The famous tenth legion, Cesar’s favorite corps, took the most active part in fomenting these discontents, as might naturally have been expected, since the attentions and the praises which he had bestowed upon them, though at first they tended to awaken their ambition, and to inspire them with redoubled ardor and courage, ended, as such favoritism always does, in making them vain, self-important, and unreasonable.  Led on thus by the tenth legion, the whole army mutinied.  They broke up the camp where they had been stationed at some distance beyond the walls of Rome, and marched toward the city.  Soldiers in a mutiny, even though headed by their subaltern officers, are very little under command; and these Roman troops, feeling released from their usual restraints, committed various excesses on the way, terrifying the inhabitants and spreading universal alarm.  The people of the city were thrown into utter consternation at the approach of the vast horde, which was coming like a terrible avalanche to descend upon them.

[Sidenote:  Plan of the soldiers.]

The army expected some signs of resistance at the gates, which, if offered, they were prepared to encounter and overcome.  Their plan was, after entering the city, to seek Caesar and demand their discharge from his service.  They knew that he was under the necessity of immediately making a campaign in Africa, and that, of course, he could not possibly, as they supposed, dispense with them.  He would, consequently, if they asked their discharge, beg them to remain, and, to induce them to do it, would comply with all their expectations and desires.

Such was their plan.  To tender, however, a resignation of an office as a means of bringing an opposite party to terms, is always a very hazardous experiment.  We easily overrate the estimation in which our own services are held taking what is said to us in kindness or courtesy by friends as the sober and deliberate judgment of the public; and thus it often happens that persons who in such case offer to resign, are astonished to find their resignations readily accepted.

[Sidenote:  The army marches into the city.]

When Caesar’s mutineers arrived at the gates, they found, instead of opposition, only orders from Caesar, by which they were directed to leave all their arms except their swords, and march into the city.  They obeyed.  They were then directed to go to the Campus Martius, a vast parade ground situated within the walls, and to await Caesar’s orders there.[3]

[Footnote 3:  See map of the city of Rome, fronting the first page.]

[Sidenote:  The Campus Martius.] [Sidenote:  Caesar’s address to the army.]