21.48
The
following night a murderous outbreak took place amongst the Gaulish
auxiliaries in the Roman camp; there was, however, more excitement and
confusion than actual loss of life. About 2000 infantry and 200 horsemen
massacred the sentinels and deserted to Hannibal. The Carthaginian gave
them a kind reception and sent them to their homes with the promise of great
rewards if they would enlist the sympathies of their countrymen on his
behalf. Scipio saw in this outrage a signal of revolt for all the Gauls, who,
infected by the madness of this crime, would at once fly to arms, and though
still suffering severely from his wound, he left his position in the fourth
watch of the following night, his army marching in perfect silence, and
shifted his camp close to the Trebia on to higher ground where the hills were
impracticable for cavalry. He was less successful in escaping the notice of
the enemy than he had been at the Ticinus, Hannibal sent first the Numidians,
then afterwards the whole of his cavalry in pursuit and would have inflicted
disaster upon the rear of the column at all events, had not the Numidians
been tempted by their desire for plunder to turn aside to the deserted Roman
camp. Whilst they were wasting their time in prying into every corner of the
camp, without finding anything worth waiting for, the enemy slipped out of
their hands, and when they caught sight of the Romans they had already
crossed the Trebia and were measuring out the site for their camp. A few
stragglers whom they caught on their side the river were killed. Unable any
longer to endure the irritation of his wound, which had been aggravated
during the march, and also thinking that he ought to wait for his colleague -he had already heard that he had been recalled from Sicily -Scipio selected
what seemed the safest position near the river, and formed a standing camp
which was strongly entrenched. Hannibal had encamped not far from there,
and in spite of his elation at his successful cavalry action he felt considerable
anxiety at the shortness of supplies which, owing to his marching through
hostile territory where no stores were provided, became more serious day by
day. He sent a detachment to the town of Clastidium where the Romans had
accumulated large quantities of corn. Whilst they were preparing to attack
the place they were led to hope that it would be betrayed to them. Dasius, a
Brundisian, was commandant of the garrison, and he was induced by a
moderate bribe of 400 gold pieces to betray Clastidium to Hannibal. The
place was the granary of the Carthaginians while they were at the Trebia. No
cruelty was practiced on the garrison, as Hannibal was anxious to win a
reputation for clemency at the outset.
