22.28
Nothing that was going on amongst his
enemies escaped the observation of Hannibal, for ample information was
supplied to him by deserters as well as by his scouts. He was doubly
delighted, for he felt sure of entrapping by his own peculiar methods the wild
rashness of Minucius, and he saw that Fabius' skilful tactics had lost half
their strength. Between Minucius' camp and Hannibal's there was some rising
ground, and whichever side seized it would undoubtedly be able to render
their adversaries' position less secure. Hannibal determined to secure it, and
though it would have been worth while doing so without a fight, he
preferred to bring on a battle with Minucius, who, he felt quite sure, would
hurry up to stop him. The entire intervening country seemed, at a first
glance, totally unsuited for surprise tactics, for there were no woods
anywhere, no spots covered with brushwood and scrub, but in reality it
naturally lent itself to such a purpose, and all the more so because in so bare
a valley no stratagem of the kind could be suspected. In its windings there
were caverns, some so large as to be capable of concealing two hundred
men. Each of these hiding-places was filled with troops, and altogether 5000
horse and foot were placed in concealment. In case, however, the stratagem
might be detected by some soldier's thoughtless movements, or the glint of
arms in so open a valley, Hannibal sent a small detachment to seize the rising
ground already described in order to divert the attention of the enemy. As
soon as they were sighted, their small number excited ridicule, and every
man begged that he might have the task of dislodging them. Conspicuous
amongst his senseless and hot-headed soldiers the general sounded a general
call to arms, and poured idle abuse and threats on the enemy. He sent the
light infantry first in open skirmishing order, these were followed by the
cavalry in close formation, and at last, when he saw that reinforcements were
being brought up to the enemy, he advanced with the legions in line.
Hannibal on his side sent supports, both horse and foot, to his men wherever
they were hard pressed, and the numbers engaged steadily grew until he had
formed his entire army into order of battle and both sides were in full
strength. The Roman light infantry moving up the hill from lower ground
were the first to be repulsed and forced back to the cavalry who were
coming up behind them. They sought refuge behind the front ranks of the
legions, who alone amidst the general panic preserved their coolness and
presence of mind. Had it been a straightforward fight, man to man, they
would to all appearance have been quite a match for their foes, so much had
their success, a few days previously, restored their courage. But the sudden
appearance of the concealed troops and their combined attack on both flanks
and on the rear of the Roman legions created such confusion and alarm that
not a man had any spirit left to fight or any hope of escaping by flight.
