Letter 10.30

On April 15, the day Pansa was expected to reach Hirtius' camp, I was with Pansa, for I had gone a hundred miles to meet him and hurry his arrival. Antony brought out two legions, the Second and the Thirty-Fifth, two praetorian cohorts, one his own and one Silanus', and part of the recalled veterans [evocati]. He came against us because he thought we had only four legions of recruits. But during the night, so that we could reach the camp more safely, Hirtius had sent us the Martian legion, which I usually commanded, and two praetorian cohorts. When Antony's cavalry appeared, neither the Martian legion nor the praetorian cohorts could be held back. We had to follow, since we could not restrain them. Antony was keeping his forces at Forum Gallorum and did not want it known that he had legions with him; he showed only cavalry and light-armed troops. When Pansa saw that the legion was advancing against his wishes, he ordered two recruit legions to follow him. After we crossed the narrow ground between marshes and woods, we drew up a line of twelve cohorts. The two legions had not yet arrived. Suddenly Antony brought his troops out of the village into line and charged without delay. At first the fighting on both sides was as fierce as fighting can be. The right wing, where I was with eight cohorts of the Martian legion, routed Antony's Thirty-Fifth legion in the first attack and advanced more than five hundred paces beyond the line where it had stood. Then, when the enemy cavalry tried to work around our wing, I began to withdraw and set the light-armed troops against the Moorish cavalry, so they could not attack our men from behind. Meanwhile I realized that I was among Antony's troops and that Antony himself was some distance behind me. I immediately spurred my horse toward the recruit legion coming from the camp, with my shield thrown back. Antony's men pursued me, while our men were ready to throw their javelins. By some stroke of fate I was saved, because our men quickly recognized me. On the Aemilian road itself, where Caesar's praetorian cohort was posted, the fighting went on for a long time. The left wing, which was weaker, began to give ground; there were two cohorts of the Martian legion and one praetorian cohort there, and they were being outflanked by cavalry, in which Antony is especially strong. When all our ranks had withdrawn, I began to withdraw last toward the camp. Antony, thinking himself the victor, believed he could take the camp. When he reached it, he lost many men there and accomplished nothing. When Hirtius heard what had happened, he met Antony as Antony was returning to his own camp, bringing twenty veteran cohorts against him. On the same day and in the same place where the battle had been fought, at Forum Gallorum, Hirtius destroyed all Antony's forces and put them to flight. Antony withdrew with his cavalry to his camp near Mutina at the fourth hour of the night. Hirtius returned to the camp from which Pansa had set out, where he had left the two legions attacked by Antony. So Antony has lost the greater part of his veteran forces. This could not be done, however, without some loss among our praetorian cohorts and the Martian legion. Two eagles and sixty standards of Antony's have been brought in. The operation has gone well. April 16, from camp.

DCCCXXXVIII (Fam. X, 30) SERVIUS SULPICIUS GALBA TO CICERO (AT ROME) CAMP NEAR MUTINA, 16 APRIL ON the 15th of April, the day on which Pansa was to arrive at the camp of Hirtius , with the former of whom I was — for I had gone along the road a hundred miles to hasten his arrival- Antony brought out two legions, the second and the thirty-fifth, and two praetorian cohorts, one his own and the other that of Silanus , and a party of reservists. He confronted us with such a force because he thought that we had only four legions of recruits. But in the course of the night, in order to enable us to reach the camp in greater safety, Hirtius had sent us the Martian legion — which I usually command — and two praetorian cohorts. As soon as Antony 's horsemen came in sight, neither the Martian legion nor the cavalry could be held back. The rest of us were obliged to follow them, as we could not stop them. Antony was keeping his men under cover at Forum Gallorum , and did not wish it to be known that he had the legions. He was allowing none but his cavalry and light-armed men to be seen. When Pansa saw that the legion was advancing in spite of him, he ordered two legions of recruits to follow his lead. As soon as we had got past the narrow ground of marsh and forest, our line was drawn up, consisting of twelve cohorts. The two legions had not yet come up. All on a sudden Antony brought his forces out of the village on to the field, and without waiting charged. At first the fighting was as keen as it was possible for it to be on both sides: although the right wing, on which I was with eight cohorts of the Martian legion, had at the first brush put Antony 's thirty-fifth legion to flight, so that it advanced more than five hundred paces beyond the line from its original ground. Accordingly, when the cavalry attempted to outflank our wing, I began to retire and to throw my light-armed troops in the way of the Moorish cavalry, to prevent their charging my men in the rear. Meanwhile, I became conscious that I was between two bodies of Antony 's troops, and that Antony was himself some way on my rear. I at once galloped towards the legion of recruits that was on its way up from camp, with my shield slung behind my back. Antony 's men set off in pursuit of me; while our own men began pouring in a volley of pila. It was a stroke of good luck that I got safely out of it, for I was soon recognized by our men. On the Aemilian road itself, where Caesar 's praetorian cohort was stationed, the fight was protracted. The left wing, being somewhat weak, consisting of two cohorts of the Martian legion and a praetorian cohort, began to give ground, because it was in danger of being outflanked by the cavalry, in which Antony is exceedingly strong. When all our lines had retired, I began retiring myself towards the camp on the extreme rear. Antony , regarding himself as having won the victory, thought that he could capture our camp. But when he reached it he lost a large number of men without accomplishing anything. The news having reached Hirtius , he met Antony as he was returning to his own camp with twenty veteran cohorts, and destroyed or put to flight his whole force, on the same ground as the battle had been fought, namely, at Forum Gallorum . Antony , with his cavalry, reached his camp near Mutina at the fourth hour after sunset. Hirtius returned to the camp, from which Pansa had issued, where he had left the two legions which had been assaulted by Antony . Thus Antony has lost the greater part of his veteran forces. This, however, naturally could not be accomplished without some loss in our praetorian cohorts and the Martian legion. Two eagles and sixty colours of Antony 's have been brought in. It is a great victory. 16 April, in camp.

