Legion of the Obsidian Eagle

From  the annuals of legion Obsidian Eagle:
It is with great pride today, that I Quintus Arius report the legion has regained it's lost eagle and honor during the Battle of Autumn March.
As you know we were a penal legion made so after decimation  for the loss of the eagle forty years ago. The majority of the men and women in the legion were criminals, who had to serve varying sentences. A number of years for the crime as per the legal code for punishments, or fight in the same number of battles. A  thief might be sentenced to serve five years or fight in five battles which ever happened to come first. Many would choose this as the alternative in the civilian tribunal would be to have his hand removed for the theft. 
The one stipulation to this was that should the lost eagle ever be regained every man and woman in the legion would be free and have their honor restored. 
The rest of the men such as myself are the younger sons of respectable families with no were else to go, and/or those too poor to buy their way into a position. 
There were also the oddballs,  the foolish and the insane that no one else wanted.
The eagle had been lost fighting the faerie rebels in the Forest of Brocaede. How it ended here in Autumn March near seven hundred miles away, we do not know. Apparently somehow the scum we fought acquired it and used it as a trophy.
As tradition our legatus Marcus Proculus met with the commander of the opposing force the evening before to parlay. To lay out any conditions for mercy and rules for prisoners and the wounded. Marcus gave the orders as such
"A mob of them will charge the line, the archers will fire a single volley into them, any that reach the ranks will be cut down. Then we will withdraw in good order and yield the field to the enemy. The dwarf prince visiting will be bound with his retinue and left behind. This is the way it will be, the men will each have a battle fought marked on their record and will be closer to being freed." 
Marcus then left us to ponder the incredulous plan he had laid out before us. 
I felt unsettled and went for a ride to settle my thoughts. When I returned I gathered the other officers and explained that the legatus's plan did not have merit, that it was dishonorable and broke the tradition of hospitality. Together we relieved Marcus and placed him under arrest for graft and embezzlement of legion funds.
When the time for battle came, we did not fire upon the elderly slaves that were sent against us and let them pass. The enemy command approached and asked for Marcus, I informed him that I had taken command. He looked about and attempted to bribe me. He then threatened our destruction and attacked.
We had the higher ground and the benefit of thick hedge rows on our flanks. As the mercenary scum approached our arrow, crossbow men and musketeers filled the air with shot from concealed positions in the hedge rows. We advanced and overran them as we broke their center. The remaining that routed were caught and rode down. 
Upon searching their baggage we found the lost eagle as witnessed by the Imperial overseer. On this day all the penal conscripts earned their freedom and regained their honor.
I Quintus Arius report this in truth with due humility.