raised the siege, and all but annihilated the revolting Nervii.

In 53 Caesar punished the Eburónes for their action in the previous
winter. The tribe was completely destroyed, but their leader,
Ambiorix, escaped and was never captured. During this summer Caesar
again crossed the Rhine. At the close of the summer he returned to
Cisalpine Gaul, supposing that the Gauls were totally subdued. He was
mistaken. The patriotism of the people was not yet extinguished. The
chiefs of all the tribes secretly established communication with each
other. A day was settled upon for a general uprising. The Roman
inhabitants of Genabum, on the Liger, were massacred. The leading
spirit in this last struggle of the Gauls was VERCINGETORIX, chief of
the Averni.

Caesar hastened across the Alps, surmounted the difficulties of
crossing the Cevennes when the snow was very deep, collected his
legions, marched upon Genabum, and plundered and burnt the town.

Vercingetorix saw that he was no match for the legions in open battle.
He proposed, therefore, to cut off Caesar's supplies by burning all
the towns of the Bituriges, and laying the country waste. Avaricum
alone was spared. Within its walls were placed the best of their goods
and a strong garrison. Thither Caesar marched, and, after a well
defended siege, captured the town and killed every person in it,
excepting eight hundred, who escaped to the camp of Vercingetorix.
Large quantities of corn were taken, with which Caesar supplied his
soldiers. He then marched against Gergovia, the capital of the Averni.
As the town was on a high plateau, and too strong to be stormed, he
laid siege to it. A part of the army, contrary to instructions, one
day attempted to assault the place. The battle which followed was