Legio XVII: Battle of Zama (32 page)

The road had narrowed down to 50 to 75 feet in width and was met by a fairly steep hill covered with rocky outcrops and numerous trees.  An army could easily hide itself in those trees and rocks.  The Suevi were interested in the area where they would hide until they rushed down to block the mercenaries from retreating back up the lake.  They studied the ground in detail and left a few inconspicuous markers.  When they completed their reconnaissance, Servilius suggested the Suevi return to their blocking position atop the cliffs while he returned to the Mincio.  They agreed and the parties split up. Servilius spent the night of June 16 at Salo and reached the fort on June 17th.  He went to Manius’ tent and informed his aide that he was back and would brief the ambush site details to Manius and the staff that evening.

Servilius worked on refining his plan for an ambush, and by the evening’s staff meeting he was ready.  After the usual daily reports were given, Manius looked at Servilius and asked him if he was prepared to talk about the possible ambush site.

“Yes sir, I am.”  He stood up and faced the staff.  “Sir, Odo, the Legate in command of the Suevi Legion, extends his greetings to you and the Legionaries.  His Legion is now encamped on a plateau alongside the cliffs that border the lake, and he has accepted the mission to prepare a blocking position.  Our engineers are assisting his men to build the Legion’s defenses.  We did run into a problem.  A series of test holes revealed the soil on the plateau is only two to three feet deep making it impossible to dig a ditch or erect a vertical wall.  Instead, the Suevi will lay a series of horizontal logs to a height of five feet across the 1,600 foot gap.  The 1,800 foot grassy slope that approaches their position will be seeded with numerous foot traps to slow down the attackers.  Volleys of arrows and pila should hold them for a while, but if the attackers have superior numbers, they will breach the wall.”

“I rode south with several of Odo’s commanders and staff,” continued Servilius, “and showed them my proposed ambush site near Maclino.  I suggested that if the Suevi Legion withdraws from the plateau, they should follow the river road south, and take up a hidden position at the north end of the ambush site to block the mercenaries from retreating back up the lake.”

“If it becomes necessary to conduct an ambush, I recommend that a force of 10,000 men position themselves among the rocks and trees where the road narrows.  Given enough time, they could prepare logs and boulders to roll down the hill upon the mercenaries before rushing down the hill to attack them.  To prevent the mercenaries from continuing south to escape the ambush, I recommend that the cavalry position themselves by Bornicio which is one mile south of the ambush site.  Upon initiation of the ambush, the cavalry would ride to block any escape.  The ambush site is far enough away from our position here and the enemy camps across the river, that the sound of battle will not cross the lake.  The mercenaries should have no idea that their men have been ambushed and destroyed.”

“If the mercenaries post lookouts atop the mountains to our northeast on the other side of the Mincio, they would be able to see the Legions leaving this camp and for a few miles beyond that.  Eventually, they would not be able to see them.  I recommend that the Legions that will conduct the ambush depart at night, which means they must familiarize themselves with the route and set up markers to maintain their direction.  Earlier, I mentioned to you that I think it would be a good idea to post a Roman signaling team atop the mountain to alert us to enemy activity.  Tomorrow, with your approval, I’ll position the men and ensure they are properly trained in signaling techniques.  Sir, that concludes my briefing.”

“Good briefing, Servilius.  Tomorrow, I would like you to take me, Calvus, Lugano, Canutus, as well as their planners to the ambush site so they can study it and determine how best to position their troops.  Should we need to conduct an ambush, the defenses here will be minus Legio XVII and one Raeti Legion, which means we will have 20,500 men to defend this position.  Unfortunately, we have no choice in this matter.  If the enemy sends men around the lake, we will have one opportunity to destroy them.  If we don’t plan for it now and do the necessary preparation, it will be too late.”

Manius leaned back thoughtfully on his camp stool and eventually said, “Let’s speculate for a moment.  If I were the enemy Commander and sent 10,000 to 15,000 men around the lake to attack the rear of this position, I would instruct them to conduct a night attack against our west wall to add to the confusion.  If I were their Commander, I would wait until I heard the sounds of battle against the west wall before launching my attack against the river wall.  I would allow sufficient time for the leaders in the fort to shift their forces to the west wall, and then I would attack.”

“Let’s conduct a ruse by allowing the Commander to hear what he expects to hear.  If we successfully ambush and destroy any forces coming around the lake, our Legions must return here immediately.  Calvus and Lugano, your men must then make it sound like they are attacking the west wall.  The two Legions would then need to assume their place on the river wall as soon as possible to defend against the real attack coming from the east.”  Manius’ idea was accepted without comment.

“Let’s take a 15 minute break and reassemble with just the Legates and my staff.  We need to think our way through the next couple of weeks.”

When the Commanders reassembled, Manius said, “Servilius, the more I think about it, the more I see the value of the signalers.  Deploy the signalers and tell me how it works. They can alert us to the arrival of the mercenary army coming from Trento and any attempt to go around the lake.  Andreas, once the mercenary army comes down from Trento, I want you to ride around the west side of the lake and make your way to Innsbruck.  Find out Queen Bethica’s future plans and encourage her to send her army down here.  I think we may need them.”

“Legates, let’s think about what we’re facing.  Our best guess is that upwards of 50,000 mercenaries are converging on our position.  The sight of the river wall should be a complete surprise.”

