22.24
The
Roman army was at the time in the neighbourhood of Larinum, with
Minucius in command, owing, as stated above, to the Dictator having left for
the City. The camp had been situated in a lofty and secure position; it was
now transferred to the plain, and more energetic measures more in harmony
with the general's temperament were being discussed; suggestions were
made for an attack either on the dispersed parties of foragers or on the camp
now that it was left with a weak guard. Hannibal soon found out that the
tactics of his enemies had changed with the change of generals, and that they
would act with more spirit than prudence, and incredible as it may sound,
though his enemy was in closer proximity to him, he sent out a whole
division of his army to collect corn, keeping the other two in camp. The next
thing he did was to move his camp still nearer the enemy, about two miles
from Gereonium on rising ground within view of the Romans, so that they
might know that he was determined to protect his foragers in case of attack.
From this position he was able to see another elevated position still closer to
the Roman camp, in fact looking down on it. There was no doubt that if he
were to attempt to seize it in broad daylight the enemy, having less distance
to go, would be there before him, so he sent a force of Numidians who
occupied it during the night. The next day the Romans, seeing how small a
number were holding the position, made short work of them and drove them
off and then transferred their own camp there. By this time there was but a
very small distance between rampart and rampart, and even that was almost
entirely filled with Roman troops, who were demonstrating in force to
conceal the movements of cavalry and light infantry who had been sent
through the camp gate farthest from the enemy to attack his foragers, upon
whom they inflicted severe losses. Hannibal did not venture upon a regular
battle because his camp was so weakly guarded that it could not have
repelled an assault. Borrowing the tactics of Fabius he began to carry on the
campaign by remaining in almost complete inaction, and withdrew his camp
to its former position before the walls of Gereonium. According to some
authors a pitched battle was fought with both armies in regular formation;
the Carthaginians were routed at the first onset and driven to their camp;
from there a sudden sortie was made and it was the Romans' turn to flee, and
the battle was once more restored by the sudden appearance of Numerius
Decimus, the Samnite general. Decimus was, as far as wealth and lineage go,
the foremost man not only in Bovianum, his native place, but in the whole of
Samnium. In obedience to the Dictator's orders he was bringing into camp a
force of 8000 foot and 500 horse, and when he appeared in Hannibal's rear
both sides thought that it was a reinforcement coming from Rome under Q.
Fabius. Hannibal, it is further stated, ordered his men to retire, the Romans
followed them up, and with the aid of the Samnites captured two of their
fortified positions the same day; 6000 of the enemy were killed and about
5000 of the Romans, yet though the losses were so evenly balanced an idle
and foolish report of a splendid victory reached Rome together with a
despatch from the Master of the Horse which was still more foolish.
