1Caecina drank in more plunder and more blood. 1The Helvetii had provoked his turbulent nature, a Gallic people once famous for arms and men, later for the memory of their name; they knew nothing of Galba's murder and refused to accept Vitellius' rule. 1The war began with the greed and haste of the Twenty-First legion; 1they had seized money sent for the pay of a fort which the Helvetii had long garrisoned with their own soldiers and at their own expense. 1The Helvetii, resenting this, intercepted letters that were being carried in the name of the German army to the Pannonian legions, and were holding a centurion and some of the soldiers in custody.
1Caecina, eager for war, set out to punish each nearest offence before there could be any repentance: camp was swiftly moved, fields were laid waste, and a place was plundered which in the long peace had been built up like a town, much frequented for the pleasant use of its healthful waters; 1messengers were sent to the Raetian auxiliaries, telling them to attack the Helvetii in the rear while they were turned against the legion.