As soon as his troops were collected, he marched against the
Bellovaci: and pitching his camp in their territories, detached troops of horse all round the country, to take prisoners, from whom he might learn the enemy's plan. The horse, having executed his orders bring him back word, that but few were found in the houses: and that even these had not stayed at home to cultivate their lands (for the emigration was general from all parts) but had been sent back to watch our motions. Upon
Caesar's inquiring from them, where the main body of the
Bellovaci were posted, and what was their design: they made answer, "that all the
Bellovaci, fit for carrying arms, had assembled in one place, and along with them the
Ambiani,
Aulerci,
Caletes,
Velocasses, and
Atrebates, and that they had chosen for their camp, an elevated position, surrounded by a dangerous morass: that they had conveyed all their baggage into the most remote woods: that several noblemen were united in the management of the war; but that the people were most inclined to be governed by
Correus, because they knew that he had the strongest aversion to the name of the
Roman people: that a few days before
Comius had left the camp to engage the
Germans to their aid whose nation bordered on theirs, and whose numbers were countless: that the
Bellovaci had come to a resolution, with the consent of all the generals and the earnest desire of the people, if
Caesar should come with only three legions, as was reported, to give him battle, that they might not be obliged to encounter his whole army on a future occasion, when they should be in a more wretched and distressed condition; but if he brought a stronger force, they intended to remain in the position they had chosen, and by ambuscade to prevent the
Romans from getting forage (which at that season was both scarce and much scattered), corn, and other necessaries.
