---
title: "Gallic War — Book II"
author: "Julius Caesar"
translator: "W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 19 of 35
url: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-ii/19/
cite: "Julius Caesar, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn, Gallic War — Book II, section 19. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-ii/19/"
---

# Gallic War — Book II

*Julius Caesar, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn*

## 19. Book II — Chapter 19

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-ii/19/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-ii/19/#p-N

[¶0] Caesar, having sent his cavalry on before, followed close after them with all his forces; but the plan and order of the march was different from that which the Belgae had reported to the Nervii.

> Latin: Caesar equitatu praemisso subsequebatur omnibus copiis; sed ratio ordoque agminis aliter se habebat ac Belgae ad Nervios detulerant.

[¶1] For as he was approaching the enemy, Caesar, according to his custom, led on [as the van six legions unencumbered by baggage;

> Latin: Nam quod hostibus adpropinquabat, consuetudine sua Caesar VI legiones expeditas ducebat;

[¶2] behind them he had placed the baggage-trains of the whole army; then the two legions which had been last raised closed the rear, and were a guard for the baggage-train.

> Latin: post eas totius exercitus impedimenta conlocarat; inde duae legiones quae proxime conscriptae erant totum agmen claudebant praesidioque impedimentis erant.

[¶3] Our horse, with the slingers and archers, having passed the river, commenced action with the cavalry of the enemy.

> Latin: Equites nostri cum funditoribus sagittariisque flumen transgressi cum hostium equitatu proelium commiserunt.

[¶4] While they from time to time betook themselves into the woods to their companions, and again made an assault out of the wood upon our men, who did not dare to follow them in their retreat further than the limit to which the plain and open parts extended, in the mean time the six legions which had arrived first, having measured out the work, began to fortify the camp.

> Latin: Cum se illi identidem in silvis ad suos reciperent ac rursus ex silva in nostros impetum facerent, neque nostri longius quam quem ad finem porrecta [ac] loca aperta pertinebant cedentes insequi auderent, interim legiones VI quae primae venerant, opere dimenso, castra munire coeperunt.

[¶5] When the first part of the baggage train of our army was seen by those who lay hid in the woods, which had been agreed on among them as the time for commencing action, as soon as they had arranged their line of battle and formed their ranks within the woods, and had encouraged one another, they rushed out suddenly with all their forces and made an attack upon our horse.

> Latin: Ubi prima impedimenta nostri exercitus ab iis qui in silvis abditi latebant visa sunt, quod tempus inter eos committendi proelii convenerat, ut intra silvas aciem ordinesque constituerant atque ipsi sese confirmaverant, subito omnibus copiis provolaverunt impetumque in nostros equites fecerunt.

[¶6] The latter being easily routed and thrown into confusion, the Nervii ran down to the river with such incredible speed that they seemed to be in the woods, the river, and close upon us almost at the same time.

> Latin: His facile pulsis ac proturbatis, incredibili celeritate ad flumen decucurrerunt, ut paene uno tempore et ad silvas et in flumine [et iam in manibus nostris] hostes viderentur.

[¶7] And with the same speed they hastened up the hill to our camp, and to those who were employed in the works.

> Latin: Eadem autem celeritate adverso colle ad nostra castra atque eos qui in opere occupati erant contenderunt.