9.28
After this
great victory the consuls advanced to Bovianum, which they proceeded to
invest. They remained there in winter quarters until C. Poetilius, who had
been named Dictator with M. Foslius as Master of the Horse, took over the
army from the new consuls, L. Papirius Cursor, consul for the fifth time, and
C. Junius Bubulcus, for the second time. On learning that the citadel of
Fregellae had been captured by the Samnites, he raised the siege of
Bovianum and marched to Fregellae. The place was retaken without fighting,
for the Samnites evacuated it in the night, and after leaving a strong garrison
there, the Dictator returned to Campania with the main object of recovering
Nola. At his approach the whole of the Samnite population and the native
peasantry retired within the walls. After examining the position of the city,
he gave orders for all the buildings outside the wall -and there was a
considerable population in the suburbs -to be destroyed in order to render
the approach easier. Not long afterwards, Nola was taken, either by the
Dictator or by the consul, C. Junius, for both accounts are given. Those who
give the credit of the capture to the consul state that Atina and Calatia were
also taken by him, and they explain the appointment of Poetilius by saying
that he was nominated Dictator for the purpose of driving in the nail on the
outbreak of an epidemic. Colonies were sent out this year to Suessa and
Pontia; Suessa had belonged to the Auruncans, and the island of Pontia had
been inhabited by the Volscians, as it lay off their coast. The senate also
authorised the settlement of a colony at Interamna on the Casinus, but it fell
to the succeeding consuls, M. Valerius and P. Decius, to appoint the
commissioners and send out the colonists to the number of 4000.