Chapter 23 Spanish War 1-20

1.Farnacus has been conquered, Africa has been recovered, and those who escaped from the field with the young Gnaeus Pompey... He occupied Far Spain while Caesar was in Italy for a show... . . . In order to assemble a garrison for resistance, Pompey began to appeal to the loyalists of all these states for aid.Thus, partly by entreaty, partly by coercion, he was able to muster a large force, and ravage the province.Under such circumstances, some states automatically sent reinforcements to him, while some states closed their city gates to him.in these states.If a town was taken by him by force, some of the richest men in it, though they had served old Graius Pompey in the past, would be sought out one way or another because of their great wealth. The reason is to put him to death, so that he can take out his money and let these strong men share the spoils.This practice enabled a small number of people to benefit from the enemy, and their wealth increased greatly, but it caused those states that opposed Pompey to send more frequently envoys to Italy to ask for help for them.

2.Gaius Caesar, who was now serving his third term as Dictator, and was already scheduled for a fourth, had already accomplished much before he set out. (Now, in order to end the war quickly, he hurried to Spain at once. The messengers sent by the Cordubas who had deserted Pompey happened to meet Caesar. They reported to Caesar that the city of Corduba can be opened at night Because Pompey took the province by surprise, and Pompey had sent messengers everywhere to report to him the news of Caesar's arrival. The fear of Caesar's arrival. They also gave many eloquent reasons. For this reason, Caesar notified their arrival to the two lieutenants Steinus Perdius and Quintus who were leading the army there. S. Fabius Maximus, and ordered them to support him with the cavalry they had raised in the province. But when he reached them, he came quickly beyond their expectations, and the cavalry he hoped for Support was not available.

3.Sextus Pompey, brother of Pompey the Younger, was at that time stationed at Corduba, considered the capital of the province, with a garrison.Gnaeus Pompey the Younger himself was attacking the town of Uriah, where he had almost been lingering for several months.Upon hearing of Caesar's arrival, the messengers glanced past Gnaeus Pompey's sentry post.He sneaked into the Caesar area and asked him to send reinforcements to them as soon as possible.Because this town has always been very loyal to the Romans, Caesar quickly ordered six battalions and a part of the cavalry to set off at the second watch, and at that time sent a man who was well-known in the province and familiar with the guild, Lucius. S Vibius Pachiaecus led the army.When he arrived at Gnaeus Pompey's sentry, it happened that the rain was mixed with the wind, and the wind and rain made the sky so dark that not only could not discern the way into the town, but even People who are close by can't see it.But these difficulties gave them great convenience.When they reached the other side in this state, Vibius ordered the cavalry to advance two by two, and hastened past the other's sentry, heading straight for the town.As they were passing through the enemy's garrison, someone asked who they were, and one of our men answered, telling him to be silent, saying, "They are now on their way to try to climb the enemy's wall and take this town." .One of these guard posts was unable to prudently perform their security tasks due to heavy wind and rain.Furthermore, I was blinded by this answer.When they reached the city gate, they gave a signal and were taken in by the townspeople.A part of the infantry stayed in the city to deploy, while the cavalry rushed out of the city with a shout, and rushed to the enemy's camp.This sudden attack was completely unexpected by the enemy, making most people in this camp think that they had fallen into the hands of the enemy.

4.After sending this reinforcement to Uriah, Caesar himself hastened towards Corduba in order to induce Pompey to give up attacking the town.During the march, he sent some brave heavy soldiers to accompany the cavalry to go ahead, and when they reached the place where the people in the city could see them, these people retreated into the cavalry. The Erdubas are invisible.When they approached the walls, a great number of troops came out of the city, trying to overwhelm our cavalry, and the heavy men we spoke of jumped off their horses and fought a great battle.Therefore, among the countless enemies, only a very small number fled back to the city.Sextus Pompey was terrified by this setback, and sent a message to his brother, telling him to hasten to his aid, and that Caesar should not let Corduba be seized before he arrived. .Gnaeus Pompey, therefore, disturbed by his brother's letter, began to march all the way to Corduba with his army, just as he was about to take Uriah.

