Battle of Mynydd Maendy Fort - or Not..?

Hillfort Highjinks.

So, some research (usual sources:"Royal Commission on the Ancient and

Historical Monuments of Wales" website & similar, Google Earth etc.).

The fort is is a rough oval 110m x 98m, rubble-built, at the end of a ridge, with steep slopes to the north, north east and south east. Although a path from the valley winds up the northern elevations the only decent approach for attackers is from the south west.

Inside we have a smaller enclosure, but in engineering terms it seems pretty basic (from what we have remaining) with no obvious tower bases etc.

At first glance the locals seem to have placed themselves in a trap - but the steep slopes mentioned above will likely prevent a close pursuit if they cut and run.

The straight feature without and within the compound and the woodlands to the north are likely modern and can be ignored.

Given the difficulty of mounting the steeper slopes the Roman approach will clearly have to be from along the ridge. The nearby rise to the main ridge could provide a position for the Roman scorpions (albeit at long range) and a rallying place for the attackers if things don't go their way.

However, to make doubly sure, and since the Romans have a two cohort strength, have marched over ten miles and ascended more than a thousand feet [as assessed by the good old walking route website] it is decided to postpone the attack till tomorrow. The legionaries therefore dig-in on the ridge, in the vicinity of the spring line, overlooking the saddle between Maendy hill and the main ridge.

Doing so will also give the locals a view of what the Roman army can do ("They've only gone and built a fort, look you...!!!"), and their numbers; which MAY affect the rebel's confidence, desertions, will to fight etc. come the morrow. 

So, to the Table, or not...? 

Simple enough on the table. One needn't build the whole fort, just the elevations likely to be the focus of the attack. I don't have a rubble-built hillfort wall model, but I could use my "normal" palisade lengths.

HOWEVER....

With the locals now knowing they are clearly outnumbered, perhaps having been informed of Twrch's defeat overnight (bad news travels quickly), certainly having heard of Burriena's victory and of neighbouring zones throwing in the towel (plus now having seen the Roman military machine at work on their doorstep) it seems reasonable for them to have a rethink.

[I dice (1x6D) to see how many area leaders they have (three) and host another Council of War session (the usual card "game" process)...]

The arguments go on for four hours into the night.

At first the valley chief and one of the sub chiefs are for giving in, and only one for fighting on. But then the valley chief is persuaded to reconsider. He now plumps for fighting to the death... However, THIS prompts the more reluctant sub chief into digging his heels in even further - to the point of him storming out of the meeting, and leading his warriors out of the back of the fort and sending his people home. Oh dear.... 

With their forces suddenly reduced by a third this knocks the stuffing out of the remaining chiefs, and after reconsidering they decide to give in. At dawn they send an embassy to Albinus. However, he isn't in the mood for chat, let alone clemency, and sends it away [Dice test.].

While the Romans prepare for battle the chiefs and the bulk of the warriors make off down the steep north slopes and disperse, leaving only a scatter of die-hards, the halt and the lame behind in the fort.

With no opposition, the birds having flown, Albinus orders the remaining occupants of the fort dealt with, the huts burned and the walls slighted. He then unleashes his auxiliaries and horse to ravage up and down the valley, resting his men another night at Maendy.

So ends another day.....

Summary:

Such is campaigning... I thought I was going to have a battle, and then....

However, in retrospect, even if the Silures had made a sortie to pep things up, it promised to be a rather one-sided fight.... 

Version 1: Romans soften up with artillery. Romans assault. Enemy break and flee, or it dissolves into complicated, but one-sided, street fighting among huts.

Version 2: Romans soften up with artillery. Enemy make a sortie and are smashed. Romans assault. Enemy break or flee, or it dissolves into complicated, but one-sided, street fighting among huts.

I feel I would have been there before, with the mopping-up in my Judean revolt campaign. Given that I don't have enough 6mm Romans yet, which meant table action would be a 1/72 game (so a lot of setting up) or another board game exercise, I'm not overly disappointed - and I enjoy the research. Onwards we go...

Day Twelve:

Twrch flees north west, with what's left of the Silurian southern force. Caeog pulls east (to meet him - or has he just lost his bottle?).

Albinius ravages the Caenona Valley, using the camp at Maendy as a base.

Caesitius regains control of the hills east of Serovium.

Caninia, at Nidenum, moves his vexillation north east - i.e. towards where Caeog now ISN'T. 

Is it time I left Isca to take control myself? Perhaps so....

"This Aint Siluruia" Day Eleven Shenanigans..

 Day Eleven:

So... We have Roman forces setting about bringing zones "back into the fold"; thus far by one skirmish and "intimidation by marching" in those zones where there was likely to be no (futile) resistance against overwhelming force.

