LEGIONARYMUSIC
Themusicofthelegionconsistsoftrumpets,www.xiaoshuodaquan.com;thetrumpetsservewhenthesoldiersareorderedouttoanyworkwithoutthecolors;butintimeofaction,thetrumpetsandcornetssoundtogether.Theclassicum,whichisaparticularsoundofthebuccinaorhorn,isappropriatedtothecommander－in－chiefandisusedinthepresenceofthegeneral,orattheexecutionofasoldier,asamarkofitsbeingdonebyhisauthority.Theordinaryguardsandoutpostsarealwaysmountedandrelievedbythesoundoftrumpet,www.xiaoshuodaquan.com‘sorderseithertochargeorhalt,topursuetheenemyortoretire.Forreasonwillconvinceusthatwhatisnecessarytobeperformedintheheatofactionshouldconstantlybepracticedintheleisureofpeace.
THEDRILLINGOFTHETROOPS
Theorganizationofthelegionbeingthusexplained,www.xiaoshuodaquan.com,forafterservingmanyyearsanundisciplinedsoldierisstillanoviceinhisprofession.Notonlythoseunderthemastersatarms,butallthesoldiersingeneral,wereformerlytrainedincessantlyinthosedrillswhichnowareonlyexhibitedasshowsinthecircusforparticularsolemnities.Bypracticeonlycanbeacquiredagilityofbodyandtheskillrequisitetoengageanenemywithadvantage,www.xiaoshuodaquan.com.
Therecruitslikewisearetobeexercisedwithwoodenswordsatthepost,tobetaughttoattackthisimaginaryantagonistonallsidesandtoaimatthesides,feetorhead,bothwiththepointandedgeofthesword.Theymustbeinstructedhowtospringforwardtogivetheblow,torisewithaboundabovetheshieldandthentosinkdownandshelterthemselvesundercoverofit,andhowtoadvanceandretire.Theymustalsothrowtheirjavelinsatthepostfromaconsiderabledistanceinordertoacquireagoodaimandstrengthenthearm.
Thearchersandslingerssetupbundlesoftwigsorstrawformarks,www.xiaoshuodaquan.com.Formerlyallsoldiersweretrainedtothepracciceofthrowingstonesofapoundweightwiththehand,asthiswasthoughtareadiermethodsinceitdidnotrequireasling.Theuseofthecommonmissileweaponsandloadedjavelinswasanotherpartofthedrillstrictlyattendedto.
Tocontinuethisdrillwithoutinterruptionduringthewinter,theyerectedforthecavalryporticosorridinghallscoveredwithtilesorshingles,andiftheywerenottobeprocured,withreeds,www.xiaoshuodaquan.com.Bythesemeansthetroopswereprovidedwithplacesofdrillshelteredfrombadweather.Buteveninwinter,ifitdidnotrainorsnow,theywereobligedtoperformtheirdrillsinthefield,lestanintermissionofdisciplineshouldaffectboththecourageandconstitutionofthesoldier.Inshort,bothlegionaryandauxiliarytroopsshouldcontinuallybedrilledincuttingwood,carryingburdens,passingditches,swimmingintheseaorinrivers,marchinginthefullstepandevenrunningwiththeirarmsandbaggage,sothat,inuredtolaborinpeace,theymayfindnodifficultyinwar.For,asthewelltrainedsoldieriseagerforaction,sodoestheuntaughtfearit.Inwardisciplineissuperiortostrength;butifthatdisciplineisneglected,thereisnolongeranydifferencebetweenthesoldierandthepeasant.Theoldmaximiscertainthattheveryessenceofanartconsistsinconstantpractice.
MACHINESANDTOOLSOFTHELEGION
Thelegionowesitssuccesstoitsarmsandmachines,aswellastothenumberandbraveryofitssoldiers.Inthefirstplaceeverycenturyhasabalistamountedonacarriagedrawnbymulesandservedbyamess,thatisbytenmenfromthecenturytowhichitbelongs.Thelargertheseenginesare,thegreaterdistancetheycarryandwiththegreaterforce.Theyareusednotonlytodefendtheentrenchmentsofcamps,www.xiaoshuodaquan.com.Besidesthesearetenonagri,oneforeachcohort;theyaredrawnreadyarmedoncarriagesbyoxen;incaseofanattack,theydefendtheworksofthecampbythrowingstonesasthebalistaedodarts.
Thelegioncarrieswithitanumberofsmallboats,eachhollowedoutofasinglepieceoftimber,withlongcablesandsometimesironchainstofastenthemtogether.Theseboats,joinedandcoveredwithplanks,serveasbridgesoverunfordablerivers,onwhichbothcavalryandinfantrypasswithoutdanger.Thelegionisprovidedwithironhooks,calledwolves,andironscythesfixedtotheendsoflongpoles;andwithforks,spades,shovels,pickaxes,wheelbarrowsandbasketsfordiggingandtransportingearth;togetherwithhatchets,axesandsawsforcuttingwood.Besideswhich,atrainofworkmenattendonitfurnishedwithallinstrumentsnecessaryfortheconstructionoftortoises,musculi,rams,vines,movingtowersandothermachinesfortheattackofplaces.Astheenumerationofalltheparticularsofthissortwouldbetootedious,Ishallonlyobservethatthelegionshouldcarrywithitwhereveritmoves,whateverisnecessaryforeverykindofservicesothattheencampmentsmayhaveallthestrengthandconveniencesofafortifiedcity.
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