On the defeat of the Helvetii, Caesar had planted a
colony of them at Gorgobines, near Nevers, on the Loire. These colonists,
called Boii, had refused to take part in the rising; and Vercingetorix,
turning in contempt from Brutus, had gone off to punish them. Caesar
ordered the Aedui to furnish his commissariat, sent word to the Boii that
he was coming to their relief, swept through the Senones, that he might
leave no enemy in his rear, and then advanced on Gien, where the Roman
traders had been murdered, and which the Carnutes still occupied in force.
There was a bridge there over the Loire, by which they tried to escape in
the night. Caesar had beset the passage. He took the whole of them
prisoners, plundered and burnt the town, gave the spoil to his troops, and
then crossed the river and went up to help the Boii. He took Nevers.
Vercingetorix, who was hastening to its relief, ventured his first battle
with him; but the cavalry, on which the Gauls most depended, were
scattered by Caesar's German horse. He was entirely beaten, and Caesar
turned next to Avaricum (Bourges), a rich and strongly fortified town of
the Bituriges. From past experience Caesar had gathered that the Gauls
were easily excited and as easily discouraged. If he could reduce Bourges,
he hoped that this part of the country would return to its allegiance.
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