Auxiliary Cohort ...

finally got round to painting up the last unit of auxiliaries (converted Italeri romans see http://romansgohome.blogspot.com/2018/01/final-tweak-to-auxiliaries-wip.html)

The unit has arrived at Botulinum after a tour of duty on the northern military frontier. They have been turned out on to the parade ground for an inspection ....

The legionaries are on the march ...

The detachment of the legion had left their headquarters at Condimentium and are marching to take up quarters in Botulinum - it is hoped their presence may quell the local unrest among the gallic tribes.

Roman Auxiliary Cavalry

An ala of roman auxiliary cavalry has arrived to re-inforce the garrison of Botulinum; they are being reviewed by the garrison commander ...

Escort the druid...

On the northern frontier, the romans are hunting for one of last remaining druids.  A party of Gauls is trying to get the druid to the forest and then on south-west to the safety of Queen Gargamantua's territory....

the Gauls escorting the druid move through the woodland towards the forest ....

they move out of the woodland into a small valley with stream running through it .....

a small group of romans blunder into the group as they move forward, they fall back after being fired on by the gallic archers...

the Gauls now move a little more cautiously, their scouts encounter another group of romans

the Gauls prepare to attack the romans, their slingers and archers pick off a couple of romans...

the romans fall back too the cover of the rocks, those in the open are attacked by the Gauls ....

the romans are badly mauled and form a tight group in the safety of the rocks, meanwhile the Gauls move forward -with the druid being escorted towards the river - the gallic scouts have spotted more romans by the ford over the river

as the Gauls move to distract the romans by the ford they keep up pressure on the romans in the rocks using their slingers and archers ...

the druid and his escort have reached the river, but to their dismay they find more romans in position on the far bank between them and the forest ....

the gallic warriors charge across the river with the druid to their left, the romans throw their pilums to great effect and the most of them are hit ...

the romans move forward to try and get to the druid while they fight off other Gauls who have crossed the river ...

the romans beat back the attacking Gauls and capture the druid....

the romans start to close in on the remaining Gauls who fall back and make their escape....

In the garden ...

The governor takes a break from work and goes for a stroll in the garden with his wife ...

(Notes: a couple of borders borrowed from Wittenberg palace gardens..)

supplies for the watchtower ....

Some Gauls are on the move...

a couple more are looking at a nearby watchtower...

 where some supplies are being delivered ....

[new items: seven gauls and two roman pack horses]

Marching to the drums ....

The 10th Legion, returning from the northern forntier, are not far from their base at Condimentium. The commander orders the drums to beat and the horns to sound..

 they march on ....

Ballista practice ....

The commander of the Botulinum garrison and some of his officers watch the firing practice of some newly arrived ballistas ....

---oXo---

Oblivious to the goings on of the romans, Obelix is on his way to Carnac to deliver a menhir ....

[new items: Italeri Fabri ballista and crew; 2 modified PlayMobil ballistas; Obelix figure with menhir]

The Xth Legion starts its march back ...

Legio X has completed their tour of duty on the northern frontier, the troops are leaving one of the  forts near the border and are just about to start their march back south to Condimentium.

 

 Some troops have been assembled outside the fort and will join onto the end of column when commanded ....

 baggage carts and pack horses on the move ....

The wives of the officers, who had been staying in a villa a few miles away will travel back in a coach ...

The head of the column, with standards and legionary mascot...

 

The column is now formed up on the road and the order to move off has been given .....

More troops for the garrison of Botulinum

The commander of the garrison of Botulinum is informed that a column of troops is approaching the main gate

 The column is the re-inforcement for the garrison which should have arrived a couple of weeks ago...

 The garrison commander is pleased to see two cohorts in the column. Worth the wait he mused, now he would have enough men to man the walls in an emergency.

 The column comprises two auxiliary cohorts, one of which is archers ...

However no news yet of of the vexilliation of the 10th Legion; delayed due to further trouble on the northern border.

[new items: roman road sections, made using acrylic floor tile strips on MDF bases]

On route by sea ...

Gaius Cocceius has been appointed Legate to take command of the 10th legion and all associated auxiliary troops - his mandate to assist the regional governor to maintain order and take offensive action to suppress any local uprisings.

He has left his estates in Hispania and has taken ship on a naval transport vessel

his journey will take him north along the coast where he will land in northern Gaul at the naval base of Gesoriacum, from there he will travel inland to the legionary headquarters at Condimentium.
[ new item - a PlayMobil roman ship; just the right sort of size for my 54mm; a rather short bireme though]

A message for the governor ..

The governor was in Botulinum and had just finished inspecting the new civic offices, when one of his clerks appeared out of the crowd

The clerk reached the governor, a message sir from the regional military commander, you asked me to bring it to you as soon as it arrived ..

 The governor unrolled the scroll and read the contents..
A vexilliation of Legio X has been approved, you will need to make preparations to provide for 4 cohorts. These troops will not arrive until the rest of Legio X on service at the northern frontier return to the legionary fortress of Condimentium, this should be in about a month's time. In addition an extra cohort of auxiliaries has been despatched and should arrive at Botulinum within the week. 

Action on the northern frontier ....

A vexilliation of the 10th legion is on duty on the northern frontier. A gallic force had swept south and raided a couple of small border towns and some rich villas. The 7th cohort of the 10th with a detachment of auxiliaries have been sent to intercept them before they get to far north.

---oXo---

The roman intercept force closes in on the slow moving gauls ....

 the gauls dilly dallying, laden with booty, continue slowly northwards ...

the gauls realizing the romans have caught up with them decide to turn and fight. Javelin men skirmish with the roman auxilairies .....

the carts loaded with their ill gotten gains from the raid continue towards home territory with a small escort ...

The gauls start to assemble ...

the roman auxilairies hold their ground as the legionaries move up in support ...

the roman auxiliaries fall back to join with the legionaries who have deployed ....

the gauls charge ....

the romans stand firm

the fighting continues

the gauls start to waver as the romans cut them up ... thinning out their numbers ....

its to much and the gauls turn and run ......

the romans hold their ground and wait for another onslaught;  as there is no sign of another attack,  the cohort commander decides to form up and march back to the safety of the frontier fort.