De Bello Gallico 1.24

1.24.1Postquam id animum advertit, cōpiās suās Caesar in proximum collem subdūxit equitātumque, quī sustinēret hostium impetum, mīsit.

When he noticed this, Caesar withdrew his forces to the nearest hill and sent his cavalry to hold off the enemy's attack.

1.24.2Ipse interim in colle mediō triplicem aciem īnstrūxit legiōnum quattuor veterānārum;

Meanwhile he himself drew up a triple battle line of his four veteran legions halfway up the hill;

1.24.2in summō iugō duās legiōnēs quās in Galliā citeriōre proximē cōnscrīpserat et omnia auxilia conlocāvit, ita ut suprā sē tōtum montem hominibus complēret;

on the top of the ridge he placed the two legions he had recently enrolled in Nearer Gaul and all the auxiliaries, so that he filled the whole hill above him with men;

1.24.3impedīmenta sarcināsque in ūnum locum cōnferrī et eum ab iīs quī in superiōre aciē cōnstiterant mūnīrī iussit.

he ordered the baggage and packs to be collected in one place and that place to be fortified by those posted in the upper line.

1.24.4Helvētiī cum omnibus suīs carrīs secūtī impedīmenta in ūnum locum contulērunt;

The Helvetii, following with all their wagons, gathered their baggage in one place;

1.24.4ipsī cōnfertissimā aciē, rēiectō nostrō equitātū, phalange factā sub prīmam nostram aciem successērunt.

they themselves, in very close order, drove back our cavalry, formed a phalanx and came up against our front line.

Note. phalange factā: 'forming a phalanx', a dense block of men with shields locked together.