History of Rome

​From there he at once led his army to the city of Alce, where the camp of the Celtiberians was, from whom the envoys had recently come. When, for several days, he had harassed them, ​by throwing light-armed troops into their outposts in small skirmishes, he began to provoke larger contests day by day, in order to draw them all out of their fortifications. When, ​he felt that what he was seeking had been sufficiently achieved, he ordered the prefects of the auxiliaries that, having joined battle, as if they were being overcome by numbers, they should suddenly turn their backs and flee in disorder toward the camp; he himself drew up his forces inside the rampart at all the gates.

​Not much time had elapsed when, according to the plan, he saw the column of his fleeing men, and behind them the barbarians pursuing in disorder.

​He had his line of battle drawn up inside the rampart for this very purpose. Therefore, delaying only long enough to allow his men to flee into the camp with an open entrance, he raised a shout and sallied out from all the gates at once. The enemy did not withstand the unexpected onslaught.

​Those who had come to attack the camp could not even protect their own; for they were immediately routed and put to flight, soon driven trembling inside their rampart, and finally stripped of their camp.

​On that day, nine thousand of the enemy were slain; three hundred and twenty were captured alive, with one hundred and twelve horses and thirty-seven military standards. Of the Roman army, one hundred and nine fell.