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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mmadsen" data-source="post: 279565" data-attributes="member: 1645">Sitting on a hill, the town [Ilerda] was on the right bank of the Segre, not far from where it joined the Ebro River.  Moving his forces into the area, Afranius occupied the walled town and also built a fortified camp nearby....Caesar crossed two bridges over the Segre just completed by General Fabius and marched the army to confront the Pompeian forces outside Lerida [Ilerda], where over the next seventy-two hours his legions built a fortified camp.Afranius just left bridges there for Caesar to use?  I can't imagine Caesar leaving bridges around for his enemies to use.He then led three of his legions on a surprise mission to sieze a small hill that lay between the town and General Afranius's camp, with the objective of dividing the Pompeian forces.What's the difference between dividing your enemy's forces and volunteering to get ouflanked and surrounded?Realizing what Caesar was up to, General Afranius quickly dispatched his on-duty guard cohorts, which occupied the hillock before Caesar's troops could reach it....Caesar's advance guard was beaten back...The 14th, on one of Caesar's wings, takes casualties and gives up ground.  This causes the youngsters in the 9th to panic as well.  Caesar personally leads the 9th, and chases Afranius's troops down the hill -- where they circle around and outflank the 9th!  Eventually the cavalry come to the rescue.It sure seems like Caesar's getting his nose a bit bloodied!</blockquote>

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