Battle of Taras
Book 1 – Chapter 2
483 Arb Urbe Condita (271BCE)

Dearest Father Caivs Rvfinvs,

So father, the scene was set. Our army was facing off against an enemy who outnumbered us and had two very large phalanxes that were always going to be hard for us to fight.

The began the battle by sallying out. Our men were jus returning from foraging and as such we were somewhat disorganised. We were taken by surprise. The four Tribunes were running around trying to create a semblance of order, but were not having much success. Until Cornelivs Blasio came out.

He started yelling orders left and right, brandishing his sword in the air. He had become like one of the men. All of the soldiers immediately stopped and looked at him. He was sitting there on his great white charger, shouting louder than anyone on the field.

Then people began to listen to what he said. They ran off and found their standards, and quickly formed into line. The second and third lines were still forming when the enemy hit our lines.

The Hastati and the Samnites of the first rank started to through their Pila at the oncoming Hoplitai. These men appeared to be nothing more than a hasty militia who had got too eagre and had broken ranks. They were broken and ran.



Finally our line formed and the skirmishers were thrown forward. They had only thrown a handful of javelins each when suddenly the Epirote cavalry, in a shower of their own javelins, charged into the Skirmishers.



They were forced to retire after taking several casualties and then the cavalry charged into the Samnites who were holding our left flank. Meanwhile, the enemy light skirmishers, the so-called Akontistai, had charged into the Hastati and were heavily engaged. Similarly, some of the enemy Peltastai had made their way into the Principes and were similarly engaged. Father, I hate these Greeks and their horrible foreign names.



A crisis had started to develop on our right flank. The Samnites were engaged against some Hoplitai and were about to be outflanked by one of the large phalanxes that had shed so much good Roman blood in the previous nine years. Blasio called us over to the right flank, while withdrawing his own cavalry that was deployed there. We moved over as ordered, the tension building the whole time, and struggled to get into line in time.



Fortunately the Accensii caused enough of a distraction so that the Phalanx chased after them and not us. As such we were able to get into line and charge the Phalanx. We were able to start to lap around the flank. Father, I was one of the ones on the left, and as such can only tell you of the goings on there.



The men on the Phalanxes right who were opposing us dropped their long spears and drew their daggers, attempting to fend off our short spears. We butchered them like pigs. It was here father, that I killed my first man in the name of the Republic. Nothing could have felt better. The blood was pounding in my ears, drowning out the cries and screams of those around me.

The man in front of me had his dagger drawn and was looking slightly scared. I suppose I must have had a fierce look on my face. Then I stabbed him. I stabbed him father, and I could not be happier. I watched as his insides spilled out over the guy next to him, who started to retch and was stabbed by the guy next to me.



We continued on in this way for quite some time. I don’t know how, but I suppose the Samnites had overcome the Hoplitai, hopefully leaving some large numbers of their fellow Samnites behind them, and then were able to come around and charge the rear of the phalanx. I am sure we did not need the help. Roman courage could overcome anything.



Despite being completely surrounded, the Phalanx continued fighting on. Then, some of the returning Hoplitai had come back to charge the rear of the Samnites. Fortunately, they killed some before the Samnites turned around and began to dispatch of them.



The fighting continued on the flank and we were making deep inroads into the Phalanx. We were stepping over piles of the dead and the dust raised form all of the men stepping in the dirt was beginning to become choking.



Some small number of the enemy cavalry still remained and these charged into the Samnites as well, skewering themselves onto their spears. The dust they raised just made things worse.



Finally, we Romans overcame the Phalanx and they broke and ran. We were too tired to give a good pursuit, but they attempted to run through the Samnites, who in turn speared what remained of them. They are claiming a victory from this, but we know better. The Samnites also overcame what remained of their enemies.

After I took leave from my Centurion and moved around the field, I found myself in awe of the immense destruction. Our fight had not been the only destructive one.





But such is the price of victory.





Your faithful son,
Pvblivs Rvfinvs