22.4
In order
still further to exasperate his enemy and make him eager to avenge the
injuries inflicted on the allies of Rome, Hannibal laid waste with all the
horrors of war the land between Cortona and Lake Trasumennus. He had
now reached a position eminently adapted for surprise tactics, where the lake
comes up close under the hills of Cortona. There is only a very narrow road
here between the hills and the lake, as though a space had been purposely
left far it. Further on there is a small expanse of level ground flanked by hills,
and it was here that Hannibal pitched camp, which was only occupied by his
Africans and Spaniards, he himself being in command. The Balearics and the
rest of the light infantry he sent behind the hills; the cavalry, conveniently
screened by some low hills, he stationed at the mouth of the defile, so that
when the Romans had entered it they would be completely shut in by the
cavalry, the lake, and the hills. Flaminius had reached the lake at sunset. The
next morning, in a still uncertain light, he passed through the defile, without
sending any scouts on to feel the way, and when the column began to deploy
in the wider extent of level ground the only enemy they saw was the one in
front, the rest were concealed in their rear and above their heads. When the
Carthaginian saw his object achieved and had his enemy shut in between the
lake and the hills with his forces surrounding them, he gave the signal for all
to make a simultaneous attack, and they charged straight down upon the
point nearest to them. The affair was all the more sudden and unexpected to
the Romans because a fog which had risen from the lake was denser on the
plain than on the heights; the bodies of the enemy on the various hills could
see each other well enough, and it was all the easier for them to charge all at
the same time. The shout of battle rose round the Romans before they could
see clearly from whence it came, or became aware that they were
surrounded. Fighting began in front and flank before they could form line or
get their weapons ready or draw their swords.