We also have two Rebel field armies operating in the area; one under Caeog ravaging their neighbours and fellow tribesmen (aka collaborators) in the north west, the other under Twrch sitting in front of Fort Serovium wondering what to do next (the latter rebel force having today been joined by 100 disgruntled locals).

After a LOT of discussion (a post-breakfast session lasting about two hours) it is decided Twrch's men will, with their best part of thirteen hundred warriors, attack the fort and its garrison (III Bracarii  - mixed cohort - and 2 detached centuries from 8th Cohort II Augusta). Hmmm.... Possibly biting off more than they can chew..

[Re. the Serovium business; I settle the decision for the Silure commanders with a Council of War, using my usual method - covered elsewhere - with cards for the three leaders and one for the local folk. As Twrch - as per initial dice throws - has been an active, reasonably aggressive leader we can assume he will more likely be for affirmative action.] 

Caeog continues ravaging the pro-Roman zone in the north west.

At Fort Nidenum no action is taken (again) Caninia sending messengers to Albinus suggesting an action plan, while Burriana's men recover from their march and get their wounded attended to.

At Firmium Caesetius decides on something risky. Leaving VI Nervii in place as garrison, he pushes with the rest of the vexillation southwards, towards Fort Serovium - even though he has no knowledge of Twrch's presence there - subduing two zones. This seems to be in order to make a cross-country communications route between the two forts, and further slip the central revolted zones. He will likely arrive at Serovium mid afternoon.

Albinus contents himself with advancing into the Caenona Valley to subdue the Hillfort Cluster there. There are some 600 resident warriors, plus some stragglers from the Pen Foel Aman fight, here, gathered at the Meandy hillfort. Albinus has 3rd cohort II Augusta and 1st Morini (foot 500) with him, along with the three turmae from Difforum; but not enough to intimidate the number of warriors assembled into submission. The rest of the Difforum garrison (part of 4th Gallic mixed cohort infantry) remain at the fort. As he is quite prepared to press the issue it looks as if Albinus has a fight on his hands.

Meandy Hillfort

The Battles:

So... We have two potential fights pending: Albinus in the Caenona Valley at the Meandy hillfort and the Silure attack on Fort Serovium.

Regarding Serovium, because I can see this will require a lot of table setting up for what I feel is likely to be a short action and a forgone conclusion (amateur warriors assaulting a Roman fort, without surprise or any equipment - with another Roman force on the way). I will therefore fight this as a board game; so a quick bit of research, Google Earthing and Paint Shop Pro 4* work,and we have a game map of Fort Serovium (an approximation of Pen-Y-Darren/Pennydarren Roman Fort).

(*Using my old 1990s program - and the best graphics program for my purposes EVER, in my book.. And I've tried at least six other makes/versions since. Intuitive (I don't think I ever read the manual). No pointless bells and whistles, which I'm never going to use, to confuse etc. etc.  Software as it SHOULD be for the layperson IMAO.. :) ) 

Fort Serovium

The Battle of Serovium:

The Silures approach from the south west in three bodies. The largest, under Twrch assaults up the slopes, hoping to catch the garrison unprepared, but the defenders are warned and waiting and the attackers are held by the auxiliaries on the wall and one of the legionary scorpions. 

Most of the rest of the force, under Tewdrig, swings round to where the walls of the fort are NOT fronted by the slopes.

Cyfwlch remains hovering off board.

Curtilius, the Roman garrison commander has kept back a good reserve, consisting of a century of his men, plus the horse, plus the legionary units. He has placed the two legionary scorpions on corner towers. His men on the walls are well supplied with stuff for chucking.

[Technical Note: I used the standard SPI Prestags rules - and counters - with the addition that Roman units, while on the walls and not involved in sorties or hand to hand, had a "1" missile capacity per unit. Note that I did not use "Contact" counters for either side when fighting over walls, but used the principles for "engaged" defenders; i.e. defenders were assumed to be "fixed" by an indecisive clash, but attackers could withdraw from one if desired.] 

Twrch himself leads an attack, supported by slingers, which causes problems for the auxiliaries on the south west wall. A sudden sortie by the Curtilius with a reserve auxiliary century, charges out of the south west gate, catching some skirmishers on the hop, and forces the attackers to pull back.

Meanwhile the attackers on the north west wall close, and cause considerable problems here. Curtillius pulls back to within the fort without interference, but leaves some if his reserve on the south west wall. 

Then another attack by Twrch, again supported by good work by the slings, scatters a half century of the auxilia, and the Silurian commander leads some of his men over the wall.

However, another counter-attack by Curtilius, this time with the legionary centuries, forces Twrch back from the walls, while a sortie by the garrison cavalry detachment discomforts Twrch's skirmishers.

The Silurian skirmishers have by now suffered badly, being caught on the hop by each sortie and Twrch himself has been slightly wounded. The attack on the south west wall has been effectively stopped

The main Silure attack now focuses on the more western wall. Twrch (and Cyfwych) also move to support this assault. In the battle for the north west wall neither side seems to be gaining much advantage.

