By midday the rear of the column would barely be out of sight of the fort. The attack so soon was well planned as the column became thinner and slower as the road narrowed, seemingly with the main thrust at the weakest point, the baggage train. Was the van of the army being attacked also ? or realise what was happening until too late? and how could they regroup or retaliate ? An attack like this on such a column of thousands of disciplined soldiers required long term planning, organisation and a great deal of information. And complacency on the part of the Roman command. All fostered over the years by Arminius.