24.19
It has
been stated above that the consul, Q. Fabius, was encamped near Casilinum,
which was held by a garrison of 2000 Campanians and 700 of Hannibal's
troops. Statius Metius had been sent by Gnaevius Magius of Atella, who was
the "medixtuticus" for that year, to take command, and he had armed the
populace and the slaves indiscriminately in order to attack the Roman camp
while the consul was engaged in the assault on the town. Fabius was
perfectly aware of all that was going on, and he sent word to his colleague at
Nola that a second army would be needed to hold the Campanians while he
was delivering the assault, and either he should come himself and leave a
sufficient force at Nola, or, if there was still danger to be apprehended from
Hannibal and Nola required his presence, he should recall Tiberius Gracchus
from Beneventum. On receipt of this message Marcellus left 2000 men to
protect Nola and came with the rest of his army to Casilinum. His arrival put
an end to any movement on the part of the Campanians, and Casilinum was
now besieged by both consuls. Many of the Roman soldiers were wounded
by rashly venturing too near the walls, and the operations were by no means
successful. Fabius thought that the enterprise, which was of small
importance though quite as difficult as more important ones, ought to be
abandoned, and that they ought to go where more serious business awaited
them. Marcellus urged that while there were many things which a great
general ought not to undertake, still, when he had undertaken them, he ought
not to let them drop, as in either case it had great influence on public
opinion. He succeeded in preventing the siege from being abandoned. Now
the assault commenced in earnest, and when the vineae and siege works and
artillery of every kind were brought against the walls, the Campanians
begged Fabius to be allowed to depart under safe conduct to Capua. After a
few had got outside the town Marcellus occupied the gate through which
they were leaving, and an indiscriminate slaughter began, first amongst those
near the gate and then, after the troops burst in, in the city itself. About fifty
of the Campanians had already passed out and they fled to Fabius, under
whose protection they reached Capua. During these parleys, and the delay
occasioned by those who appealed for protection, the besiegers found their
opportunity and Casilinum was taken. The Campanians and those of
Hannibal's troops who were made prisoners were sent to Rome and shut up
in prison; the mass of the townsfolk were distributed amongst the
neighbouring communities to be kept in custody.