7.37
After this
success the consul summoned an Assembly, and in the presence of his
fellow-soldiers pronounced a eulogy on Decius not only for his former
services but also for this crowning proof of his soldierly qualities. In addition
to the other military rewards he presented him with a golden chaplet and a
hundred oxen, and one white one of especial beauty, the horns of which had
been gilded. The men who had been with him on the height were rewarded
with a standing order for double rations and also with one ox and two tunics
apiece. After the consul had made the presentation, the legionaries, amidst
loud cheers, placed on Decius' head an "obsidial " wreath of grass. Another
similar wreath was bestowed upon him by his own men. With these
decorations upon him he sacrificed the beautiful ox to Mars and presented
the hundred oxen which had been given him to the men who had
accompanied him on his expedition. The legionaries also contributed a pound
of meal and a pint of wine for each of them. During all these proceedings
enthusiastic cheering went on through the whole camp. After the rout it had
suffered at the hands of Valerius, the Samnite army was determined to put its
fortunes to the proof in a final conflict, and a third battle was fought at
Suessula. The whole fighting strength of the nation was brought up. The
alarming news was sent in haste to Capua; from there horsemen galloped to
the Roman camp to beg for help from Valerius. He at once ordered an
advance, and leaving a strong force to protect the camp and the baggage,
proceeded by forced marches to Suessula. He selected a site for his camp not
far from the enemy, and very restricted in area, as with the exception of the
horses there were no baggage, animals, or camp-followers to be provided
for. The Samnite army, assuming that there would be no delay in giving
battle, formed their lines, and as no enemy advanced against them they
marched on towards the Roman camp prepared to assault it. When they saw
the soldiers on the rampart and learnt from the report of the reconnoitring
parties who had been sent in every direction that the camp was of small
dimensions, they concluded that only a weak force of the enemy held it. The
whole army began to clamour for the fosse to be filled up and the rampart
torn down that they might force their way into the camp. If the generals had
not checked the impetuosity of their men, their recklessness would have
terminated the war. As it was, however, their huge numbers were exhausting
their supplies, and owing to their previous inaction at Suessula and the delay
in bringing on an action they were not far from absolute scarcity. They
determined, therefore, since, as they imagined, the enemy was afraid to
venture outside his camp, to send foraging parties into the fields. Meantime
they expected that as the Romans made no movement and had brought only
as much corn as they could carry with the rest of their equipment on their
shoulders, they, too, would soon be in want of everything. When the consul
saw the enemy scattered through the fields and only a few left on outpost
duty in front of the camp, he addressed a few words of encouragement to his
men and led them out to storm the Samnite camp. They carried it at the first
rush; more of the enemy were killed in their tents than at the gates or on the
rampart. All the standards which were captured he ordered to be collected
together. Leaving two legions to hold the camp, he gave strict orders that
they were not to touch the booty till he returned. He went forward with his
men in open column and sent the cavalry to round up the scattered Samnites,
like so much game, and drive them against his army. There was an immense
slaughter, for they were too much terrified to think under what standard to
rally or whether to make for their camp or flee further afield. Their fears
drove them into such a hasty flight that as many as 40,000 shields -far more
than the number of the slain -and military standards, including those
captured in the storming of the camp, to the number of 170 were brought to
the consul. He then returned to the Samnite camp and all the booty there
was given to the soldiers.