Legio XVII: Battle of Zama (8 page)

He then looked at the owner of The Helmsmen.  “I’ve heard several reports that you are cheating the Legionaries and charging them exorbitant interest rates on loans.  If I hear any more such stories, I will have you flogged and sent back to Panormus.”

The men walked out cursing and threatening retaliation if Manius ever showed up in their taverns.  Manius ignored it, but Cassius did not.  As a body guard, Cassius was always fully equipped for battle: helmet, gladius, pugio, shield and pilum.  Cassius signaled Modius and said, “Modius, grab your equipment and follow me.”

They followed the tavern owners outside.  Cassius grabbed the one making the threats by the shoulder and spun him around.  His fist sunk deeply into his soft puffy face; the man fell backwards hitting the ground hard.  “Now your face looks like the faces of our Legionaries in the hospital.  Don’t ever threaten my Praetor again!”  He drew his gladius out of its scabbard and snapped it expertly down within inches of the man’s throat.  “Do I make myself clear?”

The other two men instinctively drew their daggers from their belts and stood facing Cassius menacingly.  Modius assumed an attack position facing the other two men: shield up, gladius protruding alongside the shield with just his helmet and eyes visible above the shield.  The two men had never before faced a Legionary in an attack position and instantly stepped back still holding their daggers.  “So you want to fight,” yelled Cassius as he raised his shield, crouched behind it, and advanced on the two men.  They immediately turned and fled leaving their friend lying on the ground.  “Who are you?” demanded Cassius.

“I own The Helmsmen,” he said while holding his swelling cheek.

“You’re the one who threatened the Praetor!  Get out of here, and you better hope we don’t meet again.”

“Yes sir,” muttered the frightened man.

As he walked away, Cassius returned to Manius’ office.  “Sir, I think they’ll comply with your demands.”  Manius smiled.

*******

That evening Manius remembered the poem Flavia had given him the night he left Rome.  He rummaged through his bags and found it. As he read it, his eyes filled with tears.  It was sweet and innocent, and his lovely daughter had written it for him.

“To a Great Man and a Wonderful Father

The one I rarely saw and never knew stood knocking at my door.

Who are you strange man; mean you life or death, a beginning or an end?

Life and more, declared the stranger; I bring glad tidings;

My heart has opened to the infant now grown tall and beautiful

No longer a child; not quite a woman

I will love you and guide you, he said.

I opened the door, just a crack at first, to see if ‘more’ meant ‘more;’

To my surprise, it wasn’t the Proconsul, Praetor or Legion Legate,

But Manius, my father, who wanted access to my heart and my life

Enter, said I, and tell me who you are.

My list of people I truly love has grown by one during autumn’s waning sun,

Grandmother, Rivkah, Lucia, Titus, Decima, and you now fill my life and warm my heart

I now know you and thank the gods”

Manius put away the poem.  He felt lifted and sad.  He reached for his papers and a pen.  He quickly wrote letters to Lucia, Flavia, and Titus and then extinguished the oil lamp.  It was late.

Early the next morning, Centurion Sentius, his new Facilities Manager, knocked on Manius’ office door. “Sir, I’ve assembled all the people who worked for Durius.  They’re waiting in the warehouse.  I’ll warn you they’re aware he’s been fired and are more than a little apprehensive as to their own future.”

“Sentius, do you know where these men are living?  Where do they sleep?”

“Sir, the best I can determine is that they work here all day and sleep in the warehouses, the Legion camps, or basically anywhere they can find a space.”

“That’s what I was afraid of,” sighed Manius.  This is now a military camp and access will be limited to those who work here.  At night, I want them out of the camp unless their duties require them to be here.  Modius, go get Sempronius for me.”

Sempronius walked in 10 minutes later expecting to be asked about the taverns.  Manius said, “Tribune, this camp is wide open and poses a security risk.  I want you to construct a manned entrance for anyone entering and leaving the camp.  Prepare a letter authorizing those who work here to enter the camp.  Place their names and a seal on it to prevent counterfeits.  Once you issue the letters, if an individual without a letter wants access, you will have to approve it and provide an escort as long as that individual is on the camp grounds.  Workers will no longer be allowed to remain in the camp at the end of the work day.  Conduct periodic sweeps of the warehouses and Legion camps to ensure everyone leaves.  You have one week to do this, and now I want you to go with me when I speak to the camp workers.  When I conclude my remarks, I want you to explain this new policy to them.”

Manius walked over to the warehouse.  Inside stood about 300 men.  Uncertainty hung in the air.  Manius introduced himself and said that shortly the Consul and his staff would arrive to begin preparations for an expected invasion of Africa.  He explained that the camp was under new management and the old ways have changed.  He talked about the new requirements that he envisioned once the Consul was settled in and preparations got underway for the invasion.  He concluded his remarks by stating that no one would be fired without provocation.  He then introduced Sempronius and walked out.

Walking back to his office, Manius worked to convince himself of a few things. 
As the Senior Officer on this side of the island, it’s my responsibility to bring this motley camp up to Roman standards.  What I’m doing is right even if it does exceed my authority.  It’s my obligation, my duty.

