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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mmadsen" data-source="post: 457091" data-attributes="member: 1645">With winter approaching, Scipio pens Caesar in.  They skirmish, but Caesar refuses to line up for a big, decisive battle.  Instead, he waits for his reinforcements from overseas.His 13th and 14th Legions arrrive, and finally his 10th.  He's still seething over their mutiny, but he can't afford to lose his veteran troops, so he singles out a few officers.  From The African War:"I would have thought," he began, "that people might at long last have put an end to their impertinence and insubordination, and ceased to take advantage of my leniency, moderation, and patience.  But since they won't themselves set any bounds or limits, then I'll make an example, in accordance with military practice, to teach the others to mend their ways."He sounds like a disappointed teacher, doesn't he?  Or a parent.He then called out two tribunes and three centurions of the 10th Legion by name.  Looking puzzled and not a little worried, the five nominated officers stepped forward and lined up in front of the tribunal.  As they did, they probably noticed the centurions of the guard cohorts on duty taking up positions close by with hands on sword hilts.Did all the soldiers watching coo "Ooooooh, busssss-ted!"?"Gaius Avienus," Caesar now began, glaring down at the spoiled, rich young colonel, "whereas you did in Italy incite the troops of the Roman people to actiona against the state and did plunder varius municipalities, and whereas you have been of no service to either myself or the state, but have, instead of troops, embarked your own slaves and livestock, and have thereby caused the state to be short of troops at a time of crisis -- for these reasons, I discharge you with dishonor from my army and order you to remove yourself immediately from Africa."At this point, Caesar had convinced me that Gaius Avienus must go.  He also dismisses another young colonel before turning to three centurions."Titus Salienus, Marcus Tito, Gaius Clusinas, whereas you have obtained your ranks in my army by favor, and not through merit, have shown yourselves neither brave in combat nor loyal in peace, and have directed yourselves to inciting the men to mutiny against their commander rather than to respectful and obedient conduct, I judge you unfit to hold rank in my army.  I dismiss you from my service and order you to leave Africa immediately."</blockquote>

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