27.15
About
this time the Hirpini, the Lucani and the Vulcientes surrendered to the consul
Q. Fulvius, and delivered up the garrisons which Hannibal had placed in their
cities. He accepted their submission graciously, and only reproached them
for the mistake they had made in the past. This led the Bruttians to hope that
similar indulgence might be shown to them, and they sent the two men who
were of highest rank amongst them. Vivius and his brother Paccius, to ask
for favourable terms of surrender. The consul Q. Fabius carried by storm the
town of Manduria, in the country of the Sallentines. 3000 prisoners were
secured and a considerable amount of plunder. From there he marched to
Tarentum, and fixed his camp at the very mouth of the harbour. Some of the
ships which Laevinus had had for the purpose of keeping the sea open for
supplies he loaded with the engines and apparatus necessary for battering the
walls; others he made use of for carrying artillery and stores and projectiles
of every kind. Only the transports which were propelled by oars were there
made use of, so that whilst some of the troops could bring up their engines
and scaling ladders close to the walls, others could beat off the defenders
from the walls by attacking them at a distance from the ships. These vessels
were so fitted up that they could attack the city from the open sea without
any interference from the enemy, as the Carthaginian fleet had sailed across
to Corcyra to assist Philip in his campaign against the Aetolians. The force
besieging Caulo, hearing of Hannibal's approach and fearing a surprise,
withdrew to a position on the hills which was safe from any immediate
attack.
While Fabius was besieging Tarentum an incident, of slight
importance in itself, helped him to achieve a great success. The Tarentines
had been furnished by Hannibal with a garrison of Bruttian troops. One of
their officers was deeply in love with a young woman who had a brother in
Fabius' army. She had written to tell him of the intimacy that had sprung up
between her and a stranger who was rich and held a high position amongst
his countrymen. The brother was led to hope that through his sister's means
her lover might be led on to any lengths, and he communicated his
anticipations to the consul. The idea did not seem at all an unreasonable one,
and he received instructions to cross the lines and enter Tarentum as a
deserter. After being introduced to the officer by his sister and getting on
friendly terms with him, he cautiously sounded his disposition without
betraying his real object. When he had satisfied himself as to the weakness of
his character he called in his sister's aid, and through her coaxing and
blandishments the man was persuaded to betray the position which he was in
charge of. When the time and method of carrying out the project were
arranged, a soldier was despatched from the city at night to make his way
through the outposts and report to the consul what had been done and what
arrangements had been made.
At the first watch Fabius gave the signal for action to the troops in
the citadel and those who were guarding the harbour, and then marched right
round the harbour and took up his position without being observed on the
east side of the town. Then he ordered the trumpets to sound at the same
moment from the citadel, the harbour and the ships which had been brought
up from the open sea. The greatest shouting and uproar was designedly
raised in just those parts where there was least danger of an attack. The
consul meanwhile kept his men perfectly quiet. Democrates, who had
formerly commanded the fleet, happened to be in charge of that part of the
defences. Finding all quiet round him whilst elsewhere there was shouting
and tumult as though the city had been taken, he feared to remain where he
was in case the consul should storm the place and break in somewhere else.
So he led his men up to the citadel from which the most alarming noise
proceeded. From the time that had elapsed and the silence which followed
the excited shouts and calls to arms, Fabius judged that the garrison had
withdrawn from that part of the fortifications. He at once ordered the scaling
ladders to be carried to that part of the walls where he understood from the
traitor that the Bruttii were mounting guard. With their aid and connivance
that section of the fortifications was carried, and the Romans made their way
into the town after breaking down the nearest gate to allow the main body of
their comrades to march in. Raising their battle shout they went on to the
forum; which they reached about sunrise without meeting a single armed
enemy. All the defenders who had been engaged at the citadel and the
harbour now combined to attack them.