10.20
Whilst
both the consuls with the whole strength of Rome were devoting their
energies more and more to the Etruscan war, fresh armies were raised in
Samnium for the purpose of ravaging the territories which belonged to the
feudatories of Rome. They passed through the Vescini into the country
round Capua and Falernum and secured immense spoil. Volumnius was
returning to Samnium by forced marches, for the extended command of
Fabius and Decius had almost expired, when he heard of the devastations
which the Samnites were committing in Campania. He at once diverted his
route in that direction to protect our allies. When he was in the
neighbourhood of Cales he saw for himself the fresh traces of the destruction
that had been wrought, and the inhabitants informed him that the enemy
were carrying off so much plunder that they could hardly keep any proper
formation on the march. In fact their generals had openly given out that they
dared not expose an army so heavily laden to the chances of battle, and they
must at once return to Samnium and leave their plunder there, after which
they would return for a fresh raid. However true all this might be, Volumnius
thought he ought to get further information, and accordingly he despatched
some cavalry to pick up any stragglers they might find among the raiders. On
questioning them he learnt that the enemy were halted at the river Volturnus,
and were going to move forward at the third watch and take the road to
Samnium. Satisfied with this information he marched on and fixed his camp
at such a distance from the enemy that while it was not close enough for his
arrival to be detected it was sufficiently near to allow of his surprising them
while they were leaving their camp. Some time before daylight he
approached their camp and sent some men familiar with the Oscan language
to find out what was going on. Mingling with the enemy, an easy matter in
the confusion of a nocturnal departure, they found that the standards had
already gone with only a few to defend them, the booty and those who were
to escort it were just leaving, the army as a whole were incapable of any
military evolution, for each was looking after his own affairs, without any
mutually arranged plan of action or any definite orders from their
commander. This seemed the moment for delivering his attack, and daylight
was approaching, so he ordered the advance to be sounded and attacked the
enemy's column. The Samnites were encumbered with their booty, only a
few were in fighting trim; some hurried on and drove before them the
animals they had seized, others halted, undecided whether to go on or retreat
to the camp; in the midst of their hesitation they were surrounded and cut
off. The Romans had now got over the rampart, and the camp became a
scene of wild disorder and carnage. The confusion created in the Samnite
column by the swiftness of the attack was increased by the sudden outbreak
of their prisoners. Some after releasing themselves broke the fetters of those
round them, others snatched the weapons which were fastened up with the
baggage and created in the centre of the column a tumult more appalling
even than the battle which was going on. Then they achieved a most
extraordinary feat. Statius Minacius, the general commanding, was riding up
and down the ranks encouraging his men, when the prisoners attacked him,
and after dispersing his escort, hurried him off, whilst still in the saddle, as a
prisoner to the Roman consul. The noise and the tumult recalled the cohorts
who were at the head of the column, and the battle was resumed, but only
for a short time, as a long resistance was impossible. As many as 6000 men
were killed, there were 2500 prisoners, amongst them four military tribunes,
thirty standards were taken, and, what gave the victors more pleasure than
anything else, 7400 captives were rescued and the immense booty which had
been taken from the allies recovered. Public notice was given inviting the
owners to identify and recover what belonged to them. Everything for which
no owner appeared on the appointed day was given to the soldiers, but they
were obliged to sell it all that nothing might distract their thoughts from their
military duties.