de bello gallico, 5.48

Caesar, his plan having been approved, although having been disappointed in his idea of three legions he had returned to two, yet placed his one aid for the common safety in speed. He comes into the territory of the Nervii by long marches. There he learns from captives what things are being born in the camp of Cicero, and in how much danger the situation is. Then with great rewards he induces a certain man from the Gallic cavalry to carry a letter to Cicero. This he sends written in Greek letters, lest, with the letter having been intercepted, our plans should be learned by the enemy. He warns him, if he should be unable to enter, to throw his spear with the letter fastened to the thong, within the fortifications of the camp. He writes in the letter that, having set out with his legions, he will quickly be there: he urges (him) to uphold his former valor. The Gaul, having feared danger, threw his spear as he had been ordered. This, by chance, stuck to a tower and, not having been noticed by our men for two days, was seen by a certain soldier on the third day, having been taken down, it was carried to Cicero. That man, it having been read (by him), read it aloud in an assembly of the soldiers, and the greatest joy moves all. Then the smoke of the fires was seen in the distance, a circumstance which banished all doubt of the arrival of the legions.

de bello gallico, 5.47

Having been made sure of the arrival of Crassus by the scouts at about the third hour, on this day he advances twenty miles. He put Crassus in charge of Samarobriva and assigns a legion, because he was leaving there the baggage of the army, the hostages of the states, the public documents, and all the corn which he had conveyed thither for the sake of enduring the winter. Fabius, as he had been commanded, having delayed not so much, meets him on the march with his legion. Labienus—with the death of Sabinus and the slaughter of the cohorts having been recognized, when all the forces of the Treveri had come against him, having feared lest, if he had made a departure from his winter-quarters, similar to a flight, he would not be able to sustain the attack of the enemy, especially whom he knew to be elated by their recent victory—sends back a letter to Caesar: with how much danger he would have lead out his legion from winter quarters; he reports situation having occurred among the Eburones; he informs (him) that all the cavalry and infantry troops of the Treveri had encamped three miles distant from his own camp.

de bello gallico, 5.46

Caesar, the letters having been received about the eleventh hour of the day, immediately sends a messenger among the Bellovaci, to Marcus Crassus, quaestor there, whose winter-quarters were twenty-five miles distant from him; he orders the legion to set out in the middle of the night and come to him quickly. Crassus set out with the messenger. He sends another to Gaius Fabius, the lieutenant, to lead his legion into the territories of the Atrebates, to which he knew his march must be made. He writes to Labienus to come with his legion to the territory of the Nervii, if he could act for the advantage of the republic. He does not think that the remaining portion of the army, because it was somewhat farther distant, should be waited for; he gathers about 400 horsemen from the nearest winter-quarters.

de bello gallico, 5.45

By as much as the attack was daily more serious and bitter, and especially because, with a great number of the soldiers having been exhausted by their wounds, the matter had come to a scarcity of defenders, by so much were more frequent letters and messengers sent to Caesar; a part of which, having been captured, were killed with torture in the sight of our soldiers. There was within our camp one Nervian, by name Vertico, born in a distinguished position, who from the beginning of the blockade had deserted to Cicero, and had exhibited his fidelity to him. This man persuades his slave, by the hope of freedom and great rewards, to carry a letter to Caesar. That man carries these out tied onto his javelin, and, a Gaul having moved about among the Gauls without any suspicion, he reached Caesar. From him it is learned about the dangers of Cicero and the legion.

de bello gallico, 5.44

In that legion there were very brave men, centurions, who were approaching the first ranks, T. Pullo, and L. Vorenus. These used to have everlasting disputes between them (over) who should be preferred, and in every year they used to contend for promotion with the greatest rivalries. From these, when it was being fought most bitterly at the fortifications, Pullo says, "Why do you hesitate, Vorenus? or for what spot for praise of your virtue do you look? This day will decide our disputes." When he had uttered these words, he proceeded beyond the fortifications, and rushed on what part of the enemy appeared the most crowded. Vorenus did not even contain himself to the rampart, but, having respected the opinion of all, followed close after. Then, with an inconsiderable space left, Pullo throws his javelin among the enemy, and pierces one of the multitude running up; with which man having been wounded and slain, the enemy cover him with their shields, and everybody throws their weapons at the enemy and give no opportunity of retreating. The shield of Pullo is pierced and a javelin is fastened in his belt. This circumstance turns aside his scabbard and obstructs the right hand of the one attempting to draw his sword, and the enemy surround him (now) hindered. His rival, Vorenus, runs up to that man and succors him struggling. Immediately the whole crowd turns itself from Pullo to this man; they judge that man killed by the javelin. Vorenus with his sword manages the combat hand to hand, and, with one man having been slain, drove back the rest a little: while he urges on eagerly, having slipped into a lower spot, he fell. To this man surrounded in turn, Pullo brings aid, and, with very many having been slain, both safely take themselves back within the fortifications with the highest praise. Fortune thus turned each in contention and strife so that the one rival was an aid and a salvation to the other, nor could it be determined which of the two seemed to be carried by his virtue before the other.

