Legio XVII: Battle of Zama (7 page)

“That sounds about right,” agreed Quinterius.  Praetor, are you also aware that Consul Scipio has sent numerous recruiters to our island, who are shaking the trees from one end to the other looking for volunteers to join his Army?  I’ve heard that so far about 3,000 have signed up, and many more are coming.  You will have to factor that into your training plan.  The first batch of new recruits is due to arrive in two days.”

This new information was not totally unexpected.  “You know the Senate did not authorize Consul Scipio any additional Legions, funding, or ships for an invasion of North Africa.  The Consul has to find those resources on his own.  I assume that these growing stock piles of supplies show how successful he’s been.  I notice a number of new warehouses and stables being built.”

“Yes,” injected Antimus, “they will hold the equipment to outfit the new volunteers and any additional Legions that the Consul can scrounge up.”

Quinterius suggested they now tour the existing training facilities.  Cassius, who was present during the discussion with the Legates, sent the young Legionary, Modius, to fetch Manius’ horse.

The site was in worse shape than Manius expected.  A lot of repairs would be required before they could be used.  They then rode to inspect the two Legionary encampments that had been there for years and had been home to numerous Legions.  The two camps were about a mile away from the cantonment area that would serve as Scipio’s Headquarters, and were separated by about 500 yards from each other.  The camps were in even worse condition.

“Legate Antimus,” said Manius, “your Legion is the closer of the two to this area.  As you screen the men, please identify two senior Centurions who are at or near retirement age.  I need one to manage the new training site and the two Legionary camps, and the other to manage all the other facilities.  Look for older aggressive Centurions who can get things done.  The Manager responsible for these sites is obviously not up to the job, and, I suspect, the other facilities are in similar shape.”

The Legates rode off to visit their garrisons, screen the men, and send the rest back to Manius for testing and training.

Manius returned to his quarters and called for the two clerks.  He had to determine what he would do when 10,000 Legionaries walked into camp.  Over the next three hours he developed a detailed plan.  The two Greeks were extremely helpful and offered numerous suggestions.  “One more item,” said Manius, “I want you both to keep a written record of what we’ve found here and any improvements we make.  I want to send a weekly report to the Consul’s Chief of Staff and Tribune Velius to keep them informed.  Not too much minutia, just the major items.  Prepare the reports for my signature.”

He sent Pittacus to find the current civilian Camp Manager who arrived about two hours later.  It was obvious from the moment he walked into Manius’ office that he had a chip on his shoulder and was in no mood to cooperate.  His body language signaled disrespect and irritation.

“Praetor, I am Durius, the Manager of the military portion of this entire port city minus the docks.  I’m a very busy man, so please state your business so I can go on about mine.”

“I am Praetor Tullus on special assignment for Consul Scipio and invested with all the necessary authority to prepare this area for the arrival of the Consul and his staff.”  Manius knew that last part was a bit of a stretch.  “Citizen Durius, you are hereby relieved of your assignment.  Centurion Cassius will escort you to the boundary of the camp.  If I see you again, I will have you put in chains and shipped back to Rome on the next boat.  Is that clear?”

Durius’ attitude changed in an instant.  “Yes sir, it is clear, but why?”

“Today, I and two Legates inspected the training site and the two Legion camps.  The training site is in total disrepair, and the two empty camps are unfit for dogs much less Legionaries.  They are filthy, smell of human excrement, and are full of garbage.  You have failed to perform your duties in a satisfactory manner.  In addition, I don’t like your surly attitude.  Centurion, take him away!”  When he left the room, Manius said, “Pittacus, you can scratch that item off of the ‘to do’ list.”

Two days later, Centurions Sertorius and Sentius rode into camp and asked to see the Praetor.  Cassius showed them in.  Sertorius spoke first, “Sir, I am Centurion Sertorius from Legio VI.”  Sentius added, “And I am Centurion Sentius, also from Legio VI.  Legate Antimus said you need Camp Managers, and, with your approval, we’d be happy to take the jobs.”  Manius welcomed them, reviewed their service records with them, talked about Cannae, and hired them on the spot.