Later that day, Centurion Sentius informed Manius that the 3,000 volunteer civilians from the countryside were entering the camp.  “I’ve positioned some of my men, the same ones you spoke to this morning, to take them to the in-processing station to draw their equipment and then to take them to the Legion camp.  Once they’re fed and bedded down, the next step is to use them to clean up the camps and build the training sites. I’ve already told Sertorius that he will get his workers tomorrow.”

“Does he have a plan on what he wants done and how to get the materials to do it?” asked Manius.

“Yes sir, we talk every evening about how best to use these men.  I think you’ll begin to see results in a few days.”

“Thank you Centurion, keep up the good work.”

Three days later, on October 14th, Legio V marched into camp led by Legate Quinterius.  Manius sat on his horse and watched them arrive.  He observed their appearance and conditioning.  Quinterius ordered a break in place while he spoke to Manius.  “Sir,” said the Legate, “Centurion Sentius has already shown me the site where the Legion will prepare a Legion camp from scratch.  He mentioned the two existing camps are substandard and not worthy of Legionaries.  My engineers have gone ahead and should already have it laid out.”

“Well done,” said Manius.  “Proceed; I’ll come by later to see how they’re doing.”

The standard Roman camp with ditch, ramparts, and palisades took anywhere between two to four hours to build.  Manius was keen to see how long it would take Legio V.  Two hours later, Manius rode up to the camp.  It was a beehive of activity with dozens of things going on at the same time.  Legate Quinterius rode over to him and said, “I guess another two hours and we’ll start erecting the tents.  The boys have been working hard.”

“I can see that, Legate; please congratulate your men on a job well done.  They’ve met the standard.”

The following day, the process was repeated with Legio VI.  They too met the standard, much to Legate Antimus’ satisfaction and relief.  Manius was pleased, and also relieved that the men hadn’t forgotten that the fundamental task of a deployed legion is to prepare a defensive encampment for the night.

On the way to the training site, Manius instructed the two Legates to allow the men three days to rest and clean up before they begin training.  When they arrived, they were met by Centurion Sertorius.  He saluted Manius and the two Legates and said, “The training site will be open for business in two more days.  It was in a sorry state of disrepair, but the local volunteers have worked miracles, and it is nearly complete.  The two Legion camps are also almost ready for troop occupancy.”  Manius congratulated Sertorius and asked him to stop by his office later that day.  He then asked the two Legates to see him tomorrow at 10:00 A.M.

When Manius returned to his office, he pulled out his list of 10 tasks to review the status of each task.

1. Get a letter from the Chief authorizing me to train all Army units and civilian volunteers, which explicitly includes the complete cooperation and support of the unit Commanders

2. Review the roster of Cannae survivors to identify those over 40 years old

3. Once in Sicily, meet the leadership of Legiones V and VI: Legates to Centurions

4. Identify existing training facilities

5. Review ongoing military training, physical fitness activities, and establish standards of competency for each Legionary

6. Request a 10 mile march with full field pack followed by preparation of a standard Legion camp with ditch, rampart, and palisades to assess the validity of ongoing military and physical training.  Include field maneuvers during the march

7. Identify a training cadre from among the two Legions

8. Devise an individual and unit level training schedule, if warranted

9. Modify, repair, and build new training sites

10. Construct an 11 station Training Center.

He checked off items 1 through 4 and noted that items 6 and 9 were partially completed.

Sertorius was shown in by Cassius.  “Sir you wanted to see me?”

“Yes.  Good job on the training site.  You’ve exceeded my expectations, and I’ll mention it to Consul’s staff.  I haven’t looked at the two Legion camps yet, but will this afternoon.  I have one more task for you.  I would like you to build an 11 station Training and Testing Center that will emphasize specific Legionary tasks. I’ll give you a list of the 11 stations shortly.  Use some of the volunteers to build it.  My idea is that once the Legionaries process through your site relearning the basics, they will proceed to the Training and Testing Center by individual Maniples.  Each Maniple will spend a week mastering the various skills. Upon successful completion by all members of the Maniple, they will be considered fully trained.  I envision six training weeks for each Legion to be considered battle ready.”

“Build the Training Center about 200 yards from the rest of the complex.  Here’s a list of the 11 training tasks,” said Manius.

-Sword attacks against a stationary target to build arm strength and endurance

-One-on-one shield boxing to develop dexterity and confidence with the shield

-Throwing the pilum at various distances to develop accuracy and strength

-Repel cavalry attack

-Running an obstacle course while throwing the pilum and striking targets with the sword

-Timed 20 mile marches in full battle gear

-Rotating personnel among the files of the Hastati

-Maniple-on-Maniple mock battles with wooden swords

-Legion battle formation with horn signals

-Defend against a spear and arrow attack while stationary

-Individual testing and assessment of each soldier’s strengths and weaknesses

Manius added, “Make it look organized and professional with signs and roads to the various sites.  Have water points and medical personnel standing by.  As we proceed, I will give you specific guidance on each station.  I want a six hour training day.  That will allow enough time for the men to march to and from the sites, and leave time for them to prepare their evening meal and clean up.  Once the training is actually underway, I would like for you to see me daily with updates.”

“When I see the two Legates today, I’ll ask them for 20 men each to serve as your training cadre. Allocate them among the 11 sites to assist the troops to train properly; that means you need to check to make sure that they know proper techniques.  Thank you Centurion.  You may return to your duties. I’m going now to inspect the two Legion camps.”