10.18
Whilst
this campaign was going on in Samnium -whoever may have been the
commander -a very serious war against Rome was being organised in
Etruria, in which many nations were to take part. The chief organiser was
Gellius Egnatius, a Samnite. Almost all the Tuscan cantons had decided on
war, the contagion had infected the nearest cantons in Umbria, and the Gauls
were being solicited to help as mercenaries. All these, were concentrating at
the Samnite camp. When the news of this sudden rising reached Rome, L.
Volumnius had already left for Samnium with the second and third legions
and 15,000 allied troops; it was therefore decided that Appius Claudius
should at the earliest possible moment enter Etruria. Two Roman legions
followed him, the first and fourth, and 12,000 allies. He fixed his camp not
far from the enemy. The advantage gained by his prompt arrival did not,
however, show itself in any wise or fortunate generalship on his part so
much as the check imposed by the fear of Rome upon some of the Etrurian
cantons which were meditating war. Several engagements took place in
unfavourable positions and at unfortunate times, and the more the enemy's
hopes of success, the more formidable he became. Matters almost reached
the point when the soldiers distrusted their general and the general had no
confidence in his soldiers. I find it stated by some annalists that he sent a
letter to his colleague summoning him from Samnium, but I cannot assert
this as a fact since this very circumstance became a subject of dispute
between the two consuls, who were now in office together for the second
time; Appius denying that he had sent any letter and Volumnius insisting that
he had been summoned by a letter from Appius.
Volumnius had by this time taken three fortified posts in Samnium
in which as many as 3000 men were killed and almost half that number made
prisoners. He had also sent Q. Fabius, the proconsul, with his veteran army,
much to the satisfaction of the Lucanian magnates, to repress the
disturbances which had been got up in that part of the country by the
plebeian and indigent classes. Leaving the ravaging of the enemy's fields to
Decius he proceeded with his whole force to Etruria. On his arrival he was
universally welcomed. As to the way Appius treated him, I think that if he
had a clear conscience in the matter, that is, if he had written nothing, his
anger was justifiable, but if he had really stood in need of help he showed a
disingenuous and ungrateful spirit in concealing the fact. When he went out
to meet his colleague, almost before they had had time to exchange mutual
greetings, he asked: "Is all well, Volumnius? How are things going in
Samnium? What induced you to leave your allotted province?" Volumnius
replied that all was going on satisfactorily and that he had come because he
had been asked to do so by letter. If it was a forgery and there was nothing
for him to do in Etruria he would at once countermarch his troops and
depart. "Well then," said Appius, "go, let nobody keep you here, for it is by
no means right that whilst perhaps you are hardly able to cope with your
own war you should boast of having come to the assistance of others." "May
Hercules guide all for the best," replied Volumnius. "I would rather have
taken all this trouble in vain than that anything should happen which would
make one consular army insufficient for Etruria."