Caesar met them in the Campus Martius, and demanded why they had left their encampment without orders and come to the city.  They stated in reply, as they had previously planned to do, that they wished to be discharged from the public service.  To their great astonishment, Caesar seemed to consider this request as nothing at all extraordinary, but promised, an the other hand, very readily to grant it He said that they should be at once discharged, and should receive faithfully all the rewards which had been promised them at the close of the war for their long and arduous services.  At the same time, he expressed his deep regret that, to obtain what he was perfectly willing and ready at any time to grant, they should have so far forgotten their duties as Romans, and violated the discipline which should always be held absolutely sacred by every soldier.  He particularly regretted that the tenth legion, on which he had been long accustomed so implicitly to rely, should have taken a part in such transactions.

[Sidenote:  Its effects.] [Sidenote:  Attachment of Caesar’s soldiers.]

In making this address, Caesar assumed a kind and considerate, and even respectful tone toward his men, calling them Quirites instead of soldiers—­an honorary mode of appellation, which recognized them as constituent members of the Roman commonwealth.  The effect of the whole transaction was what might have been anticipated.  A universal desire was awakened throughout the whole army to return to their duty.  They sent deputations to Caesar, begging not to be taken at their word, but to be retained in the service, and allowed to accompany him to Africa.  After much hesitation and delay, Caesar consented to receive them again, all excepting the tenth legion, who, he said, had now irrevocably lost his confidence and regard.  It is a striking illustration of the strength of the attachment which bound Caesar’s soldiers to their commander, that the tenth legion would not be discharged, after all.  They followed Caesar of their own accord into Africa, earnestly entreating him again and again to receive them.  He finally did receive them in detachments, which he incorporated with the rest of his army, or sent on distant service, but he would never organize them as the tenth legion again.

[Sidenote:  Caesar goes to Africa.] [Sidenote:  Cato shuts himself up in Africa.]

It was now early in the winter, a stormy season for crossing the Mediterranean Sea.  Caesar, however, set off from Rome immediately, proceeded south to Sicily, and encamped on the sea-shore there till the fleet was ready to convey his forces to Africa.  The usual fortune attended him in the African campaigns His fleet was exposed to imminent dangers in crossing the sea, but, in consequence of the extreme deliberation and skill with which his arrangements were made, he escaped them all.  He overcame one after another of the military difficulties which were in his way