27.38
After
the deities had been duly appeased, the consuls proceeded with the levy and
conducted it with a rigour and exactitude such as no one could remember in
former years. The appearance of a fresh enemy in Italy redoubled the
apprehensions generally felt as to the issue of the war, and at the same time
there was a smaller population from which to obtain the men required. Even
the maritime colonies which were declared to have been solemnly and
formally exempted from military service were called upon to furnish soldiers,
and on their refusal a day was fixed on which they were to appear before the
senate and state, each for themselves, the grounds on which they claimed
exemption. On the appointed day representatives attended from Ostia,
Alsium, Antium, Anxur, Menturnae, Sinuessa, and from Sena on the upper
sea. Each community produced its title to exemption, but as the enemy was
in Italy, the claim was disallowed in the case of all but two -Antium and
Ostia -and in the case of these, the men of military age were compelled to
take an oath that they would not sleep outside their walls for more than
thirty nights as long as the enemy was in Italy. Everybody was of opinion
that the consuls ought to take the field at the earliest possible moment; for
Hasdrubal must be met on his descent from the Alps, otherwise he might
foment a rising amongst the Cisalpine Gauls and in Etruria, and Hannibal
must be kept fully employed, so as to prevent his leaving Bruttium and
meeting his brother. Still Livius delayed. He did not feel confidence in the
troops assigned to him, and complained that his colleague had his choice of
three splendid armies. He also suggested the recall to the standards of the
volunteer slaves. The senate gave the consuls full powers to obtain
reinforcements in any way they thought best, to select what men they wanted
from all the armies and to exchange and transfer troops from one province to
another as they thought best in the interest of the State. The consuls acted in
perfect harmony in carrying out all these measures. The volunteer slaves
were incorporated in the nineteenth and twentieth legions. Some authorities
assert that Publius Scipio sent M. Livius strong reinforcements from Spain
including 8000 Gauls and Spaniards, 2000 legionaries, and 1000 Numidian
and Spanish horse, and that this force was transported to Italy by M.
Lucretius. It is further stated that C. Mamilius sent 3000 bowmen and
slingers from Sicily.