Curtilius, having already pulled back his foot reserves into the fort, then swings his cavalry round the "blind" side of the fort and charges the enemy skirmishers on the far left of the enemy line. Twrch moves over to counter this.

The Roman commander then plays his trump card, and brings the legionaries out  of the north east gate to join the horse threatening the flank of the enemy attacking the north west wall. Twrch has no choice but to try to stop this threat. He moves, with Cyfwlch, to do so.

However, Curtilius charges and, supported with scorpion fire from the walls, hits Twrch's force; catching the enemy skirmishers and scattering them. In the melee Twrch is wounded and more skirmishers are cut down.

This is enough to push the Silure Army Moral to near breaking point, and so - with the forces from Fort Firmuium approaching, Twrch calls off the attack, and his men withdraw to the hills. Curtilius does not pursue.

Conclusion: 

As expected, the attackers made little headway against the (prepared) fort. 
However, the defenders lost comparatively heavily (when the coordination of slingers and assault troops on the south west wall led to the ramparts being briefly overrun by the attackers) with 20 dead or mortally wounded and 10 men with light wounds. However, the bulk of Twrch's close-quarter infantry got away unscathed.

The Silures didn't break, and so were able to get all of their wounded off the field (About ten walking wounded, and ninety or so badly wounded. They'd have lost all the badly wounded had they routed), but leaving some forty dead.

Twrch has been badly wounded. Recoverable, with care, but he is effectively out of the fight for a couple of weeks at least if he is to fully recover.

Next: the Battle of Meandy Hill...

 

Aftermath... And Day Ten.

The Butcher's Bill, and the Way Back...

Burriena counts the cost of the skirmish. Twenty four casualties, all among the foot.

Eleven men were killed outright or died shortly after the battle of their wounds.

Another ten have serious wounds and will need transport and treatment back at base. Nineteen men have minor wounds.

Of the officers a centurion and six NCOs have been lightly wounded, and a standard bearer killed.

The locals came off much worse. Some 50 of them lie dead on the field; killed outright or in "mercy killings" during the clean-up. Forty four others have been captured, all seriously wounded.

(Note: another 36, lightly wounded, were taken off by kin, managed to hide till the Romans left or staggered from the field).

[Technical Note; all dice tests as covered elsewhere.]



Flushed with victory Burriena is feeling generous. Gwaednerth, son of Gwaednerth addresses those locals captured, telling them left again that resistance is pointless and the future of their families lies in coming to an accommodation with the new world. He says that, as a token of goodwill, they will be released, to go down to their people in the Aman Valley.

Once the prisoners have staggered away a pile is made of the captured shields, clubs and spear shafts, and they are set ablaze. Discarded weapons and spearheads are collected, and those which cannot be transported, damaged/bent where possible, concealed by being buried in a pit dug in a nearby stream-bed and covered with stones.

Burriena now has to decide where to go. His men have already marched some thirteen miles over rough ground, and fought a battle. Going back the way he came will be too long a march. He plumps for risking crossing the hostile Caenona Valleyand and into the friendly hills to the west. His badly wounded can be put on horses or carried in makeshift litters from captured spear shafts.

On the map the distance to be travelled is about three to four miles. However, in reality, with doubling back, it is more like six. His exhausted men make a rough camp in the early evening in friendly territory. They remain unmolested on their march and overnight, and the next hard day's slogging takes them back to Fort Nidenum (end of Day Ten).

[Technical Note: I used an online walking route planner website for movement in the hills. Very useful.  Dice tests for any interference etc.]

Meanwhile:

Day Ten and further Zones test for revolt. The Ronda and Isca Valleys remain loyal, as do the hills north east of the Ronda.

The hills north east of Nidenum remain undeclared, but the news of the Roman victory, and the increased garrison in the area, will no doubt affect future tests.

The revolt is now pretty much contained (the central hills and the north) and, assuming no break-outs, it should just be a case of bringing the Romans' superior forces to bear.

At Fort Firmium Caesetius assumes the offensive, sending a Legion cohort and an auxiliary cohort on a "pacification swing" of around fifteen miles or so through the two nearest districts. Overwhelmed at the sight (and by the numbers) of the cohorts the locals disperse. 

Albinius, at Difforum, marches up the Diffa with his full cohort, subduing the lower valley and the hills to the west, again with the locals fading back to their homes. Here he learns, from local tribesmen, of Burriena's swing through the zones to the north. He then returns to Difforum, again, a round-trip of some 15 miles.

However, at Nidenum, Canina seems off-balanced by the disappearance of Burriena and his command, and takes no action at all. 

[Pacified areas marked in grey. As usual, all leader decisions etc. are down to dice tests.] 

