First Blood
Book 1 – Chapter 1
483 Arb Urbe Condita (271BCE)

Dearest Father Caivs Rvfinvs,

Much has happened these last two years. Though we have been in constant correspondence, I feel the need to refresh your memory.

After we were taken to the North and were pretty immediately billeted upon the people of Etruria. The Gallic threat that was supposed to be there never precipitated, however we were still able to complete the final necessities of our training.

Our army at this point did not include any of those villainous foreigners, and a disproportionately small amount of the petty lower classes. Though Father, I must say this is a good thing. I believe it is because these people believe that the families of the wealthy are indeed far superior to all those below us. It is a positive way to go back to the way of fighting of old where the army was exclusively from the propertied classes.

You will not believe it father, but when we were up North, one of the poorer Plebians actually approached me and asked if I were going to finish the meal I was eating. I was not, but I was never going to give this man what I had rightfully earned. I rebuked him and he walked off rightfully dejected.

Anyway father, soon in this previous year 482 AUC, we were met by our general-to-be. His name is Cnaevs Cornelivs Blasio.



A man from an honourable and old family, the Gens Cornelia he is rightfully respectful of the wealth of us Triarii, but he associates a little too much with the Hastati for my liking. He seems to claim that the basic man is the one who will win any battles and father; I must say that I completely disagree with him. There is only so much these poor folks can do.



The Roman Republic is why we are fighting, father. I would gladly give my life for it, though obviously I would rather live and see it grow and prosper, telling my Grandchildren of my exploits on the field, and all the men I killed in the name of Liberty.

Our army was ordered to break camp and leave to march against the Epirotes in the south. We had been fighting the war down there for 8 whole years at this point and our leaders, we hear, were tiring of it. That is why they sent for us, the Second Legion.

We learnt that a small force from the Epirotes had come north at the start of the previous year and were probing our defences in Samnium. I of course did not care about the locals, they are nothing compared to good Roman Citizens, they were still deemed important by High Command.

So we advanced and caught them as they were besieging the town. We scared them off and they marched in the direction of the docks of Capua.



We attacked immediately.





We were deployed in the rear of the line, as is the standard approach of our armed forces. Nothing of any real note occurred here, so of the poorest people flung stones in a futile attempt to do anything to the heavily-armed phalanx. Eventually, the Phalangites grew tired of this and advanced, eventually charging the Principes, who held them long enough for the Hastati to lap around and take the Phalanx from the rear.



We encamped for the rest of the season, it now being summer. As the summer passed into Autumn, rumours of a minor uprising amongst the Samnites came to our ears. The word was that the few remaining agents of Pyrros had convinced enough rural towns to rise up against us. Though they posed no credible threat, they were still somewhat irritating.



So we marched off to our south at the very beginning of Autumn and approached the foothills they were protecting. We formed into battle order and were disappointed to see that this so-called threat was no more than a few farmers with aging weapons and rusted armour.

Nothing worth noting happened here. The very poorest men threw whatever javelins they could muster.



The Hastati followed up with a charge and the Principes moved and took them from the flank. We Triarii were left in reserve, ensuring that the Samnites did not desert and join the other army. Fortunately, their services were not needed, though they did not throw their Pila when they were instructed to. You know father, I have always had a healthy distrust of those men. They are filthy foreigners and not worthy of my trust. They have yet to gain it.



After picking off these farmers, a gap was open which was far too good to not exploit. Cornelivs Blasio led us through a small gap in the mountains. There was still enough of autumn left for us to make it to Taras and to lay siege. The small force that the Epirotes had sent to examine our borders was instantly withdrawn and put itself into the city.

We reached the city at the very start of winter, and quickly set about sending out foraging parties and building several rams so that we could begin the assaults at the very beginning of Spring. In addition, Cornelivs Blasio had organised with a number of pirates for them to raid the ports that Taras relied on for supplies.



There was no need to wait.

They came to us.



Your faithful son,
Pvblivs Rvfinvs