42.64
During
these incidents in Boeotia, Perseus remained for several days in camp at
Sycurium. Here he heard that the Romans were busy cutting and carrying off
the corn from the fields and that the men were all in front of their tents
cutting off the ears with their sickles that they might rub the corn cleaner,
and littering all the camp with great heaps of straw. This seemed to him a
good opportunity for firing the camp, and he gave orders for torches of
pinewood and bundles of tow covered with pitch to be got ready. He started
at midnight, intending to take the enemy unawares at daybreak. All to no
purpose. The advanced posts were surprised and their shouts and tumult
gave the alarm to the rest. The signal was given to arm instantly for battle
and the soldiers were immediately formed up at the gates and on the
rampart. His design on the camp having failed, Perseus countermarched his
army and directed the baggage to lead the way, and the standards of the
infantry to follow. He himself waited with his cavalry and light infantry to
close the column, expecting, as proved to be the case, that the enemy would
follow and harass his rear. There was some desultory fighting on the part of
the light infantry, mainly with the skirmishers; the cavalry and infantry
returned to camp without disorder.
When the standing corn was cut all round their camp, the Romans
moved on to Crannon, where the fields were yet untouched. Here they
remained encamped for some time as they were secure against attack, owing
partly to the distance from Sycurium and partly to the difficulty of obtaining
water on the road from that place. Suddenly, one morning at daybreak, they
were greatly excited at seeing the king's cavalry and light infantry on a range
of hills overlooking the camp. These had started from Sycurium at noon the
day before, and just before dawn left the infantry behind on the nearest level
ground. Perseus halted for some time on the hills, thinking that the Romans
might be drawn into a cavalry action. As they made no movement, he sent a
trooper with orders to the infantry to march back to Sycurium, and in a short
time rode after them. The Roman cavalry followed at a moderate interval to
pick up stragglers. When they saw the massed infantry marching off in
unbroken ranks, they too returned to camp.