“Centurion Sertorius, you have five days to bring the training site and the two Legionary camps up to standards.  Centurion Sentius, I would like you to manage all the other military facilities within our jurisdiction.  Tomorrow, about 3,000 new recruits will be arriving from the countryside.  I want them placed in one of the old Legion camps.  They will be your work force.  Have them repair the training site and clean up the camps.  Act like this job is permanent, and you have my authorization to order things done.”

Manius continued, “When the Consul’s staff arrives about November 5th, I will ensure your new jobs are a permanent assignment, if you wish.  Sentius, I want you to arrange a meeting for me to address all the people who worked for Durius.  I’d like to do that tomorrow at 9:00 A.M.  One last item, I notice that the camp is overrun with prostitutes and merchants.  I have nothing against them, but I want them confined to the town of Lilybaeum.  This area by the ports and warehouses is now off-limits.  Be nice about it, but make it clear that they are to remain outside the military area.  If fences haven’t been put up, use some of the 3,000 to do it.  I suspect there’s been a lot of pilfering going on.”

Both Centurions nodded vigorously.  “Good, it’s done.  Go to work; see me if you have any problems, and, above all, keep me informed. You have my full support.”  Manius left his office with his two body guards and clerks in tow to visit the hospital, which was under construction.  He heard it was fairly large and contained numerous beds, mostly empty.  When they arrived, he asked one of the orderlies to take him to the Chief Medical Office.  He was led down a long corridor flanked by beds.  The closer he got to the Chief’s office, he noticed more beds had patients.  The orderly announced the Praetor, and Manius walked in.  The doctor was a Greek named Epeius from the town of Syracuse.  He stood up and greeted Manius politely.  He explained how he had been captured by the Romans after the town fell in 212, and how he now worked for his captors.  He said it without rancor and added, “The Romans pay better than the Greeks.”

Manius stated, “I’d like to talk to some of your patients to assess their future potential to rejoin their Legion and eventually fight.”

The doctor said, “Follow me.  These men have a wide variety of ailments from coughs, to fevers, to diarrhea, and skin problems, but that’s only the half of it.”

As they walked down the corridor, Manius spotted several men, maybe a dozen or more, with bruised and battered faces.  He stopped walking and asked, “What happened to these men?”

“Fights,” the doctor said.  “I’ve got more of them than anything else at the moment.”

Manius approached the nearest man, “Tell me, Legionary, what happened to your face?”

The man spoke through a broken tooth, swollen lips, and puffy eyes, “Sir, I was having a few drinks with my pals when these sailors approached us and began swinging clubs.  We didn’t stand a chance.”

“What was the name of the caupona (low class inn)?” asked Manius.

“Sir, it was a lupanaria (brothel) called Flying Eagle.  We go there all the time and never had a problem.”

The next man told a similar story.  “About five of us were at the Anchor House, a respectable caupona, when a bunch of drunken Legionaries walked in and started a fight.  We gave as good as we got, but I got the worst of it.  If this would have happened at The Helmsmen, I could have understood it.  That place is the lowest of the low.  We rarely go there.  They cheat us soldiers all the time.”

Manius asked the doctor, “Does this happen frequently?”

“Every day,” responded the doctor.  “More men suffer from fights than real illness.  If this keeps up, there won’t be enough soldiers left to fight the Carthaginians.”

Manius asked him, “With so many empty beds, why are you adding on to the size of the building?”

The doctor responded, “It wasn’t my decision, but I’ve been told that if, or should I say, when Consul Scipio invades Africa and engages the Carthaginians, these beds will fill up fast enough.”

Manius left the hospital and walked over to the Guard House.  He told the clerk sitting by the door, “Tell the Provost Marshal that Praetor Tullus would like a word with him.”  A portly Tribune soon appeared and invited Manius into his office.  “Sir, I am Sempronius, the Provost Marshal of Lilybaeum.  How may I help you?”

