The
fiercest struggle was maintained by the 3rd and 7th legions, and Antonius in
person with some chosen auxiliaries concentrated his efforts on the same
point. The Vitellianists, unable to resist the combined and resolute attack,
and finding that their missiles glided off the "testudo," at last threw the
engine itself on the assailants; for a moment it broke and overwhelmed those
on whom it fell, but it drew after it in its fall the battlements and upper
part of the rampart. At the same time an adjoining tower yielded to the
volleys of stones, and, while the 7th legion in wedge-like array was
endeavouring to force an entrance, the 3rd broke down the gate with axes and
swords. All authors are agreed that Caius Volusius, a soldier of the 3rd
legion, entered first. Beating down all who opposed him, he mounted the
rampart, waved his hand, and shouted aloud that the camp was taken. The rest
of the legion burst in, while the troops of Vitellius were seized with
panic, and threw themselves from the rampart. The entire space between the
camp and the walls of
Cremona was filled with
slain.
