83.
The Gauls, having been twice repulsed with great loss, consult what
they should do; they avail themselves of the information of those who were well
acquainted with the country; from them they ascertain the position and
fortification of the upper camp. There was, on the north side, a hill, which our
men could not include in their works, on account of the extent of the circuit,
and had necessarily made their camp in ground almost disadvantageous, and pretty
steep. Caius Antistius Reginus, and Caius Caninius
Rebilus, two of the lieutenants, with two legions, were in possession
of this camp. The leaders of the enemy, having reconnoitered the country by
their scouts, select from the entire army sixty thousand men, belonging to those
states, which bear the highest character for courage; they privately arrange
among themselves what they wished to be done, and in what manner; they decide
that the attack should take place when it should seem to be noon. They appoint
over their forces Vergasillaunus, the Arvernian, one
of the four generals, and a near relative of Vercingetorix. He,
having issued from the camp at the first watch, and having almost completed his
march a little before the dawn, hid himself behind the mountain, and ordered his
soldiers to refresh themselves after their labor during the night. When noon now
seemed to draw nigh, he marched hastily against that camp which we have
mentioned before; and, at the same time, the cavalry began to approach the
fortifications in the plain, and the rest of the forces to make a demonstration
in front of the camp.
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