The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of JerusalemJosephus, Flavius
Religion
The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem
Josephus, Flavius
Jews -- History
2. But as Vespasian had a great mind to fall upon Galilee, he marched
out of Ptolemais, having put his army into that order wherein the Romans
used to march. He ordered those auxiliaries which were lightly armed,
and the archers, to march first, that they might prevent any sudden
insults from the enemy, and might search out the woods that looked
suspiciously, and were capable of ambuscades. Next to these followed
that part of the Romans which was completely armed, both footmen and
horsemen. Next to these followed ten out of every hundred, carrying
along with them their arms, and what was necessary to measure out a camp
withal; and after them, such as were to make the road even and straight,
and if it were any where rough and hard to be passed over, to plane it,
and to cut down the woods that hindered their march, that the army might
not be in distress, or tired with their march. Behind these he set
such carriages of the army as belonged both to himself and to the other
commanders, with a considerable number of their horsemen for their
security. After these he marched himself, having with him a select body
of footmen, and horsemen, and pikemen. After these came the peculiar
cavalry of his own legion, for there were a hundred and twenty horsemen
that peculiarly belonged to every legion. Next to these came the mules
that carried the engines for sieges, and the other warlike machines
of that nature. After these came the commanders of the cohorts and
tribunes, having about them soldiers chosen out of the rest. Then came
the ensigns encompassing the eagle, which is at the head of every Roman
legion, the king, and the strongest of all birds, which seems to them a
signal of dominion, and an omen that they shall conquer all against whom
they march; these sacred ensigns are followed by the trumpeters. Then
came the main army in their squadrons and battalions, with six men in
depth, which were followed at last by a centurion, who, according to
custom, observed the rest. As for the servants of every legion, they
all followed the footmen, and led the baggage of the soldiers, which
was borne by the mules and other beasts of burden. But behind all the
legions came the whole multitude of the mercenaries; and those that
brought up the rear came last of all for the security of the whole army,
being both footmen, and those in their armor also, with a great number
of horsemen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account