On the Silurian side Caeog actually does something, advancing into the Loyalist zone in the north west corner, burning homesteads as he goes.

Meanwhile Twrch marches north east to join up with Cyfwlch. They both then move to pick-up Tewdrig, and their combined force of 1,160 warriors marches on Fort Serovium, manned by III Bracari and 2 detached centuries from 8th Cohort II Augusta. Arriving towards dusk, they rest overnight. They were spotted by any patrols, but no messenger leaves Serovium to inform Isca or Firmium .

And so another day comes to an end.

The Battle of Pen Foel Aman.

On The table:

Play interrupted by, well, a play (Six performances  over the weekend - plus a "public dress". Pretty exhausting.), but the forces are are in place.

I have gone for ratio of 1 bod on the table representing 2 chaps in "real".

I'll need to be doing a bit of fudging with the wee guys; I don't have 180-odd auxiliaries in the same kit. But then, we don't actually have any uniform plates (each century may have had something different anyway...).

The Battle begins....

The locals have taken up position on the higher ground, as expected. Both sides have opted to deploy in reasonable depth.The Auxiliaries approach in line of battle. The locals, divided into three kin-groups, with their combined skirmishers, acting as a separate unit, to the fore, wait on their hill.

However, Burriena has with him three locals from Hillfort Cluster XLIII, elders of that area. With an escort of two auxiliaries one of these men walks towards the hostile line carrying high a green branch of leaves, indicating a desire to Parlay. He is allowed to approach within shouting distance of the defenders' line; whereupon he calls on them to see sense and disperse to their homes.

"Men of Cmwaman and the Aman Hills and The Green Slopes of Taff, and to Eudaf, predominant chosen head of the men of Cmwaman and the Aman Hills and The Green Slopes of Taff. Many of you will know me, Gwaednerth, son of Gwaednerth of Duneath. I call on you to remember how, in days past, before the coming of the Steel Helms, brothers we have been. Together we have hunted head. From the Western Dogs, Rich in Sheep, to the Northern Dogs, the Hammer-Men, and The Women-Men of the River-Lands and the Lead Hills we have heads and booty taken, brothers in blood. For the sake and memory of that brotherhood I ask your trust when I speak.

For my people those days of raiding and head-taking have passed. As oath-sworn on sword fire and salt by our High King to the High King of the Steel Helms from beyond the Lead Hills, we to keep the peace have pledged, and so prospered without fear of raids from enemies or kin. It is to call upon you to honour that oath by our High King that I now speak to you.

Before you stood aloof, as was your right and your choice. But that was before the Steel helms came to your door. Now it is here that they are. Therefore I beg and urge thee, Eudaf, to come and to the prince of these Steel Helms speak in peace. And to the rest I say return to your crofts, and do not with the Steel Helms fight; for even in victory that will bring a black doom on the Folk of  Cmwaman and the Aman Hills and The Green Slopes of Taff, and upon Eudaf and all his house. For the Steel Helms are beyond numbering; and do not forget....."

Eudaf calls back - something short and offensive.

[Eudaf's reaction is diced for. Then I dice one ave. die to see how many factions there are among the locals, and get a 3. I then dice for each faction to see if they are affected by the speech. Oh boy.. I then dice for any reaction..]

The home team did NOT like Gwaednerth's efforts - and start throwing stones.

Worse (potentially) Eudaf's faction begins to move forwards - and it is only the actions of Eudaf himself, and the failure of their flanking brothers to move at all (Reluctant? Caught on the hop?), that stops Eudaf's centre from rushing down the hill.Gwaednerth is hurried back to behind the Roman line by his escorts.

So the battle begins. The auxiliary foot advance, but the line becomes slightly ragged (nothing to be worried about, and to be expected when moving as fast as is reasonable to cut down the amount of time under fire from the enemy skirmishers, on roughish ground). 

 As the foot advance Burriena decides (a bit late?) to move his leftmost cavalry over to the right, where the slope on the enemy flank is shallower, while the horse on his right push forwards to discomfort the enemy's left.

 

The leftmost of Burriena's centuries pulls ahead, clambering up (and taking disruption from) the steeper slope on their part of the field, and charging the skirmishers, who skip back.

However, as the Dalmations advance, still disordered by the steep slope, they are suddenly counter-charged by the Silurian right, and pushed back.

In fact, over the next move they will be pushed right back down the slope up which they have struggled.

But as the leftmost century are pushed back the rest of the Roman line advances, till a move by the Roman reserve onto the flank of the enemy right unit - now some distance from their fellows - and some rallying by Burriena encourages the Dalmations, and, after some serious hand to hand, the enemy right unit is forced to recoil.

Meanwhile, in Burriena's centre and centre right, the other two leading centuries have made a run up the slop; intending to scare off the skirmishers and charge the remainder of the hostile line - the left of which had angled back, for fear of the Roman right cavalry.

