10.43
The
same good fortune attended the other consul at Cominium. At the approach
of daylight he brought his whole force up to the walls so as to enclose the
city with a ring of steel, and stationed strong bodies of troops before the
gates to prevent any sortie from being made. Just as he was giving the signal
for assault the alarming message reached him from his colleague about the
20 cohorts. This delayed the attack and necessitated the recall of a portion of
his troops, who were ready and eager to begin the storm. He ordered D.
Brutus Scaeva, one of his staff, to intercept the hostile reinforcements with
the first legion and ten auxiliary cohorts with their complement of cavalry.
Wherever he fell in with them he was to hold them and stop their advance; if
circumstances should make it necessary he was to offer them battle; in any
case he was to prevent those troops from reaching Cominium. Then he went
on with his preparations for the assault. Orders were issued for scaling
ladders to be reared against the walls in all directions and an approach made
to the gates under a shield roof. Simultaneously with the smashing in of the
gates the storming parties clambered up on the walls on every side. Until
they saw their enemy actually on the walls the Samnites had sufficient
courage to try to keep them from approaching the city, but when they had to
fight not by discharging their missiles from a distance, but at close quarters,
when those who had forced their way on to the walls and overcome the
disadvantage of being on lower ground were fighting on even terms with an
enemy who was no match for them, the defenders abandoned their walls and
towers and were driven back into the forum. Here they made a desperate
effort to retrieve their fortune, but after a brief struggle they threw down
their arms and 11,400 men surrendered after losing 4880 killed. Thus
matters went at Cominium as they had gone at Aquilonia.
In the country between these two cities, where a third battle was
expected, nothing was seen of the 20 cohorts. When they were still seven
miles from Cominium they were recalled by their comrades, and so did not
come in for either battle. Just as twilight was setting in, when they had
reached a spot from which their camp and Aquilonia were both visible, a
noise of shouting from both quarters made them call a halt. Then in the
direction of their camp, which had been set on fire by the Romans, flames
shooting up far and wide, a more certain indication of disaster, stopped them
from going any further. They threw themselves down just where they were
under arms, and passed a restless night waiting for and dreading the day.
When it began to grow light, whilst they were still uncertain what direction
to take, they were espied by the cavalry who had gone in pursuit of the
Samnites in their nocturnal retreat from Aquilonia. The whole body were
plainly discernible, with no entrenchments to protect them, no outposts on
guard. They were visible, too, from the walls of the city, and in a short time
the legionary cohorts were on their track. They made a hasty flight, and the
infantry were unable to come up with them, but some 280 in the extreme
rear were cut down by the cavalry. A great quantity of arms and 22
standards were left behind in their hurry to escape. The other body who had
escaped from Aquilonia reached Bovianum in comparative safety,
considering the confusion which marked their retreat.