8.38
Q. Fabius
and L. Fulvius were the consuls for the following year. The war in Samnium
was threatening to take a more serious turn, as it was stated that mercenary
troops had been hired from the neighbouring states. The apprehensions
created led to the nomination of A. Cornelius Arvina as Dictator, with M.
Fabius Ambustus as Master of the Horse. These commanders carried out the
enrolment with unusual strictness, and led an exceptionally fine army into
Samnium. But although they were on hostile territory, they exercised as little
caution in choosing the site for their camp as though the enemy had been at a
great distance. Suddenly the Samnite legions advanced with such boldness
that they encamped with their rampart close to the Roman outposts. The
approach of night prevented them from making an immediate attack; they
disclosed their intention as soon as it grew light the next morning. The
Dictator saw that a battle was nearer than he expected, and he determined to
abandon a position which would hamper the courage of his men. Leaving a
number of watch-fires alight to deceive the enemy, he silently withdrew his
troops, but owing to the proximity of the camps his movement was not
unobserved. The Samnite cavalry immediately followed on his heels but
refrained from actual attack till it grew lighter, nor did the infantry emerge
from their camp before daybreak. As soon as they could see, the cavalry
began to harass the Roman rear, and by pressing upon them where difficult
ground had to be crossed, considerably delayed their advance. Meantime the
infantry had come up, and now the entire force of the Samnites was pressing
on the rear of the column.
As the Dictator saw that no further advance was possible without
heavy loss, he ordered the ground he was holding to be measured out for a
camp. But as the enemy's cavalry was gradually enveloping them, it was
impossible to procure wood for the stockade or to commence their
entrenchment. Finding that to go forward and to remain where he was were
equally out of the question, the Dictator ordered the baggage to be removed
from the column and collected and the line of battle formed. The enemy
formed also into line, equally matched in courage and in strength. Their
confidence was increased by their attributing the retirement of the Romans to
fear and not, as was actually the case, to the disadvantageous position of
their camp. This made the fight for some considerable time an even one,
though the Samnites had long been unaccustomed to stand the battle-shout
of the Romans. We read that actually from nine o'clock till two in the
afternoon the contest was maintained so equally on both sides that the shout
which was raised at the first onset was never repeated, the standards neither
advanced nor retreated, in no direction was there any giving way. They
fought, each man keeping his ground, pressing forward with their shields,
neither looking back nor pausing for breath. Their noise and tumult never
grew weaker, the fighting went on perfectly steadily, and it looked as if it
would only be terminated by the complete exhaustion of the combatants or
the approach of night. By this time the men were beginning to lose their
strength and the sword its vigour, whilst the generals were baffled. A troop
of Samnite cavalry, who had ridden some distance round the Roman rear,
discovered that their baggage was lying at a distance from the combatants
without any guard or protection of any kind. On learning this the whole of
the cavalry rode up to it eager to secure the plunder. A messenger in hot
haste reported this to the Dictator, who remarked: "All right, let them
encumber themselves with spoil." Then the soldiers one after another began
to exclaim that their belongings were being plundered and carried off. The
Dictator sent for the Master of the Horse. "Do you see," he said, "M. Fabius,
that the enemy's cavalry have left the fight? They are hampering and
impeding themselves with our baggage. Attack them whilst they are
scattered, as plundering parties always are; you will find very few of them in
the saddle, very few with swords in their hands. Cut them down whilst they
are loading their horses with spoil, with no weapons to defend themselves,
and make it a bloody spoil for them! I will look after the infantry battle, the
glory of the cavalry victory shall be yours."