The Army Without a General
The Army without a General Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Battle on the Sicoris River, May 49 BC
Historical Background
Caesar's advance force under Fabius Maximus arrived some weeks before Caesar himself and set up camp near Afranius on the North bank in preparation of a siege. The Sicoris River proved difficult for both sides as it would suddenly rise and wash away bridges. Fabius built two bridges about four miles apart to enable his units to forage on the southern bank. Skirmishing between foraging parties and cavalry was frequent.
A mere two days before Caesar was to arrive, Fabius sent two legions across the downstream bridge to forage. Just after they crossed but before their escorting cavalry could join them, the river turned into a torrent and demolished the bridge. Fabius at once headed toward the northern bridge with two more legions plus cavalry as a relief force.
Afranius, noting the opportunity, led four legions across his own bridge which happened to be closer than Fabius' northern bridge. His cavalry surrounded the two isolated legions under Lucius Munatius Plancus who immediately formed square.
Afranius' primary objective was to keep his army intact and keep Caesar occupied so that Pompey could build up forces to retake Rome. However, the opportunity to destroy two of Caesar's isolated legions was too good to miss. If successful he would have damaged Caesar's prestige considerably. He pressed Plancus hard but the square held until Fabius arrived. Not willing to risk his force further, Afranius fell back to his camp. Fabius collected the shaken legions, and brought them back to camp, undoubtedly very glad he didn't have to explain their loss to Caesar.
When Caesar arrived, he began digging his siege lines and tried to tempt Afranius into battle by deploying closer and closer to Ilerda and Afranius' camp. Afranius would also deploy, but at the top of the hill on which Ilerda stood. Caesar declined the bait.
Scenario Rules
Map: Use the Pharsalus (North Map). 42xx is the Northern edge. The stream is the Sicoris River and is impassable.
Senatorial Deployment: Facing NE
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| L. Afranius [OC/SC] | With any L or Galician Cohort |
| M. Petreius [SC] | With any XVI or XVII Cohort |
| Pacideus 1 Praefect | With any Cavalry unit |
| XVI, XVII, L and Galician Tribunes | With any Cohort of respective Legions |
| Cohorts 1-4 | 1328-2821 |
| Cohorts 5-7 | 1426-2520 |
| Cohorts 8-10 | 1324-2419 |
| Balearic Slingers (2) [a] | Anywhere on map |
| Crete Archers (2) [a] | Anywhere on map |
| Gaul LN 1 [a] | Anywhere on map |
| Spain RC 1-3 [a] | Anywhere on map |
Caesarian Deployment [b]
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| Plancus (SC) [c] | With any Cohort |
| XIV, V Legion Tribunes | With any Cohort of respective Legions |
| XIV Legion Cohorts 1-5 | 1933-2331 |
| XIV Cohorts 6-8 | 1934-2135 |
| XIV Cohorts 9-10 | 2334-2832 |
| V Legion Cohorts 1-5 | 2431-2829 |
| V Cohorts 6-8 | 2929-2931 |
| V Cohorts 9-10 | 2633-2732 |
| Aux Archers 1-3 | 2335, 2533, 2832 |
Notes:
- a = Auxiliares and Cavalry may set up anywhere and with any facing, but may be no closer than four hexes to any Caesarian unit.
- b = All units may be faced in any direction desired after the Senatorial player sets up. Historically, all units faced "outward."
- c = Use Lepidus, or the L.Plancus on the C3i Nr. 10 insert.
Special Rules
- Starting with second game turn, the Caesarian player rolls one die. If the die is less than or equal to the current turn number, Fabius arrives with his relief force. It consists of F. Maximus [OC/SC], VII and IX Legions plus Tribunes, Gaul LN 1, German BC 2-3, and a Cavalry Praefect. Units enter from the Northern edge and may be in column (6.4) if desired.
Retreat Edge: Caesarians retreat to the north edge; Senatorials to the south edge.
Victory: The Caesarian army withdraws when it has accumulated 98 RPs (whether or not Fabius is on the board). The Senatorials withdraw when they have accumulated 65 RPs.
Balance: Favors the Senatorial player unless Fabius arrives quickly. To aid the Caesarians replace the L (50th) Legion with one of the Spanish legions. Delbrück claims that Afranius only attacked with three legions, not four as Caesar claims. To help Fabius even more, delete the L Legion. If you believe the Senatorials need help, raise their rout ratio to 30%.
Army Size and TQ Levels
| Army | Size | TQ Pts | Rout Ratio | Quality Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caesarians | 214 | 291 | 35% | 6.32 |
| Senatorials | 224 | 273 | 25% | 5.69 |
Battle of Ilerda, June 49 BC
Historical Background
One day, Caesar deployed with a mere three legions, leaving six cohorts behind in camp. This time Afranius came down to the base of the hill—and the battle began.
In heavy fighting, Afranius seized a small hillock before Caesar's XV Legion could gain it, forcing the Caesarians back and shaking their confidence. Caesar attributed this to "unfairness" of the Spanish troops, saying they rushed forward without discipline, which upset Caesar's men as they were unused to such actions. Interesting logic. Nonetheless, Caesar came to the aid of the XV with the IX Legion and forced the Senatorials back. Caesar's superior cavalry did what they could, but the terrain was difficult for them.
