26.8
Fulvius
Flaccus was informed by deserters of this project before it was put into
execution, and at once sent intelligence of it to the senate. The news was
received with varying feelings as men's temperaments differed. Naturally, at
such a crisis, a meeting of the senate was instantly convened. Publius
Cornelius Asina was for recalling all the generals and armies from every part
of Italy for the defence of the City, regardless of Capua or any other object
they had in view. Fabius Maximus considered that it would be a disgrace for
them to quit their hold on Capua and allow themselves to be scared by
Hannibal and marched up and down at his beck and menaces. "Do you
suppose," he asked the senators, "that the man who did not venture to
approach the City after his victory at Cannae, really hopes to capture it now
that he has been driven away from Capua? His object in coming here is not
to attack Rome but to raise the siege of Capua. The army which is now in
the City will be sufficient for our defence, for it will be aided by Jupiter and
the other gods who have witnessed Hannibal's violation of treaty
engagements." P. Valerius Flaccus advocated a middle course, which was
ultimately adopted. He recommended that a despatch should be sent to the
generals commanding at Capua, telling them what defensive force the City
possessed. They themselves would know what troops Hannibal was bringing
and how large an army was required to maintain the siege of Capua. If one
of the generals commanding could be sent with a part of the army to Rome
without interfering with the effective conduct of the siege by the other
general, Claudius and Fulvius might arrange which of them should continue
the investment of Capua and which should go to Rome to prevent their own
city from being invested. When this decision of the senate reached Capua,
the proconsul Q. Fulvius, whose colleague had been obliged to leave for
Rome owing to his wound, selected a force out of the three armies and
crossed the Volturnus with 15,000 infantry and 1000 cavalry. When he had
definitely ascertained that Hannibal was advancing by the Latin Road, he
sent men on in advance through the burghs situated on the Appian Way and
also to some lying near it, to warn the inhabitants to have supplies stored in
readiness in their towns and to bring them in from the outlying fields to the
line of march. They were further to call in their fighting men to defend their
homes, and each municipality was to provide for its own protection.
