When the
Batavians were near the camp at
Bonna, they sent on
before them delegates, commissioned to deliver to Herennius Gallus a message
from the cohorts. It was to this effect: "We have no quarrel with the
Romans, for whom we have so often fought. Wearied with a protracted and
fruitless service, we long for our native land and for rest. If no one
oppose us, our march will be harmless, but if an armed force encounter us,
we will make a way with the sword." The soldiers prevailed upon the
hesitating legate to risk the chances of a battle. Three thousand
legionaries, some raw Belgian cohorts, and with them a mob of rustic
and camp-followers, cowardly, but bold of
speech before the moment of danger, rushed out of all the gates, thinking to
surround the Batavians, who were inferior in number. But the enemy, being
veteran troops, formed in columns, presenting on every side a dense array,
with front, flanks, and rear secure. Thus they were able to break the thin
line of our soldiers. The Belgians giving way, the legion was driven back,
retreating in confusion on the entrenchments and the gates. It was there
that the greatest slaughter took place. The trenches were heaped up with
corpses. Nor was it only from the deadly blows of the enemy that they
suffered; many perished in the crush and by their own weapons. The
victorious army, who avoided the
Colonia
Agrippinensis, did not venture on any other hostile act during the
remainder of their march, and excused the conflict at
Bonna, alleging that they had asked for peace, and that
when it was refused they had but looked to their own safety.