Here, again, the fighting of the defenders is fierce, and the lead century is pressed back. Things are not going as well for the Romans as planned.

Meanwhile Burriena, seeing the threat to his left, countermands the order to his left horse turma, and orders them to swing back to the left, and attack the now discomforted Silurian right-hand unit. They do so, and the enemy right scatters in panic.

To the enemy's rear the Roman right cavalry charge the hostile skirmishers, driving them down the slopes towards the Cwmaman Valley. But the horse keep themselves in hand, and do not pursue.

As all three first line centuries advance towards them, the Silurii centre and left make one last charge on the Auxiliary foot - and cause these to falter. But so focused are they on the wavering centuries that they ignore the horse to their rear.

An Optio falls, a centurion is wounded and Dalmations drop to the ground in the fierce fighting.

But losses among the Silurian leading men, and one last push by the Auxiliaries, personally inspired by Burriena, plus the auxiliary left century moving to rejoin the fray - and with cavalry hovering to their rear - the home side's spirit falters. 

They are forced back then, finding themselves molested by the Roman cavalry, break.

As the enemy left and centre scatter down towards the Caenoa Valley, and the unbroken skirmishers and broken right kin-group, pull down towards the Aman, Burriena orders the recall sounded.

It was a short fight, and there was no serious pursuit of the beaten side, so local casualties were not as bad as they might have been. 

On the Roman side, however, the Dalmation foot did not exactly excel themselves, and the action felt more touch and go than it ought. Burriena now has wounded to tend - and a decision to make....

Technical Notes: 

The battle was fought using SP tokens for unit leader and Overall Commander Activation, with ad hoc dice tests for detached friendly and Hostile decisions using IMP options. I used the "Stack and Stop" method (NMTB) rather than a SP-style token draw with Tiffin token process. Movement, Morale and Combat rules were my usual cannibalised House Rules.

As always: queries, thoughts & comments encouraged.

The Battle Between Two Rivers (Prep.)

Or, The Battle of Pen Foel Aman.

So, Burriena pushes into Area III. As usual I have looked at old O/S maps, local history sites and Google Earth to get an idea of the topography etc. 

This small patch mainly consists of a high plateau, broken up by watercourses and a valley. There are no clear tracks for the force to follow. The ground is mainly open grass and scrub. The only farmsteads are on flatlands to the north, the slopes above the river valleys either side of the zone and in the vale of the Aman (Cmwaman) leading down to the Diffa Valley.

This is likely a poor area, with little or no chariotry. The local headman and family may be pony-mounted, but the folk are mainly sheepherders and small-scale farmers in the valleys. On the plus side the nearby rivers are likely full of pebbles for chucking/slings so expect a lot of this.   

The local have gathered on Pen Foel Aman; a high spur of the plateau in the centre of the area, whose flanks, scrubby and steep to deter pursuit by cavalry, allow easy escape into the large river valleys to south and, via the Aman valley, east, which are also in a state of revolt (note: the road on the map is modern).

The terrain here allows the locals to sit on high ground dominating the route of anyone proceeding along the plateau, and the slopes and nearness of the revolted valleys prevent wide outflanking movements by the Romans. This looks as good a place as any for a stand. Looking at Streetview and the topography, the "dome" of the spur has a "nose" on the north west end. Placing the locals on this seems the best option, to protect their flanks.

Burriena does have the option of pulling back; but doing THAT, against hill tribes the world over, will almost certainly result in a harassed retreat. Simply pushing past will leave the cohort at risk of flank attack and leave hostile force to his rear. He really has no choice but to disperse the locals - and even with the home advantage, this, with only 200 locals, mainly amateurs to fight, should in theory be a routine action for a Roman cohort. However.....

Burriena's Dalmations are a cohors quingenaria equitata. But as we've seen, some are on detached duties at the two forts. He therefore only has with him 2 Turmae and 4 centuries, whose ACTUAL strengths on the day are:

Century 1: 52 men
Century 2: 56 men
Century 4: 50 men
Century 6: 26 men
(184 foot)

Turma 1: 15 men & horses
Turma 2: 21 men & horses
(36 horse)

Dismounted cavalry (men whose became lamed/rendered unfit or sick en-route etc. but who are retained as baggage guard): 2 troopers.
Servants etc.: 28

[Above figures and decisions ascertained by dice tests as usual. Battle location by IMP.]

IF the battle drags on there IS the possibility of interference from the neighbouring hostile septs. But this is unlikely, since two of these areas have already had the bulk of their men drawn off by Twrch and all three will be aware of the arrival of Albinius at nearby Difforum - and his larger force less than two to three hours march away.