“I think they will be profoundly perplexed,” interjected Caile.  “They probably know from the Carthaginian recruiters that seven Legions are in central Italy preparing to block Mago from moving south.  They know we have multiple Legions containing Hannibal and almost as many fighting in Spain.  On top of that, it’s probably known that Scipio is in Sicily assembling an army to invade Africa.  They should be asking themselves, who are these people?  I would guess that they will assume we are at most a two Legion force.  I think we can use that assumption to our advantage.”

“What are you thinking?” asked Manius.

“If they believe that we are a small force, let’s show them a small force when they first see the wall.  I would have about 1,500 men on the river wall, that’s one every five feet, sprinkle a few archers in the towers, and put a few men on the walls of the first island.  I would hide the scorpio and bulk of our forces.”

“Until they put observers up on the mountain, which they may never do,” added Vitulus, “all they will see when they approach this position is the river wall and the wall around the islands.  The depth and breadth of the ditch is not apparent until you are actually on it.  I’m saying that they will see a typical Roman wall and ditch that is poorly manned and can probably be easily overrun.  I think Legate Caile’s idea to deceive them as to our actual strength is a good one and may cause them to attack the wall without much planning.”

“This is going to be a battle of attrition,” said Calvus, Legio XVII’s Acting Commander.  “Unlike a stand-up engagement between two armies where the outcome is quickly determined, this fight will be finished when one side no longer has the will or manpower to continue.  The more we can kill in our first contact, the quicker this will end.  If deception will lure them into a premature all-out assault, I support it.  My real concern is that we are in a fixed position.  If Mago learns we are here and sends forces, then we will be trapped between two armies.  I recommend that we advise the Legions in Etruria to be prepared to come to our relief.”

“That’s a valid point, Calvus,” agreed Manius wholeheartedly.  “If Mago sends a sizable force to oppose us, the Commanders in Etruria won’t need as many Legions to stop the rest of his army and should be able to spare a Legion or two to help us.  Canutus, I want you to work with Pittacus and Acamus to prepare a letter from me to the Proconsul at Etruria.  Include in it that I will request his assistance if Mago sends 15,000 or more men.  Send riders out tomorrow to find the Proconsul and deliver my letter.”

*******

On June 22nd a cavalry detachment escorting 100 wagons arrived at the camp.  They entered through the gate on the south wall.  They carried grain, extra pila, scorpio arrows, the much anticipated onagri, and many other supply items.  Manius felt a great sense of relief when he saw the wagons.  The scorpio and their arrows were hauled up the towers, the onagri were emplaced, and the precious grain stored in the camps’ granaries.  That evening, Manius publicly thanked Canutus for securing all these items before he left Rome and announced, “Tomorrow we will begin rehearsing our defensive plan.  Place the men on the rampart in their assigned positions; archers and scorpio teams in the towers, reserve Maniples behind the rampart, and island defenders in their positions.  I want the scorpio and archers to fire their weapons to get the various ranges they may be firing.  I also want each onager to fire a few clay pots filled with water.”

“Caile, while I am inspecting the ambush site, you are in charge.  I expect to return in two days.  Continue with the rehearsals.  Every man must know his position on the river and west wall.”

Ambush site
(Google Maps)

On the morning of June 23rd, Manius, Servilius, Calvus, Lugano, Canutus, several planners from the Legions, and a strong cavalry escort of 50 men departed for Maclino.  It was almost dark when they arrived at Bornico.  They moved into several of the abandoned huts and the cavalry prepared dinner.  The next morning, Servilius took them to the site he had selected as the best of several possible ambush sites.  Calvus immediately approved it.  “The road here narrows considerably, which will spread out the mercenaries and prevent them from organizing into their normal battle formation.  Rocks and logs rolled down from the hill would further break them up into pockets and a storm of pila striking them from above would have additional penetrating power.”

“The one thing that bothers me,” said Lugano, “is that we, like them, will be thinly spread out all along the hillside.  The rocks and log attack may compensate, and we
will
have the element of surprise.  I guess it could work,” he conceded.

Servilius added, “If the Suevi manage to pin their rear elements in place and the cavalry can do the same to the advance guard, the center will get no support.  If the two Legions on the hill follow their pila and attack in a rush, the mercenaries should be disorganized and reduced to fighting in small groups.  We will need to figure out how long the enemy column will stretch out so we can plan our position on the hillside.  The Legion closest to the Suevi must be prepared to guide the Suevi Legion into their position when they arrive.  If there is time, representatives of the three Legions and Rasce need to meet here and coordinate on the ground.”

Canutus, the Operations Tribune offered, “I can do that, and there is no better time than right now!  The planners and I will stay here after you leave and nail this thing down.”  He then directed the cavalry escort to send a few men to the Suevi position at the north end of the lake.  “Tell their Commander what we’re doing, and ask him to send a few planners to meet us here tomorrow morning.”

“I think that’s a good idea, Canutus, said Manius.  “Meet with everyone involved and stay here until you’re confident all the pieces will fit.  Servilius, I think you selected the best location.  Canutus, you’re now in charge.  The rest of us are going back to the fort.”

Manius arrived back at camp late on the 24th.  He wanted to hear from Caile about the rehearsals, and despite the hour, he went to see his trusted Legate.