Page:Frontinus - The stratagems, and, the aqueducts of Rome (Bennet et al 1925).djvu/175

 STRATAGEMS, II. iv. 6-10

saddle-cloths, in order by this means to present the appearance of cavalry. He commanded these men to fall upon the enemy from the rear, as soon as they should notice that the engagement had begun. This scheme struck such terror into the enemy that despite their great ferocity they turned and fled.^

Licinius Crassus in the Slave War, when about to lead forth his troops at Camalatrum against Castus and Cannicus, the leaders of the Gauls, sent twelve cohorts around behind the mountain with Gains Pomptinius and Quintus Marcius Rufus, his lieu- tenants. When the engagement began, these troojis, raising a shout, poured down from the mountain in the rear, and so routed the enemy that they fled in all directions with no attempt at battle. ^

Marcus Marcellus on one occasion, fearing that a feeble battle-cry would reveal the small number of his forces, commanded that sutlers, servants, and camp-followers of every sort should join in the crv. He thus threw the enemy into panic by giving the appearance of having a large arni}-."^

Valerius Laevinus, in the battle against Pyrrhus, killed a common soldier, and, holding up his dripping sword, made both armies believe that Pyrrhus had been slain. The enemy, therefore, panic-stricken at the falsehood, and thinking that they had been rendered helpless by the death of their commander, betook themselves in terror back to camp.*

In his struggle against Gains Marius in Numidia, Jugurtha, having acquired facility in the use of the Latin language as a result of his early association with Roman camps, ran forward to the front line and shouted that he had slain Gains Marius, thus causing many of our men to flee.^

129