Cæsar, having concluded two great wars in one single campaign, placed his army in winter quarters among the Sequani rather sooner than the season required—at the beginning of September—and left them under the command of Labienus. He then left, and went to hold the assemblies in Cisalpine Gaul.[237]
Observations.
IX. There are several things worthy of remark in this campaign:—
1. The resolution taken by Cæsar to gain possession of Besançon, and thus to anticipate Ariovistus. We see the importance which he attaches to that military position as a point of support and of supply.
2. The facility with which a whole legion transforms itself into cavalry.
3. The judicious use which Cæsar makes of his light troops (alarii), by assembling them in mass, so that the enemy should believe in a greater number of legions.
4. Lastly, this singular circumstance, that the third line, which serves as reserve and decides the fate of the battle, receives from young P. Crassus, and not from the general-in-chief, the order to attack.
The dates of the principal events of this year may be indicated in the following manner:—
| Rendezvous of the Helvetii on the banks of the Rhone (the day of the equinox) | March 24. |
| Cæsar refuses them a passage through the province | April 8. |
| Arrival at the confluence of the Rhone and the Saône of the legions from Italy and Illyria | June 7. |
| Defeat of the Tigurini on the Saône | June 10. |
| Passage of the Saône by Cæsar | June 12. |
| About fifteen days’ march (De Bello Gallico, I. 15) | From June 13 to June 27. |
| Manœuvre of Labienus to surprise the Helvetii | June 28. |
| Battle of Bibracte | June 29. |
Cæsar remains three days interring the dead; marches on the fourth;
employs six days in his march from the field of battle to the country of the Lingones,
and there overtakes the Helvetii in their retreat, | From June 30 to July 8. |
| Negotiations with Ariovistus (a month), | From July 8 to August 8. |
| Departure of Cæsar (from Tonnerre, to meet Ariovistus) | August 10. |
| Arrival of Cæsar at Besançon | August 16. |
| Abode of Cæsar at Besançon, | From August 16 to August 22. |
| Departure from Besançon (“the harvest is ripe,” De Bello Gallico, I. 40) | August 22. |
| March of seven days from Besançon to the Rhine | From August 22 to August 28. |
| Interview (five days afterwards) | September 2. |
| Manœuvres (about eight days), | From September 3 to September 10. |
| Battle of the Thur (fought before the new moon, which took place on the 18th of September) | September 10. |