Free Legio XVII: Roman Legion at War by Thomas A. Timmes Page A

distance between his army and the Gauls to increase more and more.  This slow pursuit lasted for 10 days and may have cost Regulus his life in the coming battle.
     
    The Battle of Telamon 225 BC
    The Gauls continued their slow movement south past the town of Telamon , but began to question their decision to move on Rome itself.  The Boii and Insubres wanted to go home with their loot.  They had had enough fighting.  Even the Gallic chieftains were concerned when the cavalry reported that Papus’ five Legions were now between them and Rome and digging defensive positions.  The Romans were finally going to fight.  The Chieftains knew the initiative had now passed from them to the Legions.
    Concolitanus and Aneroestes were also aware that Regulus and his three Legions were behind them blocking an easy escape route.  After a relatively short debate, the chieftains decided it would be wiser to reverse direction and go back north.  They felt they could pin Regulus’ Legions with the use of aggressive cavalry tactics while the bulk of the army and loot laden wagons would swing east around him.  The word went out: stop the march, reorient the column; fighters to the front and back, wagons in the middle.  “We’re going home!”
    Regulus was the first to learn that the Gauls had reversed their line of march and were now approaching the town of Telamon from the south, which they had passed going in the opposite direction several hours earlier.  His Legions were closer to Telamon than Papus’, but it would be a race to occupy Telamon’s key terrain such as hills or roads before the Gauls did.  He sensed a battle was about to take place; one that would make or break the Army and his own personal career.
    He immediately ordered his 12 Tribunes to put the Legions in fighting order.  The Legionaries advanced in the attacking three line formation at marching pace, in so far as the nature of the ground allowed. He put his two Legions on line abreast of each other with each in their customary triplex acies attack formation.  The Velites were about 100 yards in front of the two 500-man Hastati lines, which were arrayed in the checkered board manner.
    Keeping the two Legions on line with each other was extremely difficult and required constant stopping or running to catch up as the terrain dictated.  The individual Legionaries carried their shield on their left side while their right hand carried two spears: the lighter javelin and the heavy pilum .
    Each man moved with his own thoughts.  They were rested, well nourished, and confident in their collective power, but the fear of death or a wound was a constant companion.  The two Legions on line presented a front of 1000 men and stretched out over half a mile wide. The Principes and Triarii were similarly aligned and separated by about 20’.
    As they advanced, Regulus noticed a hill above the road that dominated the surrounding terrain.  He reasoned that whichever way the Gauls moved, they must pass close by that hill.  His instincts and training told him that that hill was the key to this battle and it had to be in Roman control.  Taking his escort with him, he galloped away at full speed to occupy the crest of the hill before the Gauls could beat him to it.  His cavalry, farther to the rear and flanks, was order to follow his lead.  He was now out in front of his entire army and would pay the ultimate price.
     
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    Papus meanwhile had found a good defensive position on a slight rise in the ground south of Telamon and was awaiting the arrival of the Gauls.  He was in an excellent defensive position and knew that he and Regulus had the Gauls right where they wanted them ~ between seven trained Legions and an Auxiliary Legion.  He deployed three Legions on line each with a 500 man front and placed the two remaining Legions, one on each flank stacked behind the leading Legion.  He had the rear Legions dig ditches to prevent the Gallic cavalry from coming