5.When Caesar came to the Batis River, because the river was too deep to cross, he sank baskets full of stones into the river, and set up pillars on top of them, thus building a bridge for him. took his army across the river and entered the camp divided into three parts.His camp was near the bridge, facing the town, divided into three parts, as we said above.When Pompey came thither with his army, he also pitched camp opposite him, in the manner of Caesar.Caesar, in order to cut off Pompeii from the town, and from their communication with each other, began to build a fortification, which stretched across the bridge.Pompeo did the same.Thus began a contest between the two chiefs to see who would occupy the bridge first.In this very contest, there are daily skirmishes, sometimes ending with one side winning and sometimes that side winning.When this small contact developed into a large-scale battle, and the two sides began to fight each other, because everyone was eager to hold their positions and refused to give an inch, they huddled together by the bridge, and as they crowded towards the river, they stumbled and fell to the ground. to the river.In this regard, the two sides are evenly matched, not only the dead one after another, one after another, but also the corpses resisting borrowing, pile after pile.In this way, several days passed in a row.Caesar was eager to bring the opponent to the level ground, and no matter what method he used, he wanted to make a decisive battle as soon as possible.

6.Seeing that his enemies were not at all willing to come out to fight, Caesar led his army across the river, and ordered the fires to be lit at night, as he had done before to lead them away from Uriah, and this time to draw them again to the Plain up.In this way he rushed to Ategua, one of Pompey's strongest strongholds.When Pompey learned of this from the fleeing population, he seized the opportunity that day, left the mountain pass, and retreated to Corduba with a large number of vehicles and a full load of cattle.Caesar began the siege of Ategua with a fortification and a series of blockade works.At this time word was sent to him of Pompey, that he had set out that very day.In preparation for his coming, Caesar occupied several fortresses, some of which could accommodate cavalry, and others of infantry, to defend his camp as strongholds and sentries.Unexpectedly, it was early in the morning when Pompey arrived, and there was a thick fog. In the midst of the panic, Pompey surrounded Caesar's cavalry with several infantry battalions and several teams of cavalry, and killed them wantonly. Only a few people escaped from the scene. massacre.

7.The next night Pompey burned his camp, crossed the Salsum, crossed the valley, and camped on a hill between the towns of Ategua and Ucubi.By this time, Caesar had completed the siege and other fortifications necessary for the siege.Proceed to building barriers and rear vehicles.There are many mountains in that area, and the natural terrain is not conducive to military operations. It is divided in two by a plain, the basin of the Salsum River, but this river is still closer to Ategua, about two miles, in the On a hill on the side of the town.Pompey pitched his camp, which was also visible from the two towns.But he dared not save his comrades.He had the eagles and banners of thirteen legions, and among them, he considered the two native legions who had defected from Trebonius to be the most steadfast in his support, and the other from the The fourth was the legion which belonged to Afranius which he brought over from Africa.The rest consisted of fugitives or Confederates.As for the light and cavalry, our army is far superior to them both in valor and in numbers.

8.In addition, there were other reasons that prompted Pompey to protract the war for a long time.The place was high ground, excellent for fortification of a camp, and, as nearly the whole of far Spain was fertile and well watered, it would be futile and extremely difficult to besiege.And as barbarian incursions were frequent there, all places at a distance from the town were guarded by watchtowers and fortifications, as in Africa, covered with plaster instead of tiles. .At the same time, there are watchtowers on them, because they are at a very high place, so they can be seen in all directions.Moreover, most of the towns in this province are almost built on very high ground, protected by mountains, and their access requires difficult roads.It is precisely because of this situation created by nature that the attack of others is prevented, and these towns in Spain are not easy to be occupied by the enemy, and it is the same in this war.At this time Pompey's camp was set up between and within sight of the two aforementioned towns, Ategua and Ucupi.About four miles from Caesar's camp, there was a naturally raised hill called the camp of Postumius, where Caesar built a fortress for defense.

9.Pompey noticed that this fortress, protected by natural terrain, was on the same mountain as himself, and at a distance from Caesar's camp.He also saw that Caesar was separated from it by the Salsum, and he thought that the terrain was so rough that Caesar would never think that he should send troops to support it.He was convinced of his own thoughts, and at the third watch, he began to rush to attack the fortress.As soon as they got there, there was a sudden shout, and a great number of light spears began to be thrown, which wounded most of our troops.While our army was fighting back in the camp, word was brought to the great camp to Caesar, who set out with three legions to aid our army, which was barely supporting it.When he came to them, the enemy was in great alarm and scattered, and many were killed, and some were taken prisoner, including two centurions.In addition, many threw away their weapons and ran away.Our army recovered eighty of their shields.

10.The next day Argentius arrived from Italy with cavalry.He brought with him five Saguntian banners, which he had wrested from the inhabitants of the town.I did not mention, where I should have mentioned, that there was another cavalry, led by Asprenas, who had come to Caesar.That same night, Pompey burned his camp and set off to Corduba.A king named Indo, who was leading his own army with cavalry, overzealously pursued the enemy ranks, and was caught and killed by the native regiments on the way. 11.the next day.Our cavalry pursued a long way in the direction of Corduba, in pursuit of the town's convoy carrying supplies to Pompey.Fifty of them were taken prisoner, and brought back to our camp with their pack animals.On this day Quintus Marchius, commander of one of the legions on Pompey's side, joined us.On the third watch of the night, a fierce battle broke out in the town, and many fires were thrown.Just before this time, a Roman knight named Gaius Zedanius came to our side from the camp of the enemy.

