10.32
Q.
Fabius and P. Decius were succeeded in the consulship by L. Postumius
Megellus and M. Atilius Regulus. Samniurn was assigned to both of them as
the field of operations in consequence of information received that three
armies had been raised there, one being destined for Etruria, another was to
ravage Campania, and the third was intended for the defence of their
frontiers. Illness kept Postumius in Rome, but Atilius marched out at once in
accordance with the senate's instructions, with the view of surprising the
Samnite armies before they had started on their expeditions. He met the
enemy, as though they had had a previous understanding, at a point where he
himself was stopped from entering the Samnite country and at the same time
barred any movement on their part towards Roman territory or the peaceable
lands of her allies. The two camps confronted each other, and the Samnites,
with the recklessness that comes of despair, ventured upon an enterprise
which the Romans, who had been so often victorious, would hardly have
undertaken, namely an attack on the enemy's camp. Their daring attempt did
not achieve its end, but it was not altogether fruitless. During a great part of
the day there had been so dense a fog that it was not only impossible to see
anything beyond the rampart, but even people who were together were
unable to see each other. The Samnites, relying on their movements being
concealed, came on in the dim twilight -what light there was being obscured
by the fog -and reached the outpost in front of the gate who were keeping a
careless look-out, and who being thus attacked unawares had neither the
strength nor the courage to offer any resistance. After disposing of the guard
they entered the camp through the decuman gate and got possession of the
quaestor's tent, the quaestor, L. Opimius Pansa, being killed. Then there was
a general call to arms.
