04-20-2011, 04:59 PM
In enemy territory, especially when in a hostile environment, no, they would probably not just scatter out a bunch of bedrolls and call it a day. That's how you get ambushed and destroyed at night. Even if not in direct contact, you can be sure that an enemy force would have scouts out to keep an eye on what the Romans were up to. This was not a game to them.
If you were to march 20 miles a day, say, 15-20 days a month, for two or three years, the walk would not seem to be such a hard task, right? Digging is the same. Some soil isn't as easy to dig as other soil. A successful army will make adjustments in depth and width, and add other breastworks, etc., to make up for a shallower ditch/berm construction. Remember also, that sharp sticks could be had anywhere there were trees. There were no rules they had to follow about cutting down trees and making boards, planks, spikes, etc. from the local forests.
Polybius gives a really detailed account of the division of labor and how the tasks were broken up so several things could be done at once.
If you were to march 20 miles a day, say, 15-20 days a month, for two or three years, the walk would not seem to be such a hard task, right? Digging is the same. Some soil isn't as easy to dig as other soil. A successful army will make adjustments in depth and width, and add other breastworks, etc., to make up for a shallower ditch/berm construction. Remember also, that sharp sticks could be had anywhere there were trees. There were no rules they had to follow about cutting down trees and making boards, planks, spikes, etc. from the local forests.
Polybius gives a really detailed account of the division of labor and how the tasks were broken up so several things could be done at once.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
