9.21
At the
termination of their year of office the consuls did not hand the legions over
to their successors, Sp. Nautius. and M. Popilius, but to the Dictator, L.
Aemilius. In conjunction with M. Fulvius, the Master of the Horse, he
commenced an attack on Saticula, and the Samnites at once seized this
opportunity to renew hostilities. The Romans were threatened by a double
danger; the Samnites, after getting a large army together, had entrenched
themselves not far from the Roman camp in order to relieve their blockaded
allies, whilst the Saticulans suddenly flung their gates open and made a
tumultuous attack on the Roman outposts. The two bodies of combatants,
each relying more on the help of the other than on its own strength, united in
a regular attack on the Roman camp. Though both sides of the camp were
attacked, the Dictator kept his men free from panic, owing to his having
selected a position which could not easily be turned, and also because his
men presented two fronts. He directed his efforts mainly against those who
had made the sortie, and drove them back, without much trouble, behind
their walls. Then he turned his whole strength against the Samnites. Here the
fighting was more sustained and the victory was longer in coming, but when
it did come it was decisive. The Samnites were driven in disorder to their
camp, and after extinguishing all the camp fires they departed silently in the
night, having abandoned all hope of saving Saticula. By way of retaliation
they invested Plistica, a city in alliance with Rome.