To The Table:

This should be simple enough; a rough dome of a spur with a sloping approach, scaled to the chosen man/figure ratio. The Romans coming from the north would be confronted by this - with the likelihood that the "tip" of the nose would be occupied by skirmishers, with the rest of the men further up-slope. The slopes would make flank defence easier.

From the Roman point of view there is nothing other than the slope to give pause.
There is room for the horse to manoeuvre and a small hillock on their right flank to provide a rallying point if things go awry (best line of retreat would be across the narrow Caenona valley into the friendly territory above Ronda (about five miles away) and from there back to Nidenum.

In the event of a victory, nearby springs would be useful post-battle; particularly for the wounded and the horses.

The ground is rough grass and scrub. The trees thereabouts as seen on Google are, from old maps and photographs, clearly modern plantations, so no palisades/fieldworks/surprises from woodland to worry about. Basically this looks like a slightly rougher version of the open sheepwalks we get round here in Sussex, but with steeper sides in places. Not the best of marching grounds - but certainly no worse than what the Dalmations would be used to at home. 

Scale-wise I'm undecided, other than this seems best suited to my 20mm figures (as it's really a skirmish). The Silures will have a likely frontage of about 60m or so I guess. I have done one figure = one man actions before, and have enough bods to do that, but maybe I'll plump for 1:2. It'll make a decision once I get the table out (this will be the first 20mm action in the Blockhouse playroom). 

So, to battle...

This Ain't Siluria Two - Into Week two

Move In to Danger.

Day Seven of Nine.

No rest on the seventh, as the Roman plans kick-start.

While these wheels begin to move the revolt both spreads and, in places, runs up against loyal septs. There are now clear "boundaries" to the revolted area in the north west and north east (red zone "border boundaries" on the map).

A leader named Tewdrig appears in the hills above Serovium and begins rallying the septs there.

North of the Black Mountains Caeog (now joined by Buan) STILL hesitates to commit, but in the central hills Twrch has raised some 900 men, and now leads them south, burning the farmsteads of their Loyalist neighbours in the Bagadiffa Valley.

Day Eight:

Made aware of Twrch's movements the garrison commander at Difforum puts the fort in readiness against attack, and sends out pickets, but stays put. The commander at Serovium is equally hesitant.

However, at Fort Nidenum the Tribune commanding (Burriena), acting on his own initiative, decides to probe the rebellious area II up the Nida Orientalem valley and through the loyal tribal zones north west of the target. He reaches friendly Hillfort Cluster XVIII in the late afternoon with his depleted unit (2 Turmae and 4 centuries - the remainder having been left in garrison at the fort itself or being on detached duties at Leuca), ending the day's march in a friendly hillfort.

On the evening of the 8th Caesetius's vexiliation arrives, footsore, at Fort Firmium.

Twrch himself moves down to the main Diffa Valley, to arrive outside Fort Difforum itself (!) where he is joined during the day by 100 more tribesmen.

Tewdrig raises 100 tribesmen, but remains still. In the neighbouring mountains another leader pops up - Cyfwlch.

In the north, Caeog seems to have got wind of the Roman troops moving towards Firmium, and withdraws westwards, further into the hills.

There is still a risk the revolt could spread into the Isca (blocking the Firmium road) and Diffa Valleys or down the Serrova corridor (hills and Ebuna river valley) towards the sea - which would threaten Roman east-west communications, but there seem to be no issues with The Plan itself.

Day Nine:

Which looked like it would be producing the first serious clashes. 

[Again, all the decisions below are dice-led - including those of detached Roman officers - "I" am still at Isca...]

Caesetius is static, as expected, sorting things at Firmium and sending out patrols, but Albinius is due at Fort Difforum during the late morning/early afternoon, where Twrch, the rebels' most active leader so far, is camped outside the fort.

In addition, Burriena is getting ready to move his cohort into hostile, rebellious Area II. 

However, Twrch, clearly alerted to the Albinius's force headed for Difforum, slips back up the valley down which he had recently come, so no action there. 

Meanwhile, Cyfwlch raises 60 men in his mountains, and marches to join Tewdrig. Perhaps they both intend to meet up with Twrch somewhere west of Serovium...? Perhaps Twrch intends to draw Albinius after him into some kind of planned ambush..?

Caeog remains up in the hills. He is giving the impression that he is NOT the dynamic leader men took him for... OR is he planning a sweep down the weak western part of the district, though the collaborating zones, and down to Leuca? 

In the central highlands when Burriena pushes into Area II the locals fade into the hills. He then decides to advance, scouts out, into newly revolted Area III. Here the locals decide to make a stand. However, only the folk of THIS area are present (the guys from Area II clearly didn't scamper here).

The locals in Area III can muster about 150 men of warrior age. However, as things are desperate, they also drag out the old men and beardless boys, so about another fifty or so. The Romans would seem to have the advantage.

