81.
The Gauls, after the interval of a day and after making, during that
time, an immense number of hurdles, scaling-ladders, and iron hooks, silently
went forth from the camp at midnight and approached the fortifications in the
plain. Raising a shout suddenly, that by this intimation those who were beseiged
in the town might learn their arrival, they began to cast down hurdles and
dislodge our men from the rampart by slings, arrows, and stones, and executed
the other movements which are requisite in storming. At the same time,
Vercingetorix, having heard the shout, gives the signal to his
troops by a trumpet, and leads them forth from the town. Our troops, as each
man's post had been assigned him some days before, man the fortifications; they
intimidate the Gauls by slings, large stones, stakes
which they had placed along the works, and bullets. All view being prevented by
the darkness, many wounds are received on both sides; several missiles, are
thrown from the engines. But Marcus Antonius, and Caius
Trebonius, the lieutenants, to whom the defense of these parts had
been allotted, draughted troops from the redoubts which were more remote, and
sent them to aid our troops, in whatever direction they understood that they
were hard pressed.
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