The attack on Urgal and the terrible Oliphaunt

Dear Gaius:
Oh fickle hand of fate! Oh cruel mistress of fortune, who raises us so high then smites us down! I hope this letter reaches you friend Gaius, though I be deep in the territory of the dreaded Gothians. Following our triumph as related in my last missive, our hero Julius Crassus struck deep into the heart of Goth territory, the goths refusing battle until we threatened their city of Urgal, but pride cometh before the fall as those heretical Christians are wont to say. I will get straight to the point, and hope my misery can be salved some what.

Our Roman cavalry faced off against half the gothian cavalry which sat atop a hill. Our legions and artillery were to the left, faced by the remainder of the gothian horsemen. But wonder to behold, the Gothians had an armoured oliphaunt amongst their force! No one has seen one of these beasts in generations, and it was thought the king of the east, Antiochus Nicator, kept them all for himself, never to let them out of his own army. Yet this beast was clearly crewed by soldiers of the Eastern king. Worrying enough without all the other bad news. Our cavalry on the right flank fought the gothians and had the worst of it, yet the greatest disaster was to befall our left flank. The gothian cavalry charged our legion and many men were slain on each side, until the gothians were forced to retire, but before they had slain almost all the men of Julius Crassus legion. The oliphaunt advanced steadfastly, and even a squarely aimed stone flung from our catapult failed to halt the monstrous creature. Julius Crassus bodyguard untimely fled, despite our leaders protests. Seeing this, our artillery crews fled as well. Our remaining legion fled immediately once the oliphaunt came within striking distance.

Our valiant legions fight hopelessly against the Gothian horde,
while the dreaded oliphaunt approaches from within the
town of Urgal.

So there you have it, a shameful defeat indeed. The army is in tatters and withdrawing rapidly back to the river Kwai and the bridge at St. Marks. Perhaps I will see you soon, dear Gaius.

I remain:
Flavius Flachus

Julius Crassus gets revenge

Dearest Gaius, how very different are the circumstances of this letter than the last! I trust you will be the first to hear the glorious news, I am entrusting the letter to my nephew Trebonius, himself carrying the official dispatch from Crassus himself.

As you will no doubt recall, after Julius Crassus unauthorized and disastrous attack on the Gothians his honour was at an all time low, and some whispered that the emperor may imprison him - or worse. All will be forgiven now, I can assure you!

Julius Crassus mustered what was left of his army, and called in every favour from every client he possesses. He put together a large cohort, and even 300 cavalry! The gothians were brought to battle near a small hamlet and its fields. The Goths held their line back, with a catapult firing from atop a hill, and a ballista shot at our cavalry skewering several with each volley. Julius ordered his 120 archers to take and hold a small wood from which they could fire at the catapult, eventually slaying its crew. Meanwhile the legionarii and cavalry advanced steadily. The cavalry was slowed down by the hamlets fields, yet they advanced never-the-less.

Our cavalry in the foreground advance through the field, while the
cowardly gothians wait while their siege machines do all the fighting.

At this point - Gods be praised and glory to our general Julius Crassus! - the Gothians nerve failed at our relentless advance, and they fled without a blow struck. Their general managed to rally them back to the battle, yet when our legionarii and cavalry charged they fled once more, this time for good. Our cavalry lost 23 men and our archers lost only 14, all due to Gothian artillery.

After a mighty victory like this, their is only one thing a true roman could do...advance and conquer! Much glory to Rome and her mighty legions.

Truly, friend Gaius, words cannot alone express Romes glory so here I will end this missive, young Trebonius is saddled and impatiently awaiting my finishing this letter. So without further ado, good luck and glory to Rome...always!

Julius Crassus vs. the Gothians

Dear Gaius, I hope this letter finds you well. I am so happy that your wife is once again with child! Truly you are blessed with many fine sons and daughters. Not a day goes by when I don't think of my poor Maria, gone these ten years.

But much more important matters are afoot than the cares of people such as you and I. The entire empire was shocked when our emperor Draco Severus sent peace envoys to the Gothians after their raid on St. Marks! Shameful indeed. Julius Crassus, leader of the border legions, raised a cohort of men at his own expense and marched off to seek redress of our wrongs from the Gothians. Honour is not yet dead in the Roman Empire.

Julius force was a single 480 man cohort of legionarii, assisted by 120 archers and 5 large ballistas. Our small force crossed the river Kwai and marched for 3 days into Gothian territory before we found the Gothians who had burnt St. Marks. There were no less than 300 of them, all well-mounted nobles. The barbarians quickly offered battle.

The Gothian horde.

The heroic band of Julius Crassus.

The entire battlefield seen from the
south atop my hill. The Romans are on the left.

The Goths advanced en masse. Our archers sprinted forward to shoot from close range,  and our ballistas shot as well. Alas, only minor causalties were inflicted. The rampaging Gothians then impacted our legionarii. The archers fled, and the impact of the heavy Goth cavalry pushed our legionarii back. The Goths continued to surge forward until the legionarii broke and fled the battle. In all, our romans lost 93 killed, though our archers and ballista crews escaped unscathed. The Goths lost 72 men killed or wounded, a poor trade indeed. I fled for my life for several days until I crossed the border back into the empire. I found your letter waiting and wrote back soonest.

Please do not worry about me, I am exhausted though unharmed. Pray instead for Julius Crassus who tried only to avenge Rome but brought shame instead. I fear the emperor will be wrathful.

Your friend, Flavius Flachus.

Goths over the River Kwai

Year 100 of the Roman Empire

Dearest Gaius, I'm sure by now you have heard of the dreadful happenings here in Panon province. I myself witnessed the raid of the Gothian hordes and massacre of the poor people of the village of Saint Marks. I want to assure you that I myself am unharmed and safe, but I thought you would like an eyewitness account of the happenings.

Two weeks after the full moon, the Gothians attacked the bridge over the river Kwai. Julius Crassus led the legions of our empire against the barbarian horde to defend the vital river crossing. 1200 legionaries set themselves to defend the bridge, while 1200 more stood atop Marcus hill in a more defensible position. 900 barbarians atop their mighty warhorses stormed at the bridge, while 600 of their brethen looted and burned the unhappy village of St.Marks. The legion and the horde first met in a hail of darts and javelins with many causalties. The battle for the bridge was then joined in earnest with many hundreds dying on either side until the waters of the river Kwai ran red with mens lifeblood. Eventually our heroic soldiers of the empire secured the bridge and took no less then 300 barbarians prisoner. The other 600 barbarians continued to loot the unhappy village of St. Marks, oblivious to the plight of their brethen. Julius Crassus ordered the legionaries set atop Marcus hill to cross the bridge and attack these dastardly raiders in the rear whilst they were distracted with slaughter and plundered riches. But before they could arrive the villains, sated at last with loot and wine, climbed atop their horses and left for their own lands.

Praise the gods for the hero Julius Crassus who saved our empire from worse devastation, and pray for the poor souls of St.Marks village, may they rest in peace. There is talk that Julius Crassus will lead a raid into the lands of the Goths, and I will of course keep you informed.

P.S. Is your wife still having trouble sleeping? The flowers of Astorious picked at dawn and eaten at dusk are sovereign against insomnia.

Your friend, Flavius Flachus.