40.36
In
reply to these questions Minucius said that neither he nor any one else could
possibly divine what the intentions of the Celtiberi were at the time or what
they might be in the future. He could not therefore deny that it might be
better for an army to be sent even to those of the natives who had been
reduced to submission but were not accustomed to our rule. But whether
there was need of the old army or of a new one was for him to say who was
in a position to know how far the Celtiberi would keep the peace, and who
had also definitely ascertained whether the soldiers would take it quietly if
they were retained in the province. If their sentiments were to be inferred
from what they say to one another, or from their exclamations when their
commander addresses them on parade, then it ought to be known that they
had openly and loudly declared that they would either keep their general in
the province or else go back with him to Italy. This discussion was
interrupted by the consuls, who gave it as their opinion that the right and
proper course was for their province to be provided for before the question
of a praetor's army was raised. A whole new army was decreed for the
consuls; two Roman legions for each with their full complement of cavalry
and the usual proportion of Latin and allied troops, namely 15,000 infantry
and 800 cavalry. With this army they were commissioned to make war on
the Apuani in Liguria. P. Cornelius and M. Baebius were ordered to retain
their commands until the consuls arrived, then after disbanding their army
they were to return to Rome.
Then the question of the army for Tiberius Sempronius was settled.
The consuls were ordered to enrol for him a fresh legion of 5200 infantry
and 400 cavalry and an additional force of 1000 infantry and 50 cavalry.
They were also to require the Latin allies to furnish 7000 infantry and 300
cavalry. Such was the army with which it was decided that Tiberius
Sempronius should go to Hither Spain. Q. Flaccus received permission to
bring away with him, if he thought fit, those soldiers, whether Roman
citizens or allies, who had been transferred to Spain previous to the
consulship of Spurius Postumius and Q. Marcius. When by the addition of
the reinforcements the two legions had been raised above their normal
strength, namely 14,000 infantry and 600 cavalry, Flaccus was at liberty to
bring away all in excess of that number whose bravery had been of such
service to Flaccus in his two successful actions against the Celtiberi.
Thanksgivings were also decreed for his good services to the State. The
other praetors were then sent off to their provinces; Q. Fabius Buteo was
continued in his command in Gaul. It was decided that there should be only
eight legions for that year besides the old army in Liguria who were
expecting their discharge shortly. Even that force was with difficulty made
up owing to the pestilence which had for three years been devastating Rome
and Italy.
