49.
Perceiving that Ariovistus kept himself in camp, Caesar, that he might not any longer be cut off from provisions,
chose a convenient position for a camp beyond that place in which the Germans had encamped, at about 600 paces from them, and
having drawn up his army in three lines, marched to that place. He ordered the
first and second lines to be under arms; the third to fortify the camp. This
place was distant from the enemy about 600 paces, as has been stated.
Thither Ariovistus sent light troops, about 16,000 men in
number, with all his cavalry; which forces were to intimidate our men, and
hinder them in their fortification. Caesar
nevertheless, as he had before arranged, ordered two lines to drive off the
enemy: the third to execute the work. The camp being fortified, he left there
two legions and a portion of the auxiliaries; and led back the other four
legions into the larger camp.
C. Julius Caesar. Caesar's Gallic War. Translator. W. A. McDevitte. Translator. W. S. Bohn. 1st Edition. New York. Harper & Brothers. 1869. Harper's New Classical Library.
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