23.37
Whilst
these causes kept Fabius from moving, Sempronius was invested, and the
siege works were now actually in operation. A huge wooden tower on
wheels had been brought up against the walls and the Roman consul
constructed another still higher upon the wall itself, which was fairly high
and which served as a platform, after he had placed stout beams across. The
besieged garrison protected the walls of the city by hurling stones and
sharpened stakes and other missiles from their tower; at last when they saw
the other tower brought up to the walls they flung blazing brands over it and
caused a large fire. Terrified by the conflagration the crowd of soldiers in it
flung themselves down and at the same moment a sortie was made from two
of the gates, the outposts of the enemy were overpowered and driven in
flight to their camp, so that for that day the Carthaginians were more like a
besieged than a besieging force. As many as 1300 Carthaginians were killed
and 59 taken prisoners who had been surprised while standing careless and
unconcerned round the walls or at the outposts, and least of all fearing a
sortie. Before the enemy had time to recover from their panic Gracchus gave
the signal to retire and withdrew with his men inside the walls. The following
day, Hannibal, expecting that the consul, elated with his success, would be
prepared to fight a regular battle, formed his line on the ground between his
camp and the city; when, however, he saw that not a single man moved from
his usual post of defence and that no risks were being taken through rash
confidence, he returned to Tifata without accomplishing anything. Just at the
time when the siege of Cumae was raised Ti. Sempronius, surnamed
"Longus," fought a successful action with the Carthaginian Hanno at
Grumentum in Lucania. Over 2000 were killed, 280 men and 41 military
standards were captured. Driven out of Lucania, Hanno retreated to
Bruttium. Amongst the Hirpini, also, three towns which had revolted from
Rome, Vercellium, Vescellium, and Sicilinum, were retaken by the praetor
M. Valerius, and the authors of the revolt beheaded. Over 5000 prisoners
were sold, the rest of the booty was presented to the soldiers, and the army
marched back to Luceria.
