21.61
Before
he had received definite tidings of this defeat, Hasdrubal had crossed the
Ebro with 8000 infantry and 1000 cavalry, hoping to encounter the Romans
as soon as they landed, but after hearing of the disaster at Cissis and the
capture of the camp, he turned his route to the sea. Not far from Tarracona
he found our marines and seamen wandering at will through the fields,
success as usual producing carelessness. Sending his cavalry in all directions
amongst them, he made a great slaughter and drove them pell-mell to their
ships. Afraid to remain any longer in the neighbourhood lest he should be
surprised by Scipio, he retreated across the Ebro. On hearing of this fresh
enemy Scipio came down by forced marches, and after dealing summary
punishment to some of the naval captains, returned by sea to Emporiae,
leaving a small garrison in Tarracona. He had scarcely left when Hasdrubal
appeared on the scene, and instigated the Ilergetes, who had given hostages
to Scipio, to revolt, and in conjunction with the warriors of that tribe
ravaged the territories of those tribes who remained loyal to Rome. This
roused Scipio from his winter quarters, on which Hasdrubal again
disappeared beyond the Ebro, and Scipio invaded in force the territory of the
Ilergetes, after the author of the revolt had left them to their fate. He drove
them all into Antanagrum, their capital, which he proceeded to invest, and a
few days later he received them into the protection and jurisdiction of Rome,
after demanding an increase in the number of hostages and inflicting a heavy
fine upon them. From there he advanced against the Ausetani, who lived
near the Ebro and were also in alliance with the Carthaginians, and invested
their city. The Laeetani whilst bringing assistance to their neighbours by
night were ambushed not far from the city which they intended to enter. As
many as 12,000 were killed, almost all the survivors threw away their arms
and fled to their homes in scattered groups all over the country. The only
thing which saved the invested city from assault and storm was the severity
of the weather. For the thirty days during which the siege lasted the snow
was seldom less than four feet deep, and it covered up the mantlets and
vineae so completely that it even served as a sufficient protection against the
firebrands which the enemy discharged from time to time. At last, after their
chief, Amusicus, had escaped to Hasdrubal's quarters, they surrendered and
agreed to pay an indemnity of twenty talents. The army returned to its winter
quarters at Tarracona.