11-23-2015, 11:36 PM
(11-23-2015, 11:07 PM)Renatus Wrote: Do you mean Portway?
Ach, dammit - yes! Thanks for pointing that out; I'll edit my posts above for clarity.
(11-23-2015, 10:38 PM)Theoderic Wrote: It is also interesting that the cavalry escaped but all the infantry were wiped out which might indicate a surprise attack.
The cavalry are often the ones to escape a lost battle! I'd say this might indicate the opposite: if Cerialis was ambushed on the road his cavalry would have been split up throughout the column and would have found it harder to get clear. Losing all his infantry and saving his cavalry suggests a field battle, where the cavalry were deployed on the wings and could have fled in a body once things went wrong. The Britons presumably lacked enough cavalry of their own to pursue effectively, and didn't fancy besieging C in his camp.
I still think the 'fort' he retreated to was his own marching camp, by the way.
Nathan Ross