31.27
The
consul Sulpicius was at the time encamped by the river Apsus in a position
lying between Apollonia and Dyrrhachium. He recalled L. Apustius and sent
him with a portion of his force to ravage the enemy's frontiers. After
devastating the borders of Macedon and capturing at the first assault the
fortified posts of Corrhagum, Gerrunium and Orgessus, Apustius came to
Antipatrea, a place situated in a gorge between two mountain ranges. He
first invited the chief men of the city to a conference, and tried to persuade
them to trust themselves to the Romans. Confident in the size of their city,
its fortifications, and its strong position, they treated his overtures with
contempt. He then resorted to force and carried the place by assault. After
putting the adult males to death and allowing the soldiers to appropriate all
the plunder he levelled the walls and burnt the city. Fear of similar treatment
brought about the surrender of Codrion -a fairly strong and fortified town -without offering any resistance. A detachment was left there to garrison the
place, and Cnidus -a name better known as that of a city in Asia -was taken
by storm. As Apustius was on his way back to the consul with a considerable
amount of plunder he was attacked during his passage of the river by
Athenagoras, one of the king's prefects, and his rear was thrown into
confusion. On hearing the shouting and tumult he galloped back, made his
men face about and throw their kits into the centre of the column, and
formed his line. The king's soldiers did not stand the charge of the Romans,
many were killed and more taken prisoners. Apustius brought back his army
safely to the consul, and was at once sent off to rejoin the fleet.
