣sed for which any course is undertaken, it were folly to seek it by that means. We must rather