Morning broke early as I gazed across the field. Summer was in full swing and soon my troopers would curse me for taking them from the cool winds of the Mediterranean into this devilish heat. I, General Madcamius, was charged to capture a strategic crossroads on the spice trail from our Eastern neighbors. We were supposed to be one Empire, but time and distance had long separated us. (1)

I wanted this over quickly. I didn't like it. Romans shouldn't be fighting each other like common barbarians. I began to think we might be becoming not unlike the hordes we used to swell our ranks - Uncivilized!

Orders being orders, and being raised by the legion, I set out to do my best in the undertaking I was asked to perform. I had pushed my men hard chasing this enemy, and it wasn't easy bringing them to battle. These damn horsemen just wouldn't stand to fight. For the past two weeks, they harassed my marches with surprise raids on my flanks and lines of communication. These hit and run attacks were designed to delay me while a more effective fighting force was brought up to face me. I was positive it would surely outnumber me, but my calls to Rome for additional men and more artillery fell on deaf ears. Instead of my material, I was given promises of glories untold by windbags puffed up on their own importance. So much for the glory of Rome.

The Armies Deploy

Ah, but now this 17th day of my campaign, I had these Easterners caught. I was only a hard day's ride from the crossroads and still there was no relief force arrayed to meet me. It would be left to this rag-tag bunch of horsemen to prevent me from my goal. I had seen their worth in delaying me, but by the gods, they were no match for the cold steel that was the Legion! My camp was made between some foothills in my right rear flank. I didn't want to spare any men to guard it should the enemy spring his relief force on me. (2)

But in order to prevent some other treachery I placed some mercenary archers amongst the hills for added protection. Rumor had it, my opposite was my old nemesis, General Soikas, and he was no stranger to battle. We had crossed swords many times and I respected his skill. I would have to be sharp to carry the fight.

I began to form my battle plan. I was only concerned with a large wooded hill that guarded his right flank. Who knew what lay within? Preparing for the worst, I aligned my own command opposite. If anything were so foolish to charge out, I would unleash my knights and grind them into the dust! On my right was the rest of my mounted: Fierce Alani horsemen. They seemed impervious to the heat being so close to their home. With them rode a small contingent of Equites Sagittarii and a detachment of the Auxilia Palatina. On the extreme end of my line was a mighty force of foot. The Legionarii would not allow the enemy breaking through to the camp. Never before had they failed in this task. Today would be no different.

Soikas had cunningly deployed his horsemen with his Phoideratoi up front opposite the Alans. On each flank were detachments of his Optimates groups together with defensors. For such a large camp I thought he would have more numbers to face me with. Could it be we caused this much damage to him in our march? After some consideration I was sure Soikas had some trick up his sleeve. I quickly dispatched the Equites Sagitarri to assist the Legion defend the camp, and passed the order to guard well the flanks. With the final preparations set, I gave the order for the advance.

The Battle Begins

War being war, the further along the lines went, the slower the response to my commands. My own troops had made it to the woody hill with easy, but alas, the noble legions lagged badly. Briefly, I thought some treachery was afoot, or the fools placed in command by the Senate had misunderstood their orders. Where I wanted a general advance, instead turned out to be an attack in echelon. I quickly realized if I didn't rectify this Soikas would isolate the groups and defeat them piecemeal.

Almost prophetically he responded, and I could almost hear a discernible laugh. Unseen, he had a full contingency of horse hidden from me behind the woody hill. Easily deployable to take full advantage of my right flank, he could then roll up my army with the greatest of ease. I frantically searched for the men to counter this threat and once again cursed those fools back safe in Rome for not heeding my calls for more troops! I had committed my small detachment of the Palatina to take command of the hill expecting there to be but skirmishers within. But wait! Instead of carrying through with his bold encirclement, for reasons known only to Soikas, he recalled these savages to the center to apparently act as a reserve. Never being one to look a gift from the Gods and waste it, I again signaled for the all out advance. I knew now I outnumbered him by almost 2:1 and if he wanted a frontal slugfest, by Mars I was going to give it to him!

The battle lasted but hours. After his horse pushed my screen of Illyricani light horseback, I unleashed the knights. They hit the enemy as Soikas desperately tried to re-organize. But it was too late. He knew better than to try to take on the Legion, which allowed me to recall my Sagitarii to give me even greater numbers at the point of impact. Victory was mine! I gave orders to mop up and to bring me Soikas, alive if possible.

So turned out my first game at this year's Origins DBM tournament. I did wonder as to why George didn't go for the encirclement when he had great initial pips to do so. Had he carried through with this, I would have been struggling to do much to prevent it, just as General Madcamius had feared. But this was only his second time out with this army and he is still working out the kinks in it. So ends the game in a 10 - 0 victory to me.

Notes:

(1) George's army was a Maurikian Byzantine army that is approximately 200 years later than my Late Imperial Roman army. This is one of the bonus's playing DBM. You can produce realistic battles against "fantasy" opponents.

(2) I was the attacker and George defended. He had to place his baggage out in the open, but he was fortunately enough to but some temporary fortifications to protect it. This is a good idea since he had a fully mounted army and he really couldn't concern himself with it.