XXX. Scr. in castris ad Mutinam a. d. XVI. Kal. Maias a.u.c. 711. GALBA CICERONI SAL. A. d. XVII. Kal. Maias, quo die Pansa in castris Hirtii erat futurus, cum quo ego eram—nam ei obviam processeram milia passuum centum, quo maturius veniret—, Antonius legiones eduxit duas, secundam et quintam tricesimam, et cohortes praetorias duas, unam suam, alteram Silani, et evocatorum partem: ita obviam venit nobis, quod nos quattuor legiones tironum habere solum arbitrabatur; sed noctu, quo tutius venire in castra possemus, legionem Martiam, cui ego praeesse solebam, et duas cohortes praetorias miserat Hirtius nobis. Cum equites Antonii apparuissent, contineri neque legio Martia neque cohortes praetoriae potuerunt; quas sequi coepimus coacti, quoniam retinere eas non potueramus. Antonius ad Forum Gallorum suas copias continebat neque sciri volebat se legiones habere: tantum equitatum et levem armaturam ostendebat. Posteaquam vidit se invito legionem ire Pansa, sequi se duas legiones iussit tironum. Posteaquam angustias paludis et silvarum transiimus, acies est instructa a nobis XII. cohortium; nondum venerant legiones duae: repente Antonius in aciem suas copias de vico produxit et sine mora concurrit. Primo ita pugnatum est, ut acrius non posset ex utraque parte pugnari; etsi dexterius cornu, in quo ego eram cum Martiae legionis cohortibus octo, impetu primo fugaverat legionem XXXV. Antonii, ut amplius passus ultra aciem, quo loco steterat, processerit. Itaque, cum equites nostrum cornu circumire vellent, recipere me coepi et levem armaturam opponere Maurorum equitibus, ne aversos nostros aggrederentur. Interim video me esse inter Antonianos Antoniumque post me esse aliquanto: repente equum immisi ad eam legionem tironum, quae veniebat ex castris, scuto reiecto. Antoniani me insequi; nostri pila coniicere velle: ita nescio quo fato sum servatus, quod sum cito a nostris cognitus. In ipsa Aemilia, ubi cohors Caesaris praetoria erat, diu pugnatum est. Cornu sinisterius, quod erat infirmius, ubi Martiae legionis duae cohortes erant et cohors praetoria, pedem referre coeperunt, quod ab equitatu circumibantur, quo vel plurimum valet Antonius. Cum omnes se recepissent nostri ordines, recipere me novissimus coepi ad castra; Antonius tamquam victor castra putavit se posse capere: quo cum venit, complures ibi amisit nec egit quidquam. Audita re Hirtius cum cohortibus XX. veteranis redeunti Antonio in sua castra occurrit copiasque eius omnes delevit fugavit eodem die eodemque loco, ubi erat pugnatum, ad Forum Gallorum; Antonius cum equitibus hora noctis quarta se in castra una ad Mutinam recepit; Hirtius in ea castra rediit, unde Pansa exierat, ubi duas legiones reliquerat, quae ab Antonio erant oppugnatae. Sic partem maiorem suarum copiarum Antonius amisit veteranarum; nec id tamen sine aliqua iactura cohortium praetoriarum nostrarum et legionis Martiae fieri potuit. Aquilae duae, signa LX. sunt relata Antonii: res bene gesta est. A. d. XVI. K. Mai. ex castris.