12.On the next day, two soldiers from the local regiment were captured by our cavalry, who claimed to be slaves.But on their arrival they were recognized by some soldiers who had been under Fabius and Perdius in the past, and had since deserted Trebonius.This time, it was their turn that there was no chance of pardon, and they were immediately killed by our army.In the latter period several couriers were intercepted, all of whom had been sent from Corduba to Pompeii, but had strayed into our camp.Cut off their hands and let them go.In the second watch, the enemy, as usual, threw a large number of fire and arrows from the town, and after a long time, many of us were injured.When the night passed, they rushed out of the city to attack them while the Sixth Army was busy building fortifications, and a fierce battle began.But even though there were people from the town condescending to support them, their attack was still withstood by our army.When they began to break through, our army, though at a very disadvantageous position, was able to drive back the enemy by their own valor, and they retreated into the city with heavy casualties. 13.The next day Pompey began to fortify a spur from his camp to the Salsum.When the few cavalry of our army who were on duty were spotted by a larger number of enemies, they were driven from their posts, and three of them were killed.On that very day Aulus Vargius, the son of a senator, because his brother was in the camp of Pompey, threw away his belongings and rode away.A spy of the Second Army on Pompey's side was captured and killed by me.At the same time, shot balls were shot out, and there was a text on it saying: "If one day you come to attack the city, I will put down the shield." town.On the next day, they started to build a fortification leading to the city wall, and tore down a large part of the outer wall of the city... In this way, they were regarded by the townspeople as their own side, and their lives were saved... They asked Caesar removed the heavily armed troops that Pompey had placed there to defend the city.Caesar replied: He has always only made conditions to others, but did not accept others' conditions.When they returned to the town with this answer, the inhabitants raised a shout, fired all kinds of weapons, and began to fight all along the walls of the city.This made most of our battalion firmly believe that they will break out on this day.The town was thus surrounded, and the fighting raged for some time.During this time, a firing of a heavy crossbow of our army overturned an enemy watchtower, with five enemy soldiers and a servant who usually guarded the crossbow.Die in this tower. 14.Just earlier in the day Pompey crossed the Salsum and erected a fort without encountering any resistance from our army, which made him think himself a great man, as if he had taken a piece of our country. Like a place.In the same way, on the next day, in the same old way, he stretched a little further, reaching the place where our cavalry sentries.Several companies of cavalry and some light soldiers of our army were driven out of the position, and because they were too small, they were crushed together among the enemy's cavalry.This time the battle was fought where the camps of both sides could be seen, and Pompey, on the other hand, boasted even more triumphantly, thinking that our army was retreating more and more, and that he himself was following more and more.However, as soon as we retreated to a favorable position, our troops resumed fighting with great courage as they have always been accustomed to, and they only shouted loudly to avoid confrontation. 15.In almost all armies this always happens when cavalry fights: when the cavalry dismounts to engage the infantry, they are never outmatched.But what happened in this battle was the opposite. When the enemy's selected light infantry unexpectedly approached our cavalry, many of our cavalry, seeing this in the battle, jumped off their horses. So in a short period of time, the cavalry began to fight on foot, and they could even chase all the way to the barrier to kill wantonly.In this battle, one hundred and twenty-three people died on the other side, many of them had their weapons taken away, and many others were wounded and returned to the camp.Three of our troops were killed, twelve infantrymen and five cavalry were wounded.Just later in the day, according to the old custom, fighting began again along the walls.The enemy, having hurled many spears and sparks at our guards, committed the most heinous and inhuman atrocities in the presence of our troops. A direct throw from the city, as among the savages, never occurred in the memory of man. 16.During the last part of the day, Pompeii's men deceived us, and sent a messenger to order them to set fire to our towers and fortifications at the third watch of the night, and to break out.So, after throwing a lot of fire and weapons, and spending most of the night, they opened the gate facing Pompey's camp and within sight of each other, and broke out with all their forces.They also carried with them sticks and palisades to fill up the trenches, and likewise rakes to tear down and burn the thatched huts our troops built for the winter; While our army is busy looting these things, they can let go and kill them, and then retreat to Pompey's camp.Convinced of the success of their attempt, Pompey was hastening to the opposite side of the Salsum, and stood ready all night.Though this action was quite unexpected to our soldiers, they were able, by their valor, to repel the enemy, wound many of them, and drive them back to the city, their goods and weapons They were also captured by our army, and some people were captured alive, and they were all executed the next day.At the same time, says a fugitive from the town; after the massacre of the townspeople, Junius in the tunnel blamed them.The massacre of the residents of the town is a crime against nature and humanity committed by them. These residents have taken them into their own homes, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. They need to be treated with this cruel punishment. However, it is they themselves who use this cruel method to stain the friendship between the guest and the host.In addition, Junius said many other things, which shocked the whole group.So the killing stopped. 