“I am Praetor Tullus and have been assigned by Consul Scipio to prepare this area to train his troops.  I have a letter of authorization signed by Scipio directing the complete cooperation of all forces stationed in western Sicily.  I just visited the hospital and have discovered a major impediment to proper troop training and discipline.  I want to give you a chance to correct the problem before I take corrective action and report it to the Consul.”

Sempronius was no fool and was suspicious. “Sir I mean no disrespect, but may I see the letter?”  Pittacus smiled as he reached into his folder for the letter.  He and Acamus had written language into the letter to deal with just about every possible contingency.  He handed the letter to Sempronius who studied it, handed it back to Pittacus and said, “No disrespect sir, but one can’t be too careful.  You are indeed authorized by Scipio to take all necessary steps to ensure a proper environment to train his troops.  What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to ride with me to Lilybaeum and show me all the taverns the troops frequent.  The hospital is full of soldiers who should be with their Legions, but are too bruised and battered.  Everyone that I talked to said the fights occurred at the taverns. I’m planning to place them off-limits until further notice.  I expect you to place notices on the doors and guards at the entrances to turn away the Legionaries.”

“Sir, you know that’s going to cause quite a stink among the owners!  You can expect them to be knocking on your door the next morning.”

The town was only a mile outside the limits of the camp proper.  Lilybaeum was a jumble of taverns, brothels, therompolium (food merchants), craftsmen, day laborers, con men, and thugs.  As they rode among the twisting streets, they were greeted by prostitutes trying to lure them inside, food vendors hawking their goods, and con men trying to sell them everything from good luck charms to herbal medicine.  Cassius and Modius readied themselves for a possible fight.  “Is there any tavern you specifically want to see?” asked Sempronius.

“Yes,” replied Manius.  “Show me the Flying Eagle, The Helmsmen, and the Anchor House.”  At each place, Manius dismounted and walked inside to look around.  The owners stared in disbelief.  They had never before seen a Praetor visit their establishments before.

As they rode the short distance back to camp, Manius told Sempronius, “I want the signs up today, and the guards posted tonight.”

“Yes sir, it will be done,” said Sempronius.  “I might add that I’ve received many complaints about The Helmsmen from my men.  They tell me that the owner waters down their drinks, doesn’t pay off gambling debts, and charges high interest rates when he extends credit.  I found out that he’s of Carthaginian descent from Panormus (modern Palermo).  He says his people have lived here in Sicily for hundreds of years.  He’s not particularly fond of Romans, and is always surrounded by five or six unsavory looking body guards.”

Later that day, Sempronius marched 16 Legionaries and one Centurion to the taverns.  He nailed the signs to the doors, and posted eight fully armed men at the entrance to each of the three taverns.  Seventeen fresh men replaced them every three hours.

When the off-duty Legionaries approached the taverns that first night, they were told they are off limits by order of Praetor Tullus.  Even the local civilians took their business elsewhere.  The taverns were empty and business plummeted.

The next morning, three angry tavern owners arrived at Manius’ office, and demanded to see the Praetor.  Cassius asked Manius how he wanted to handle this.  “First, go get the Provost, and when he arrives, show the owners in,” said Manius.

The tavern owners were irate.  They demanded the guards be removed or they would write the Senate in Rome and tell Scipio when he arrived.  “Gentlemen, Consul Scipio has authorized me to take all necessary steps to preserve the fighting men of his Legions.  Your establishments are reducing his end strength through the numerous and damaging brawls taking place at your taverns on a daily basis.  Too many highly skilled Legionaries are now combat ineffective because of those fights.  I will give you 10 days to hire men to stop the fights before they start.  At the end of the 10 days, I will remove the guards and you can reopen for business.  If any Legionaries are injured in your establishments after that, I will have your taverns torn down brick by brick.  Is that clear!”