3rd Legion - Roma's Bulls

[CountArach]

Chapter 10 - The Last Great Deeds
252 – Spring to 247 – Winter - The Consulship of Lvcivs Caecilivs Metellvs, Nvmerivs Fabivs Bvteo

Dearest Sister,

Though your grief must still be great from our father’s passing away, I never-the-less must continue the catalogue of my experiences that I had sent to father over these last years.

Well as you know we returned to Roma in the spring of 251, and were reinforced. Father passed away in that time during his sleep, as you remember, and I was able to spend his last days with him. I was at his bedside, with you dear sister. Take solace in the fact that he was an old man; grieved by the death of my Mother all those years ago, and that he died peacefully after remarrying and giving birth to you, the ray of sunshine in his life.

I remember learning that Karali ad revolted and declared its independence. Fortunately the fourth Legion was on the island to help keep things under control.

We departed Roma in the autumn of that year, together with the first legion and our new commander, the Proconsul Lvcivs Cornelivs Scipio. We were ready to exact revenge on the Carthaginians, even if it meant our own demise.



After departing, we landed in the winter of 250 off the coast of Mastia, and immediately took up the siege.



However, the garrison of Mastia was so pathetic that it wasn’t even worth having both legions there. Cornelivs Scipio ordered the third legion to depart that fight and to board the ships again. We were off to besiege Gader. The first legion was kept under the control of an able Military Tribune, Tiberivs Sabvcivs Caepio.

We sailed and arrived there in the summer. We immediately took up the siege, and tried to goad the local enemy army into battle.



Yet, it was not to be. They were commanded by an inept captain, their best general and head Sophet (Roughly their equivalent of a consul from what I can tell) being in Gader itself. We continued the siege for almost two more years, until finally Cornelivs Scipio had had enough. He ordered us to assault.



Our plan was similar to that of our other sieges. Except that this time, we were to spearhead the attack. Our spears would act as a strong deterrent to the enemy cavalry. The Hastati were to follow us, and the rest of the army was to do their best to take out the support soldiers. The Triarii were to act as reserves to assist us if things went wrong.

So we pushed our ram up to the gate, and I ordered it swung.



And swung, and swung, until finally it smashed open.



We marched up the main street, the Acensii taking up position in front of us. They let loose their pellets, and attracted the attention of the enemy general’s cavalry. They charged down the street, killing some of the slower Acensii.

Then they collided with us.



It was terrifying. There was a wall to my left, a mass of my men to my right, and enemies arrayed out in front of me. As they collided there was the sound of several bones snapping next to me, as the man had braced too much with his shield. He dropped it and held his left arm. Unfortunately for him, no quarter was given by the enemy.

Eventually the momentum of their charge stopped, yet they just kept pressing forward. They started to push our formation back down the street, slowly by inexorably.



Eventually we were pushed back to the Hastati, and they were forced to engage as well.



I fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the chief Centurion of the Hastati, Svlpicivs Verro. We took down many of the enemy, and slowly made our way along the line, cheering our men onward, pushing back against the Cavalry.



That is, until Verro was struck down. One of the enemies struck his sword, knocking it clean out of his hand, whilst another enemy struck high, taking advantage of his stunned state.

He never stood a chance.



Yet eventually we slowly ground our enemy down and our weight of numbers carried the day. They fled and we started to loot the city. Killing anyone that we saw, no quarter was given, not even to the women and children. I know that you will find this barbaric of me, but sister, try to understand that I was angry; I had seen too many friends die, friends and countrymen, to not be angry.

We slaughtered them all.

Word later arrived that the First legion had succeeded in their siege of Mastia and had captured that as well. There were no more Carthaginian held settlements on Iberia.



Shortly after this fight, word arrived that the Senate had made peace with Carthage! I had done it! I had survived the Punic War!



Now sister, once we are no longer needed to garrison this forsaken land, I shall return home and take up my role as the Paterfamilias. Fear not, I shall be with you soon and shall find you a good husband.

Your loving brother,
Spvrivs Cordivs