Having shaken Caesar's men, Afranius conducted a fighting withdrawal back up the hill and into Ilerda. Traffic problems at the gates resulted in more fatalities than the battle as Caesar's cohorts pressed on the retreating men, but Afranius got them inside without heavy loss.
After that heavy skirmish—which both sides claimed as a victory— Caesar concentrated on hemming Afranius in. Completely out-classed in cavalry, the Senatorials rapidly lost the ability to forage. Afranius and Petreius delayed as long as they could, buying time for Pompey. Finally, when the Sicoris was high and both Caesar's bridges had been washed away, they crossed and demolished their own bridge.
They then marched for the mountains and the Ebro River with their baggage train, intending to carry on the war and detain Caesar even longer.
Caesar knew what was a stake if he got bogged down in Spain. He crossed his army at a chest-deep ford. His cavalry fished out any legionaries who were swept off their feet. He crossed without loss. Then he marched after the Senatorials, sending his superior cavalry to harass and slow them.
In another of his famed forced marches, Caesar crossed nearly impassable terrain, got around Afranius and his baggage train, and fortified the pass ahead of them, blocking their route to the Ebro. The Pompeians sat for a full day, seemingly dumbfounded, then decided to break out towards the coast. They would proceed to Tarraco and split their forces, carrying on a guerrilla war to detain Caesar. With this in mind they reversed course and headed back towards Ilerda, intending to turn east once out of the mountains.
Caesar once more maneuvered around them and blocked them before they could leave the hills, fortifying the defile in front of them. With his troops demoralized by these retreats, and unable to assault the fortifications, Afranius capitulated to Caesar's terms. Pompey's legates were allowed to flee, and the Pompeian legionaries received their full pay and discharge. Many immediately signed up again with Caesar. The victory at Ilerda showed Caesar at his best. He achieved complete success in two months with little bloodshed in a war where he simply outmaneuvered his opponents.
Sources: Caesar, The Civil Wars; Hans Delbrück, Warfare in Antiquity; Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, Plutarch, Life of Caesar; Plutarch, Comparison of Caesar and Alexander.
Scenario Rules
Map: Use the Munda map. 42xx row is the North edge. All green, white and yellow hexes are Level 1. The castra is the town of Ilerda; Caesarian units may not enter. The Sicoris River is just off the South edge.
Caesarian Deployment: All units face SE
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| J. Caesar [OC] | With any Cohort |
| F. Maximus [SC] [a] | With any Cohort |
| IX, XIV, XV Legion Tribunes | With any Cohort of respective Legions |
| Cavalry Praefects (2) | With any cavalry unit |
| Legion Cohorts 1-5 | 2016-3423 |
| XIV Cohorts 6-8 | 2215-2416 |
| IX Cohorts 6-8 | 2717-2918 |
| XV Cohorts 6-8 | 3320-3421 |
| Aux Archers (2) | 2018, 3224 |
| Aux Slingers (2) | 1817, 3425 |
| Gaul LN 1-2 | 3622, 3722 |
| German BC 3-4 |
Senatorial Deployment: All units face NW
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| L. Afranius [OC/SC] [b] | With any Cohort |
| M. Petreius [SC] [c] | With any Cohort |
| XVI, XVII, L, Spanish A, Galician Legion Tribunes | With any Cohort of respective Legions |
| C. Piso Praefect | 1031 |
| Legion Cohorts 1-3 | 1621-3028 |
| Legion Cohorts 4-6 | 1522-2929 |
| Legion Cohorts 7-9 | 1424-2831 |
| Crete Archers (2) | 2423, 3227 |
| Balearic Slingers (3) | 1619, 2021, 2825 |
| Spanish RC 1-3 | 1030-1032 |
Notes:
- a = Fabius is section commander for all three legions, freeing Caesar for overall command.
- b = Afranius is section commander for the L, Spanish A and Galician Legions.
- c = Petreius is section commander for the XVI and XVII Legions.
Retreat Edge: Senatorial units rout in the direction of Ilerda. They may only enter via 1033 and 1436 and are removed from play when they do. Caesarian units rout towards Caesar's camp—the row of hexes 3000-4000 along the Northwest edge.
Victory: The Senatorial army withdraws once it accumulates 71 RPs. Caesar's army withdraws once it accumulates 57 RPs. If Caesar is killed, the Senatorials win immediately.
Balance: Favors the Senatorial player. Although Caesar has a superior command structure, his outnumbered cohorts have a tough time withstanding three waves of Senatorials. Knowing he was so outnumbered, why did Caesar leave six cohorts (one fifth of his strength) behind in camp? To aid Caesar, add the ninth cohort of each legion to his second line. If you feel the Senatorials need help, allow placement of two ballistae in any two tower hexes of Ilerda.
Army Size and TQ Levels
| Army | Size | TQ Pts | Rout Ratio | Quality Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caesarians | 140 | 191 | 30% | 5.97 |
| Senatorials | 245 | 284 | 25% | 5.36 |