Remember, however, I still don't know how under-strength Burriena's cohort is. This will be our first clash, "The Battle Between The Rivers", and covered in the next post.

 

Finally, at the end of the day Caninia and his units from the Leuca area arrive at Nidenum - to find most of the garrison has gone up into the hills. NOT what he  was expecting...

And whether they are coming back is anyone's guess....

As always, comments, queries and thoughts welcome...

 

 

 

This Ain't Siluria Two - cont'd. (Part Three)

Decisions, decisions, Day Six.

At Isca there is intelligence to process and decisions to be made.

Reports from various sources, including from the forts, make it clear that something serious, in the form of a revolt, is taking place in the north beyond the Black Mountains and in the Central Hills. The problem is spreading rabidly and the situation changing daily, and there seems to be a clear need for local decisions to be made without constant referral to headquarters. It is decided to create two independent vexillations.

The following will take place: 

The 2nd Cohort (Trib.Caesetius) and 8th Cohort (Trib. Flaccus) will proceed from Isca, along with II Vascones, along the Via Firmia to Ft. Firmium. Caesetius is to take command locally, form an independent vexillation from the units of Augusta and the garrison, and at once move to subdue those septs north and east of the Black Mountains. It will take one full day to get the force ready, another to force march to Fort Firmium, then a day to recover, form the vexillation, sent out reconnaissance and plan matters (Say four days before affirmative action can begin).

The 3rd Cohort (Trib. Albinius) and I Morini will march from Isca to Bovium via the via Bovia, pick up the Auxiliary (only) units deployed there, then proceed to Fort Difforum (Via Diffa). Albinus will take command here, form an independent vexillation, and move north along the Diffa Valley with whatever forces he deems sufficient to secure the valley and the hills to the north west. It will take one full day to get the force ready, best part of another to march to Bovium, then most of the following day to reorganise at Bovium, march to Difforum and assess local conditions (again, say four days before affirmative action).

The force at Ft. Serrovium is to patrol and prevent any minor incursions down the Serrova valley or across/southwards in the Serrova/Isca hills. It will take at least four hours before despatches reach Serrovium, maybe more. However, some scouting/patrolling SHOULD be routine. 

The 8th Coh. (Trib. Caninia) road-building units attached to Leuca (NOT the centuries at Bovium) are to concentrate at Fort Nidenum by the quickest routes. Once concentrated Canina and the garrison will coordinate with and support Albinus to subdue the central hills. It will take at around eleven hours before despatches reach Leuca, maybe more, then another day for the units here to concentrate. Thus it may be up to three days before units get to Nindanum (say four days before action, to allow local assessment of the situation and coordination with Albinus). 

The Auxilia at Fort Leuca are to follow Standing Orders to patrol the borders and highland to the north, and prevent any minor incursions from the north and west.

So, basically four days before we can start hitting the rebels - partly because with ALL of the above there is the factor of not looking too hurried or panicked; in case THIS discourages loyalists/encourages would-be rebels. 

The Roman Plans: detailed view of north/centre

From patrols, intelligence assessments and census returns it is estimated that the rebels in arms will at this stage number no more than two to two and a half thousand warriors of all types, these likely to be scattered across the areas in revolt, with concentrations only in the vicinity of the Black Mountains/northern Isca valley.  

The main force will remain on stand-by at Isca pending the success of the vexilliations.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hill: 

A force of some 780 men have gathered in the hills just south of Fort Firmium under a tribal leader named Buan. He moves up towards the leader of the revolt, Caeog of the Mountain, who has gathered some seven hundred men from the northern hills to his banner - but seems to lack the drive to use them.

[All the result of dice tests. These numbers are diced for for each zone occupied by the testing leader and each adjacent revolting zone. Totals are diced for in "thirds" on a 6D, with potential numbers for each terrain type as follows: Each Hillfort Cluster – 600 potential warriors. Each hill zone - 150, plains zone - 270, woods/mountains - 90. 

The attitudes of the leaders are likewise dice-driven.]

By end of Day Six more areas have risen, including the area along the River Serova (and around Fort Serovium) and the Diffa Valley. This NOT good for the Romans, as the long river routes and open valleys allow contacts with many other adjacent zones. However, the septs in the Bagadiffa Valley have remained loyal to Rome.

In addition, a leader named Twrch has risen in the Central Hills, and is also gathering forces.

All in all the Romans have been caught on the hop. The distances involved are, in the grand scheme of things, small, but everything takes time. Meanwhile, the native rumour mill (just as fast and far less vulnerable than despatch riders) spreads word of the revolt. The rebels have four days before the Romans start to bite.

AND we still haven't got up to date details of Roman effective strengths.  

Thus it goes....

This Ain't Siluria Two - cont'd.

Trouble In T'Hills

So, we have the map and the basic procedures. On with the show.

