The Dutch by Richard E. Schultz Page B

the multitude could turn one hundred and eighty degrees and begin using their shields for protection. Even then, the cavalry’s arrows continued to inflict causalities among the bunched tribesman. In a rage, most of the multitude charged up the hill, but the cavalry withdrew and the tribesmen who arrived at the top of the hill became spectators in the battle with no one to fight. From the hordes new position on the top of the hill, they could no longer offer any resistance to the engineer’s second and successful attempt to complete the pontoon bridge.
    The reduced enemy force on the beach, in front of the now connected causeway, faced an unexpected attack on their flank by the veteran Roman cohort that had secretly arrived using Flocenwal’s second path. The first flight of the Roman’s javelins took a tremendous toll on the surprised tribesmen. In the confusion, the advance column of main body of legionnaires advanced over the completed bridge and assaulted the center of a thinning line of defenders, who were now being attacked for a second time by the Germanic cavalry who had reappeared on the opposite flank. The carnage caused by the ferocious mounted Germans, now wielding their swords spread fear and confusion among the Ingvaones and sent many fleeing up the hill and panicking those already standing idle at its top. All retreated toward the town. The flight quickly became a rout as more and more Romans crossed over the bridge and arrived on the beach. The tired but highly motivated and well conditioned Roman veterans had little trouble overtaking and killing many of the tribesmen who were attempting to flee. They pursued the majority of the brigands to the town’s gate which when closed provided their enemies only temporary salvation.
    The small town was quickly surrounded and Roman engineers began building fortifications that protected the Romans, and closed any possible avenues of escape. The tribesmen were now trapped within the wooden walls of the town. The sheer number of Ingvaones packed inside such a small town, which held few provisions this late in the growing season, made a long siege seem unnecessary and was a situation tailored for a fiery revenge. The General had already decided to annihilate the town. For two days newly captured prisoners gathered combustible materials and placed them against the town’s walls. On the third day, Roman catapults and batistes’ shot an assortment of flaming missiles onto the thatched roofs of houses inside while the gathered flammable debris against the wooden walls was set afire. Within a short time, the entire town was a continuous sheet of flames and by nightfall little existed but ash. The Ingvaones forced to flee the flames were either killed or captured by the Romans.
    The victors systematically searched the rest of the island for Ingvaones, killing or capturing nearly everyone they encountered. The general kept his word and spared the survivors of Flocenwal’s clan though some were unintentionally killed. The victorious Roman troops were allowed to rape and plunder the length of the Droger Land, keeping any valuables they found. They felt the most valuable items were the pretty young women. Those young women, some with small children, were allowed to roam freely once the raping had subsided, but the other prisoners were bound and quickly shipped to the coast to be sold as slaves. After a week of rampage, the soldiers were put to work harvesting the captured fields of wheat and barley. Once the food had been collected and properly stored, the real work of Romanizing the Droger Land was begun.
    On a high hill near the center of the inland island, the Roman engineers constructed a huge stone building that eventually stood four stories above the land. It was surrounded by a ten foot high stone wall which was nearly as thick as it was high and provided protection for what became General Weir’s residence. At each end of the Droger Land,