10.14
The
consuls were busy with their arrangements for the campaign, deciding which
of them should deal with the Etruscans, and which with the Samnites, what
troops they would each require, which field of operations each was best
fitted for, when envoys arrived from Sutrium, Nepete, and Falerii bringing
definite information that the local assemblies of Etruria were being convened
to decide upon a peace policy. On the strength of this information the whole
weight of war was turned against the Samnites. In order to facilitate the
transport of supplies, and also to make the enemy more uncertain as to the
line of the Roman advance, Fabius led his legions by way of Sora, while
Decius proceeded through the Sidicine district. When they had crossed the
frontiers of Samnium they marched on a widely extended front, laying the
country waste as they went on. They threw out their scouting parties still
more widely, and so did not fail to discover the enemy near Tifernum. They
had concealed themselves in a secluded valley, prepared to attack the
Romans, should they enter the valley, from the rising ground on each side.
Fabius removed the baggage into a safe place and left a small guard over it.
He then informed his men that a battle was impending, and massing them
into a solid square came up to the above-mentioned hiding-place of the
enemy. The Samnites, finding all chance of a surprise hopeless, since matters
would have to be decided by an action in the open, thought it better to meet
their foes in a pitched battle. Accordingly they came down to the lower
ground, and placed themselves in the hands of Fortune with more of courage
than of hope. But whether it was that they had got together the whole
strength out of every community in Samnium, or that their courage was
stimulated by the thought that their very existence as a nation depended
upon this battle, they certainly did succeed in creating a good deal of alarm
in the Roman ranks, even though they were fighting in a fair field. When
Fabius saw that the enemy were holding their ground in every part of the
field, he rode up to the first line with his son, Maximus, and Marcus
Valerius, both military tribunes, and ordered them to go to the cavalry and
tell them that if they remembered any single occasion on which the republic
had been aided by the efforts of the cavalry, they should that day strive their
utmost to sustain the reputation of that invincible arm of the State, for the
enemy were standing immovable against the infantry and all their hopes
rested on the cavalry. He made a personal appeal to each of them, showering
commendations upon them and holding out the prospect of great rewards.
Since, however, the cavalry charge might fail in its object, and attacking in
force prove useless, he thought he ought to adopt a stratagem. Scipio, one
of his staff, received instructions to draw off the hastati of the first legion
and, attracting as little observation as possible, take them to the nearest hills.
Then climbing up where they could not be seen, they were suddenly to show
themselves in the enemy's rear.
The cavalry, led by the two young tribunes, dashed out in front of
the standards, and their sudden appearance created almost as much
confusion amongst their own people as amongst the enemy. The Samnite line
stood perfectly firm against the galloping squadrons, nowhere could they be
forced back or broken. Finding their attempt a failure, the cavalry retired
behind the standards and took no further part in the fighting. This increased
the courage of the enemy, and the Roman front could not have sustained the
prolonged contest, met as they were by a resistance which was becoming
more stubborn as its confidence rose, had not the consul ordered the second
line to relieve the first. These fresh troops checked the advance of the
Samnites, who were now pressing forward. Just at this moment the
standards were descried on the hills, and a fresh battle-shout arose from the
Roman ranks. The alarm which was created among the Samnites was greater
than circumstances warranted, for Fabius exclaimed that his colleague
Decius was coming, and every soldier, wild with joy, took up the cry and
shouted that the other consul with his legions was at hand. This mistake
occurring so opportunely filled the Samnites with dismay; they dreaded,
exhausted as they were by fighting, the prospect of being overwhelmed by a
second army, fresh and unhurt. Unable to offer any further resistance they
broke and fled, and owing to their scattered flight, the bloodshed was small
when compared with the greatness of the victory; 3400 were killed, about
830 made prisoners, and 23 standards were captured.