My available troops form a reasonably large force; 

Ten cohorts of IInd Augusta Legion (though the restrictions on how I can use them were mentioned in the last post) and the various Auxilia Units attached to the base at Isca.

One legionary cohort (9th) is dispersed at the ports at Leuca and Bovium and along the road links west of Fort Occamium on construction duties. There is a small (three century) temporary camp at the junction of the Leuca/ Nidenum/Occamium roads, engaged in road building.

Two centuries from another cohort (8th) are at Fort Serovium, also engaged on road building.

Several elements of the Auxilia are deployed at the various forts for policing, tax gathering, general security duties etc.

The auxiliary units (with paper strengths) are as follows: 

II Vascones  500 foot (Isca).

I Dalmations 500 foot (Isca).

I Morini 500 foot (Isca, with a detachment of two centuries at Fort Bovium).

IV Gallic (mixed cohort) 500 (1 century, 30 horse at Fort Oceamium, rest at Fort Difforum).

II Dalmations (mixed cohort) 500 (1 century, 30 horse at Fort Leuca, rest at Fort Nidenum)

III Bracarii (mixed cohort) 500 (Fort Serovium).

VI Nervii 500 foot (Fort Firmium).

I Tungrians  500 horse (Fort Firmium).

I Spanish 500 horse (Isca).

II Asturians 500 horse (Isca).

HOWEVER... These (and indeed the legion numbers) are paper strengths. I will only discover their actual field strengths once operations commence (local administration at Isca has been lax and the returns have just not been coming in to London they should have. There may be a number of "ghost" soldiers on the books, as well as the usual attrition due to sickness, leave, detachments,  secondments etc. etc.  As the Vidolanda documents et al. have shown, unit effective strengths are potentially wildly different from the ideal).  

Meanwhile, I have tested for the first moves in the campaign, and two areas (in orange above) have revolted; with the locals killing any Roman traders/officials in said areas and attacking any patrols/foragers etc. (the latter to be tested for, as will be the "time lag" between the events and my being informed of matters; this including any local decisions by my "men on the spot").

Revolting Zone VI has also produced a "Leader" (a throw of 6 on a dice throw 1xD6). The Leader will affect neighbouring Zones by prompting them to test next go. Leaders can also lead rebel forces to other rebellious zones and "accumulate" Field Armies.

The zones in pink are currently quiet, but will test as other zones from now on. 

The Zones in green above have refused to be part of the revolt. They will not test again unless surrounded by zones in revolt. 

Day One:

There are no Roman patrols in the revolting zones (dice test result), and no news of the revolt reaches any of the forts on the first day (dice test - as time passes the likelihood of a report coming in increases).

Day Two:

Two more zones revolt (no Roman patrols are affected), but in the north west one zone comes out as pro-Roman (perhaps they have benefited from increased trade up the Leuca - or, being a border sept, feel safer backed by Rome's soldiery). 

Still, no reports of the revolt have come into the forts.

Day Three:

A fleeing trader arrives at Fort Nidenum, telling of the revolt of the central sept. No news has yet arrived at any other fort. The local commander at Nidenum discounts the trader's story; assuming he has simply had a brush with brigands, and panicked.

The revolt appears to be spreading - but another north-western sept remains loyal, blocking rebel messengers from fomenting trouble.

Day Four:

The commander at Nindenum is made aware of local rumours of trouble in the central hills, and, having a rethink, decides to send a patrol to investigate matters.

Fort Firmium receives news of the revolt in the north (but not of concerns in the centre). Patrols are sent out. A message indicating that worrying rumours are circulating is sent to Isca.

The revolt continues to spread - but slowly; especially with the rebel leader being hesitant to leave the seat of the revolt. 

Day Five:

The rumours reach Fort Difforum, as the revolt spreads. The commander here sends a message to Isca about the rumours and dispatches a patrol northwards.

Fort Leuca hears of the revolt from friendly locals, but no message is sent to Isca.
Ditto Fort Oceamium.

In the north it is clear that this is escalating into a major issue; the patrols from Firmium confirming hostile activity. A message confirming the revolt is sent from Firmium to Isca. A messenger is also sent to Serrovium - which itself only becomes aware of whispers (from local sources) of the dangers at day's end; just before the arrival of the message.

Meanwhile, the senior Tribune (Ist. Tungrians) at Firmium calls a council of war. He thinks a force should be sent at once to crush the revolt at source. However,  the Tribune of the Nervii urges caution, and the two centurions of the IInd. are divided; not least because in the chain of command they answer to Isca, rather than to the c.o. of Firmium. No action is therefore taken. THIS may prove to be a lost opportunity. The senior of the two legionary centurions sends a messenger to Isca asking for guidance.

Isca has not, so far, reacted in any way.

The situation at close of Day Five below. There have been no clashes of yet.....

However, we shall see...