We Want More Steaks !

 This is the latest demand from the General at HQ ! "Go and get them from Germania, he says" as if they are just going to hand over their cattle without a fight !

Well, this sort of raid calls for a different kind of force - fast moving lighter armoured auxiliaries to be precise. Plus archers and auxiliary cavalry too. "Optio ! Come into my office now"

There is a German settlement beside the ford on the river bend where cattle are kept - this is where the Centurion is headed. The Romans will deploy from where the three cards are plus skirmishers in the woods ahead.

A formation of three Auxiliary groups advance into the woods headed by the Centurion and the Optio following on behind.

Archers deploy on the hill behind to cover them

The villagers seem unaware of the approach of the Roman warriors

More Roman archers appear at the front of the woods

German slingers appear by the ford and shoot at the archers visible on the hill

They are ambushed by a group of Roman cavalry coming out of the woods

The slingers lose half their number and are thrown back behind the village

German woodsmen archers appear on the hill beside the village and shoot at the cavalry

This causes a response from another Roman cavalry unit emerging from the woods. They throw their spears but do not get the result they hoped for 

Now the Centurion and his formation rush the village and their herd of cattle

 

The German War Lord has seen enough and brings out a big war band from the woods beside the village. Their spears see off the Roman cavalry.

 and German Fanatical warriors charge the cavalry in the village

the cavalry flee and the Fanatics now face the Auxiliary infantry

Another war band emerges from the woods, left of the village, the woodsmen archers have taken shelter in the trees for now 

Another group of Auxiliaries has now joined the right flank of the formation

The Fanatics have been beaten but there is plenty more from where they came from !

Both Roman cavalry units have gone having taken excess fire from the enemy ranks so the German cavalry are the only mounted warriors left.

As the war bands reach the hill beside the village, the Romans have grabbed the cattle and got them behind their lines. Roman archers have also advanced to provide over head fire against the attacking war band

The German cavalry and supporting war bands decide to try an outflanking move through the woods leading to the Roman rear

Here's an aerial view to show the action at this point

The German War Lord leads a charge into the village

but the Roman line holds

The Auxiliaries guarding the hill have had a fight with one war band and forced it back

Now more Fanatics are launched against these from another war band

This time this group of Auxiliaries breaks and runs 

The German cavalry enter the woods followed by the archers, intent on hitting the Romans in the flank or even in the rear

With the cattle secured, the Centurion orders a retreat, covered by the archers

They continue to fire at the Fanatics on the hill

War bands now sweep forward over the hill towards the archers

The Auxiliaries continue their retreat, herding the cattle towards their deployment zone

The War Lord now urges his men to pursue the rapidly retreating Romans

Two war bands are already in the woods and the archers and cavalry are on the rear hill. One group of Roman archers has evaded them and retreated to the marsh as the other on the fringe of the woods hits the enemy archers

"Back ! Back ! Get those cattle away now" screams the Centurion

The German War Lord charges in his men in a desperate effort to save the cattle

but the Romans survive the onslaught, push back the enemy and keep the cattle moving 

 

Before the German War Lord can gather his men for another attack, the Centurion rushes the cattle and his men through the marshes and off to safety - phew !

This was a closely fought action and the Romans were highly relieved to escape with the cattle at the end.

Both sides morale was dangerously low by this stage and it could have swung either way.

Great game of Infamy, Infamy! yet again.

Oh, and yes, the Roman General did get his steak that evening !