This being a report of the first battle in the fictional miniatures campaign entitled "The Macedonian & Punic Wars". The battle was resolved using DBM 3.0.

General news has reached realms of civilisation of a battle fought between the forces of the Gallic Confederation and the Gallic tribes of Volcae who wished to remain independent of the Confederation. Details from traders are few, however we can inform you over the Alps far from civilisation several thousand Celts have fought bravely for independence.

For some months the Great Sedulus has determined a path of war and rumours reaching civilisation were that he had adopted the title "Sedulus - Sacker of Rome". However, behind this warrior king stood a deeply superstitious mind. Indeed it would seem that he was deeply concerned with the possibility that the sky would fall.[1]

Early in the Summer of 240BC Sedulus set out to conquer his small neighbour of Volcae, who's independently minded Celts continued to refuse to join Sedulus's Confederation. His army marched for many weeks through hilly wooded terrain passing small villages and towns, and destroying any that failed to swear allegiance to him. It was when passing through a small pass, not far from would his scouts believed to be the location of the main Volcae Gallic army, that disaster struck. A number of Volcae tribesmen had taken position in the high ground and proceeded to roll boulders at Sedulus's main body. Moving forward to direct the troops a great boulder hurtled down the slope and bounced high into the air. Unfortunately, this landed directly on the great Sedulus killing him instantly. It would seem his concern of things falling from the sky was indeed well founded! [2]

The chieftains with Sedulus, having moved through the pass, determined in a council of war to continue the fight. One Asteriux was particularly vocal in the discussions and having the largest number of troops under his direct command, determined to seek battle at first light the next day even though recent omens were far from encouraging.

The heavily outnumbered the independent Volcae tribes under one Gurictus could only field some 16,000 foot and 2000 cavalry [3] against a more superior force under control of an Asteriux. Gurictus's forces had been larger than there current numbers would suggest, but the ravages of Sedulus's troops had caused supplies to reduce and portions of his Gurictus's army had already decided to disperse[4]. Indications are that the Gallic Confederation fielded some 20,000 foot and 6000 cavalry and chariots [5]. These Volcae tribesmen, though few in number, were positioned some distance behind a paltry river and waited for the tribesmen of Asteriux's Gauls to cross this paltry river before striking. Gurictus dismounted from his chariot and determined to fight on foot with his warriors, while another chieftain remained mounted with cavalry reserve with his javelinmen and slingers protecting the flanks of main block of Volcae warriors.

Across the river from Asteriux had deployed in  two main bodies, one of almost all infantry excluding Asteriux, who decided to fight on horseback, and a second of infantry with supporting cavalry and chariots. A small body of javelinmen could be found on the Gallic right flank.

When the forces of the Gallic Confederation advanced over the river in the sector in front Gurictus ordered trumpets blown which was the signal for his advance. His main force of some 14,000 tribesmen in packed ranks charged forward in a crazed rush. To his right his outnumbered cavalry covered another crossing point further down stream with instructions to delay the other Gallic tribesmen and the great bulk of the Asteriux's cavalry and chariots as best they could. His plan was simple delay on the right while destroying the enemy in the centre where, though outnumbered, the odds were best.

While the initial rush of the Gurictus's Celts failed to inflict the crushing damage Gurictus had planned they were more successful  as the fighting broke down into a series of individual combats. At one stage it was even thought a mighty victory for Gurictus was possible. Unfortunately, as casualties mounted, the gallant independent Celts finally broke leaving the Gallic Confederation masters of the province.