Liz Gordon 1

De Bello Gallico Part I Book IV. 24 The barbarians prevent the Romans from disembarking. The Romans have much difficulty with the initial stages of the attack on account of multiple reasons. The barbarians fight with the advantage. The Romans are not accustomed to the conditions they are fighting in, or the type of fighting by the barbarians and have many disadvantages, whereas the barbarians have the advantage. Book IV. 25 Caesar acts quickly and orders the warships to attack the enemy boats. The enemy is intimidated, and retreats a little. The Roman soldiers hesitate, but the standard bearer of the 10th legion shouts and jumps first, encouraging the other soldiers who follow suit. Everyone else sees and follows, and then they approach the enemy.

Book IV. 26 The Roman army is in chaos, everything and everyone in disarray. The enemy appears to be doing much better than the Romans. Caesar sends help and support to those he sees toiling. The Roman army gathers some order on land and drives the enemy back. They are not able to follow through with the victory because the cavalry is not present.

Book IV. 27 The enemy sends ambassadors to Caesar about peace and promise hostages and compliance. Caesar sends Commius Atrebas back with the ambassadors and the enemy captures him (C.A.). The enemy sends C. Atrebas back after the battle, asking for Caesars pardon, and blaming their own people for their act of capturing him. Caesar grants the pardon and demands the hostages. The enemy chiefs begin to entrust themselves to Caesar

Book IV. 28 The cavalry (on ships) again tries to go to Britain, but is prevented by a huge storm. The ships (carrying the cavalry) either go back to where they set sail from, or to the continent.

Book IV. 29 That same night happens to be the night of the greatest tides, but the Romans did not know.

Liz Gordon 2

The tides fill the war ships and supply ships, and they are unable to do anything about their ships being destroyed. While not all of the ships are broken, the rest are rendered useless because they have nothing left that makes them useful. The Romans all realize they have to spend the winter in Gaul, but they hadnt planned on it before so there is no grain supply.

Book IV. 30 The chiefs of the Britons find out about the Roman armys situation, and decide to keep the Romans from grain and provisions and to draw out the rebellion into the winter. Once they make the conspiracy, they leave the camps and secretly led their people out.

Book IV. 31 Although Caesar did not actually know the plan of the Britons, he was suspicious and thought anyways that they would act out. So he prepares by gathering grain, and repairing and rebuilding ships.

Book IV. 32 The 7th legion is gathering grain during a short time where there is no suspicion of war when an abnormally large dust cloud appears. Caesar reacts immediately on his suspicions and orders those on guard to set out with him, others to go into the guard houses and the rest to gear up and follow him. Caesar notices his men struggling; the enemy had ambushed his men while they were off guard gathering grain.

Book IV. 33 The enemy fights from chariots. The horses and the sound of the wheels and the weapon throwing and their great skillfulness is intimidating. The charioteers move off into the background to provide an escape while the warriors continue fighting on foot.

Book IV. 34 Caesar brought help, and the enemy stopped when he arrived. Caesar believed it was not a good time so he waited a bit and led the legions back into the camp. Storms follow and keep everyone stationary. The barbarians send messengers out announcing the Romans weakness.

Book IV. 35 Caesar has his (about) 30 cavalry men and organizes the legions into a battle line in front of the camp. The enemy is unable to hold up the fight and retreats in cowardice.

Liz Gordon 3

The Romans follow the retreating enemy and once they set all their buildings on fire, return to camp.

Book IV. 36 The same day the enemy sends ambassadors to Caesar to discuss peace.

Part II a. Caesar knew that the Britons were helping the Gauls in the war. b. Caesar went to Britain because they were a threat and he wanted them conquered, kind of as revenge, but also to show how powerful he is. c. Caesar learns that the Britons are actually very skilled (chariot fighting). d. I believe that Caesar was an effective leader because he acted quickly, and always responded with clarity, preparedness, and order. This is evident in Book IV. 25 line 1-5 Quodiussit where Caesar orders the war ships to be moved back a little from the supply ships and to be paddled and anchored to the enemys flank and to push back the enemy from there with slings, arrows, and catapults. Also in Book IV. 26 line 8-10 Quodsubmittebat which says that when Caesar noticed, he ordered little boats to be filled with soldiers and sent help to those he had seen toiling. In Book IV. 31 line 3-4 Itaquecomparabat where Caesar prepares for whatever situation they might end up in and doesnt sit around doing nothing. These are only a few of many examples of evidence of Caesars effective leadership in De Bello Gallico.