37.4
When the
business which he had to transact in Rome was finished, L. Cornelius gave
notice in the Assembly that the men whom he had enlisted and those who
were with A. Cornelius in Bruttium were all to assemble at Brundisium by
15th July. He also appointed three officers, Sextus Digitius, L. Apustius and
C. Fabricius Luscinus, to collect the ships from all parts of the coast at the
same place, and all his preparations being now completed, he set out from
the city, wearing his paludamentum. As many as 5000 volunteers, Roman
and allied troops who had served their time under P. Africanus, were waiting
for the consul on his departure and gave in their names for active service. At
the time of the consul's departure, whilst the Games of Apollo were being
celebrated, the daylight was obscured, though the sky was clear, by the
moon passing under the orb of the sun. L. Aemilius Regillus set out at the
same time to take command of the fleet. L. Aurunculeius was commissioned
by the senate to undertake the construction of thirty quinqueremes and
twenty triremes. This step was due to a report that since the naval battle
Antiochus was fitting out a considerably larger fleet than he had on that
occasion. When the Aetolian envoys brought back word that there was no
hope of peace, their government realised that the danger threatening them
from Rome was more serious than the losses inflicted on them by the
Achaeans who were harrying the whole of their sea-board which faced the
Peloponnese. They had made up their minds that the Romans would return
in the spring and lay siege to Naupactus, and in order to block their route
they occupied Mount Corax. Acilius knew that this was what they were
expecting, and he thought the better course would be to undertake
something which they were not expecting; so he commenced an attack on
Lamia. This place had almost been destroyed by Philip, and as the inhabitants
were not apprehending any similar attempt, Acilius thought he might
successfully surprise it. After leaving Elatia his first encampment on the
enemy soil was by the Spercheus; from there he made a night march, and by
dawn had completely invested the place.