17.Therefore, on the morrow, Tullius, as a messenger, accompanied Cato and Antony.He said these words to Caesar: "If the immortal gods made me your warrior instead of Pompey's, so that this indomitable courage of mine might be shown in your victories instead of Pompey's." How good it would be to behave in his calamity: and now, after so many troubles, his popularity has so fallen that we, the citizens of Rome, not only need help from others, but have fallen into the position of enemies through the tragic calamity of the state. We did not gain any advantage, either in his first military success, or later in his slump, but were attacked by the legions, and we were cut by the sword, Pompey cast aside us with scorn, but your valor has crushed us. Now, for our own safety, we beg your mercy to spare our lives," replied Caesar. They said: "What I did to foreigners in the past, I will certainly do the same to fellow citizens who have surrendered in the future." 18. The messengers were now sent back.When they reached the gate of the city Tiberius Tullius ran in, and when Cavalier also entered but Antony did not follow him, Cato returned to the gate and seized him.Seeing this situation, Tiberius immediately pulled out Qishou and stabbed Cato in the hand.So they fled back to Caesar.At this moment the Eagle-bearer of the 1st Legion came over to our side, and learned that on the day of the cavalry battle thirty-five men of his company were killed, but not in Pompey's battalion. Reporting this kind of thing is not allowed to talk about people dying.There was a slave whose master was in Caesar's camp, and his wife and children were in the city. He killed his master, and then fled secretly to Pompey's camp, evading Caesar's sentry. . . . sent a notice written on a lead ball, informing Caesar of the defensive measures being taken in the town.Thus, when the notice had been received, and the man who used to shoot the shot put with this writing had gone back to town... Later, two Lusitanian brothers came and reported I read a speech of Pompey at the meeting, saying: Since he could not rush to the rescue of the town, they must retreat towards the sea at night, out of sight of the enemy.One is said to have answered him that they would rather fight to the death than flee under cover of their flags.The man who said this was immediately killed.Just then some of Pompey's messengers were caught on their way to the town.Caesar threw their letters into the city, and ordered these beggars to burn one of the town's wooden towers, saying: If this is done, he will give them everything.It was hard work for anyone to burn down such a wooden tower without risking their lives, and the townspeople killed any one of them who came near it with a rope around his leg.On the same night a fugitive reported that both Pompey the younger and Labienus were very angry at the massacre of the townspeople. 19.On the second watch, a wooden tower belonging to our army was damaged from the ground floor to the second and third floors due to a large number of spear attacks.At the same time there was a great battle along the walls, and the townspeople, taking advantage of the wind, set our wooden tower on fire, as has been said above.The next day a housewife jumped down from the wall and slipped to our side, saying that she and all her family were going to flee together to Caesar, but all her family were caught and killed.It was at this time that a letter was dropped from the city, and it was found that it read: "Lucius Munatius to Caesar: At any rate I am now deserted by Graius Pompey, If you will spare my life, I promise to serve you with the same courage and steadfastness that I have used on him in the past." At the same time, the envoys of the townspeople, those who had been here before, He came again to Caesar and said, If their lives were spared, they would give up the town the next day.He answered them: He is Caesar, and he means what he says. ’ So on the nineteenth of February he took possession of the town, which was hailed as Imperato. 20.When Pompey learned from the fleeing population that the town had been given up, he moved his camp to Ucubi, built blockhouses around the place, and began to shut himself in the fortifications.Caesar also moved his camp closer to his camp.At the same moment a heavily armed member of a native regiment, who had fled to our side in the morning, reported that Pompey had summoned the inhabitants of Ucupi, and ordered them to search carefully, and to recognize those who were counting on him to do so. One side wins, who is counting on the other side to win.Just before this time, the aforementioned slave who murdered his master was captured in one of the tunnels of the town just conquered, and was burned alive.At the same time, eight heavily armed centurions fled to Caesar from the native legions.There was an encounter between the cavalry of our army and the cavalry of the enemy, and some light soldiers of our army were wounded and died.That night, several reconnaissance hostages were captured by our army, three of them were slaves, and one was a soldier of the local regiment. The slave was crucified and the soldier beheaded.