This is
part of Appian's account (Book IV of Civil Wars) of the siege of Xanthus undertaken by
Brutus:
78 Soon afterwards the remainder made a fresh sally about midday, and as the besiegers withdrew again, they set fire to all the machines. As the gates were left open for them on account of the former calamity, about 2000
Romans broke in with them. While others were pushing in at the entrance the portcullis suddenly fell upon them, either by the design of the Xanthians or the accidental breaking of the ropes, so that some of the
Romans who were forcing their way in were crushed and the others found their retreat cut off, as they could not raise the portcullis without hoisting apparatus. Pelted by missiles hurled upon them by the Xanthians from the roofs in the narrow streets, they forced their way with difficulty till they came to the
forum, which was near by, and there they overcame the forces which were at close quarters with them, but, being under heavy volleys of arrows and having themselves neither bows
nor javelins, they took refuge by the temple of Sarpedon to avoid being surrounded. The
Romans who were outside the walls were excited and anxious for those inside, and tried every expedient,
Brutus meantime darting hither and thither, but they were not able to break the portcullis, which was protected with iron,
nor could they procure ladders or towers since their own
had been burned. Nevertheless some of them made extemporized ladders, and others pushed trunks of trees against the walls and climbed up as if by ladders.
Still others fastened iron hooks to ropes and hurled them up to the walls, and whenever one of them caught fast they climbed up.
79 The Oenandians, who were neighbours of the Xanthians, and who
had formed an
alliance with
Brutus because of their enmity to the latter, clambered up by way of the crags. When the
Romans saw them they toiled up after them. Many fell off, but some scaled the wall and opened a small gate, defended with a very dense palisade, and admitted the most daring of the assailants, who swung themselves over the palings. Being now more numerous they began to hack at the portcullis, which was not protected with iron on the inside, while others joined in hacking it from outside, to
help them. While the Xanthians, with loud cries, were rushing upon the
Romans who were at the temple of Sarpedon, the
Romans within and without, who were demolishing the portcullis, fearful for their comrades, struggled with frantic zeal. Finally they broke it down and rushed through in crowds about sunset, with a loud shout intended as a signal to those in the temple.
Steve