de bello gallico, 5.43

On the seventh day of the attack, with a very great wind having sprung up, they began to throw balls of hot molded clay with slings and heated javelins upon the huts, which, by the Gallic custom, had been covered with thatch. These quickly took fire, and, by the greatness of the wind, spread into every part of the camp. The enemy with a very loud shout, as if victory were already obtained and assured, began to drive their towers and movable sheds and to climb the rampart with ladders. But so great was the courage of our soldiers and such was their presence of mind that, although they were scorched by flame on all sides, and were pressed by the greatest multitude of weapons, and were aware that all their baggage and all their wealth were burning, not only did no one leave the rampart for the sake of withdrawing, but nearly did not any one even look behind, and then they all fought most fiercely and most bravely. This day was by far most serious for our men, but yet it had this outcome that on that day the largest number of the enemy was wounded and slain, as they had crowded under the rampart itself, and the last men were not giving the first a retreat. The flame indeed having abated a little and in a certain place with a tower having been driven up and touching the rampart, the centurions of the third cohort retired from this place in which they were standing and drew back all their men; they began to call the enemy by gesture and by words to enter if they should wish; of whom none dared to advance. Then, with stones having been cast from every direction, they were dislodged and their tower was set on fire.

de bello gallico, 5.42

Rebuffed from this hope, the Nervii surround the winter quarters with a rampart of eleven feet and a ditch of thirteen feet. These also they had learned from our men in the experience of former years, and they were instructed by these whom they had as captive secretly from the army: but, as there was no supply of iron tools which were suitable for this use, they were seen to cut the turf with swords and to empty out the earth with their hands and cloaks. From which circumstance indeed, the multitude could be inferred; for in less than three hours they completed a fortification of fifteen miles in circumference: and, during the rest of the days, they began to prepare and make towers to the height of the rampart, grappling irons, and movable sheds, which the same prisoners had taught them.

de bello gallico, 5.41

Then the leaders and chiefs of the Nervii, who had any access for conversation and reason for friendship with Cicero, say that they want to confer with him. With a chance having been created, they mention the same things which Ambiorix had delivered to Titurius: that all Gaul was in arms, that the Germans had crossed the Rhine, that the winter-quarters of Caesar and of the rest were being attacked. They add also about the death of Sabinus. They point out Ambiorix for the purpose of making trust. They say that they are mistaken if they hope for any defence (part. gen.) from those who lack confidence in their own affairs; but they are of this mind toward Cicero and the Roman people that they deny them nothing except winter-quarters and do not wish that this custom become habitual; through them it is permitted for those, safe, to depart from their winter-quarters and to set out without fear into whatever parts they wish. To these Cicero replies just one: that it is not the custom of the Roman people to accept a condition from an armed enemy: if they wish to lay down their arms, they may use him as their supporter and send ambassadors to Caesar: he hoped, from his [Caesar's] justice, that they would obtain the things which they would request.

de bello gallico, 5.40

Letters are immediately sent to Caesar by Cicero, with a great rewards offered if they would have carried them through. With all the roads having been beset, those sent are intercepted. During the night out of the material which they had collected for the sake of fortification a full 120 towers are raised with incredible speed: the things which seemed necessary for the work are completed. The following day the enemy, with greater forces by far having been collected, attack the camp; they fill up the ditch. It is resisted by our men in the same manner by which the day before; this same thing happens thereafter/successively during the remaining days. No part of the night time is omitted for the work: not even to the sick or wounded is chance given for rest: whatever things are necessary for the assault of the next day are provided during the night: many stakes burned at the end and a large number of mural pikes are prepared: towers are covered with boards, battlements and parapets are formed with wickerwork. Cicero himself, although he was of very weak health, did not leave himself the night time for repose, so that he was forced to spare himself by the spontaneous running and voices of the soldiers.