Cohort commander?

[LVCIVS SERGIVS ANTONINVS]

Concerning the role of the late republican legionary cohort as a tactical unit, and therefore the eventually need for a cohort commander leading the troops, let's look at these two examples of caesarian troops battling against gallic warriors. In these instances, cohorts made frequent sallies to break the encirclement by the tribesmen. There is no mention whatsoever of a cohort commander, the cohorts nevertheless appear acting as tactical units with freedom of action. It seems to me, a personal perception of course, that the cohorts must have had a tactical command to lead the units in the offense and in the retreat, not just a collective leadership of six centurions trying to coordinate between them in the thick of the struggle.

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Caesar, Bello Gallico V, XXXIV

"nostri, tametsi ab duce et a fortuna deserebantur, tamen omnem spem salutis in virtute ponebant, et quotiens quaeque cohors procurrerat, ab ea parte magnus numerus hostium cadebat."

"Our men were equal to them in fighting, both in courage and in number, and though they were deserted by their leader and by fortune, yet they still placed all hope of safety in their valour, and as often as any cohort sallied forth on that side, a great number of the enemy usually fell."

B.G. V, XXXV

"Quo praecepto ab eis diligentissime observato, cum quaepiam cohors ex orbe excesserat atque impetum fecerat, hostes velocissime refugiebant. Interim eam partem nudari necesse erat et ab latere aperto tela recipi."

"--Which command having been most carefully obeyed, when any cohort had quitted the circle and made a charge, the enemy fled very precipitately. In the meantime, that part of the Roman army, of necessity, was left unprotected, and the weapons received on their open flank."


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Any comments?