Battle of the Muthal River. Short Story
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About this ebook
A short story of historical fiction covering the very real Battle of the Muthal River, fought in the year 109 BC between the Roman Army and the army of the self proclaimed King of Numidia, Jugurtha. The Roman army was commanded by Quintus Caecilius Metellus, with Legate Gaius Marius as his second-in-command. The description of the battle is as seen through the eyes of a young Roman Infantryman, Tiberius Memmius Cato.
Jack ET Green
I'm an accidental author, by that I mean it was not my intention to become a writer. Having retired after an active career, I found I had time to spare. Taking up playing a computerised, turn based strategy game based on Rome, I was suprised to find that part way through my first campaign, my Roman armies underwent a dramatic change with the arrival of a man called Gaius Marius.On doing some research I discovered that this was Non-fiction and that the changes he instituted, helped the Roman Republic's army become a force that eventually conquered most of their known world. As an ex soldier, this inspired me to further research and eventually to write. I chose to write historical fiction because the facts are well documented in history but pretty dull reading for those like myself, who cannot read Latin.Keeping my stories within the known dates and including fictional accounts of Non-Fictional battles and events, I tried to create books that would have enough facts to inspire people to do their own research. while basing the stories on a single character, without resorting to a 'Slice and Dice' Genre.
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Battle of the Muthal River. Short Story - Jack ET Green
Battle of the Muthal River
Jack ET Green
Copyright © 2020 Jack ET Green
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Authors note.
Chapter 1
The attack was anticipated, it was the strength and speed of the enemy which took them by surprise. Tiberius was in the right-hand file of his Century as the army advanced along the plain, it was past mid-morning and hot, hot even for men in their second year of the Numidian campaign. The first warning of danger came like a roll of distant thunder, then the Numidian light cavalry poured down from the line of hills like water from a bursting dam.
The Velites, the army’s skirmishing troops were deployed in the open ground between the army and the hills and were swept aside as though they didn't exist, most only had time to throw one of their clutches of light javelins before being ridden down or impaled by a Numidian Javelin or arrow. The more experienced Velites ran for the safety of their parent Century as soon as the strength and speed of the enemy became apparent.
Centurion Cassius Gallus, seeing chaos ensuing further up the column, quickly gave his orders, Century halt, face right and stand ready to form a Maniple square
. Tiberius halted and turned to his right, shield up and heavy Javelin at the ready. The Century had practiced this manoeuvre countless times and carried out the necessary actions as soon as the Centurion gave the order, the rear rank turned to the left and moved forward to form a right angle with the front two ranks, while the third rank turned right and did the same at the other end.
Simultaneously the second Century of their Maniple which had been marching to their left, halted, turned to their left and carried out a similar manoeuvre. They now had a square with two ranks of fifteen men facing outwards on every side of it, Mules and the Centurions carts were in the centre.
The army on the march had kicked up clouds of dust which now hung in the still air, obscuring much of the battle going on around them. From what they could see, it was apparent that the Numidian tactics were hit and run. Their light cavalry skirmishers would charge a formation and from a safe distance, loose a barrage of missiles, if any formation was disrupted then the Heavy cavalry would thunder in for the kill.
Tiberius knew it would be only a matter of time before it was their turn, Centurion Cassius Gallus realised this as well, He mustered the Velites who had made it back to their ranks in the initial attack, ten of the twenty men assigned to the Century survived unscathed, these were deployed with three each at the front and rear and two covering each side.
The Velites of their second Century had been seconded to the advance party and had departed early that morning. Tiberius had watched as their own Velites had retreated during the attack, running for their lives with the Numidian Cavalry at their heels; only one of the two which shared his tent had survived.
Men from