Chapter 75

Meanwhile Caesar ceremonially purified his army on March 21st. On the following day he led forth his entire forces, advanced five miles from his own camp, and took his stand in battle array at a distance of some two miles from Scipio’s camp. On perceiving that his opponents, despite this adequate and sustained challenge, declined his offer of battle, he led his forces back: and on the following day he struck camp and took the road to the town of Sarsura, where Scipio had posted a garrison of Numidians and laid in a stock of corn. When Labienus perceived this he proceeded to harry Caesar’s rear-guard with his cavalry and light-armed troops; and having by this means cut off the baggage trains of the sutlers and merchants who were carrying their wares in carts, he was thereby the more encouraged to grow bolder and come closer to the legions, since he supposed that the soldiers were worn out with carrying their heavy packs and so in no condition to fight. But this contingency had not escaped Caesar’s attention: he had in fact given instructions that three hundred men out of each legion should be in light order; and these he accordingly despatched against Labienus’ cavalry to give support to his own squadrons. Whereupon Labienus, dismayed at the sight of the standards, wheeled round his horses and beat a hasty and highly undignified retreat. The legionary troops, having killed many of his men and wounded not a few, retired to their standards and proceeded to resume their march. Labienus still kept up his pursuit at a distance, moving along the crest of the ridge of hills upon the right.