28.26
Whilst
they were discussing these points a council of war was being held over them
in New Carthage. The members were divided; some thought it sufficient to
proceed only against the ringleaders, who did not number more than
five-and-thirty; others regarded it as an act of high treason rather than a
mutiny and held that such a bad example could only be dealt with by the
punishment of the many who were implicated. The more merciful view, that
punishment should only fall on those with whom the mischief originated,
finally prevailed; for the troops generally a severe reprimand was considered
sufficient. On the breaking up of the council the army stationed in Carthage
was informed that an expedition was to be made against Mandonius and
Indibilis, and that rations were to be prepared for several days in advance.
The object was to make it appear that this was the business for which the
council had been held. The seven tribunes who had been sent to Sucro to
quell the mutiny now returned in advance of the troops, and each handed in
the names of five ringleaders. Suitable men had been told off to meet the
culprits with smiles and pleasant words, and invite them to their houses, and
when they had drunk themselves into a state of stupor place them in fetters.
When the men were now not far from New Carthage they were informed by
people who met them that the whole of the army at Carthage were starting
on the morrow with M. Silanus against the Lacetanians. This news did not
completely dispel the secret fears which haunted their minds, still they were
greatly rejoiced to hear it, as they imagined that now that their commander
would be alone, they would have him in their power, instead of their being in
his.
The sun was setting when they entered the city, and they found the
other army making all preparations for their march. It had been arranged
beforehand how they were to be received, they were told that their
commander was glad that they had arrived when they did, just before the
other army left. They then dispersed for food and rest, and the ringleaders
were conducted by the men selected for the purpose to their houses, where
they were entertained, and where the tribunes arrested and manacled them
without any disturbance. At the fourth watch the baggage train of the army
began to move for its pretended march; at daybreak the standards went
forward, but the whole army was halted as soon as it reached the gate, and
guards were posted round all the gates to prevent any one from leaving the
city. The newly arrived troops were then summoned to an assembly, and
they ran into the forum and crowded threateningly round their general's
tribunal, expecting to intimidate him by their shouts. At the moment when he
ascended his tribunal the troops who had marched back from the gate and
were fully armed surrounded the unarmed crowd. Now their rebellious spirit
was completely cowed, and, as they afterwards admitted, the thing that they
were most afraid of was the colour and vigour of their chief whom they
expected to see looking weak and ill, and the expression in his face such as
they had never witnessed before, not even in the heat of battle. For some
time he sat in silence, until he received information that the ringleaders had
been brought down to the forum and everything was in readiness.