On both sides the generals deserved defeat, and failed to make 34 good use of their success.  Their fault was the same.  Had Civilis furnished the attacking column with more troops, they could never have been surrounded by such a small force, and having stormed the camp would have destroyed it.  Vocula, on the other hand, had not even set scouts to warn him of the enemy’s approach, and consequently no sooner sallied out than he was beaten.  Then, when he had won the victory, he showed great lack of confidence, and wasted day after day before moving against the enemy.  If he had made haste to follow up his success and struck at the enemy at once, he might have raised the siege of Vetera at one blow.

Meanwhile Civilis had been playing upon the feelings of the besieged by pretending that the Romans had been defeated and success had favoured his arms.  The captured standards and colours were carried round the walls and the prisoners also displayed.  One of these did a famous deed of heroism.  Shouting at the top of his voice, he revealed the truth.  The Germans at once struck him dead, which only served to confirm his information.  Soon, too, the besieged saw signs of harried fields and the smoke of burning farms, and began to realize that a victorious army was approaching.  When he was in sight of the camp Vocula ordered his men to plant the standards and construct a trench and rampart round them:  they were to deposit all their baggage there and fight unencumbered.  This made them shout at the general to give them the signal; and they had learnt to use threats too.  Without even taking time to form their line they started the battle, all tired as they were, and in disorder.  Civilis was ready waiting for them, trusting quite as much to their mistakes as to the merits of his own men.  The Romans fought with varying fortune.  All the most mutinous proved cowards:  some, however, remembered their recent victory and stuck to their places, cutting down the enemy, and encouraging themselves and their neighbours.  When the battle was thus renewed, they waved their hands and signalled to the besieged not to lose their opportunity.  These were watching all that happened from the walls, and now came bursting out at every gate.  It chanced that at this point Civilis’ horse fell and threw him; both armies believed the rumour that he had been wounded and killed.  This caused immense consternation to his army and immense encouragement to ours.  However, Vocula failed to pursue them when they fled, and merely set about strengthening the rampart and turrets, apparently in fear of another blockade.  His frequent failure to make use of his victory gives colour to the suspicion that he preferred war.[323]