de bello gallico, 5.33

Then at last Titurius, who had seen to nothing before, was fearful and running back and forth and arranging his cohorts, yet these things themselves seemed (to be done) timidly and so that everything failed him; which very often was accustomed to happen to those who were forced to make a plan in distress itself. But Cotta, who had thought that these things could happen on the journey and on account of this reason, had not been a supporter of the journey, in no circumstance was he lacking for the common safety and in calling and urging his soldiers he was fulfilling the duties of a general and in battle (those) of a soldier. When on account of the length of the line they were less easily able to attend to everything through themselves and to see to what had to be done also on the spot, they ordered (them) to announce that they were to leave their baggage and gather in a circle. Which plan, although in a calamity of this sort is not to be chastised, nevertheless it turned out disastrously: for it both lessened hope for our soldiers and made the enemy more eager for battle, because it seemed that it had been done not without the greatest fear and desperation. Besides it happened, which was necessary to happen, that the soldiers universally left from their standards, which things each one of them held dearest he hastened to seek and snatch from the baggage train, all things were filled up with a shout and weeping.