ɪt hˈæzbiːn sədʒˈɛstᵻd ðæt ðiːz wɜːɹ ɪn fˈækt ɹˈʌf dɹˈæfts pɹɪpˈɛɹd æt ðə ɹᵻkwˈɛst ʌv hˈɜːɾɪəs baɪ tˈuː sˈɛpɹət sˈoʊldʒɚz hˌuː fˈɔːt ɪnðə ɹᵻspˈɛktɪv kæmpˈeɪn; ænd hæd hiː sɚvˈaɪvd, hˈɜːɾɪəs wʊdhɐv wˈɜːkt ðˌɛm ˌʌp ˌɪntʊ mˈoːɹ ɪfˈɛktɪv lˈɪɾɚɹˌɛɹi fˈɔːɹm.
It has been suggested that these were in fact rough drafts prepared at the request of Hirtius by two separate soldiers who fought in the respective campaign; and had he survived, Hirtius would have worked them up into more effective literary form.