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[115]
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 carne 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.
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