39.30
As
soon as their troops left their winter quarters, the two praetors, C.
Calpurnius and L. Quinctius, joined their forces in Baeturia, and as the
enemy were encamped in Carpetania they advanced thither, prepared to
carry out their operations in mutual concert. A fight began at a spot not far
from the cities of Dipo and Toletum between foraging parties, who were
reinforced from both camps, and gradually the whole of the two armies were
drawn out to battle. In this tumultuary conflict the enemy were helped by
their knowledge of the country and the nature of the fighting. The two
Roman armies were routed and driven back to their camp. The enemy did
not press their demoralised adversaries. The Roman commanders, fearing
lest the camp might be stormed on the morrow, withdrew their armies in
silence during the night. The Spaniards formed in battle-array at dawn and
marched up to the rampart; surprised at finding the camp empty, they
entered it and appropriated what had been left behind in the confusion of the
night. After this they returned to their own camp and remained inactive for
some days. The losses of the Romans and the allies in the battle amounted to
5000, and the enemy armed themselves with the spoils taken from their
bodies. Then they moved on to the Tagus.
The Roman generals in the meantime had spent their whole time in
drawing Spanish troops from the friendly cities and restoring the courage of
their men which had been so shaken in the battle. When they considered that
they were strong enough and the soldiers were asking that they might meet
the enemy and wipe out their disgrace, they moved forward and fixed their
camp at a distance of twelve miles from the Tagus. Then, taking up the
standards and forming into a closed square, they reached the Tagus at
daybreak. The enemy camp was on a hill on the other side of the river. There
were two places where the river was fordable, and the armies were promptly
led across -Calpurnius on the right and Quinctius on the left. The enemy
remained quiet -taken aback at the sudden advance of the Romans and
making up their minds what to do -when they might have attacked the
Romans and thrown them into confusion during the passage of the river. The
Romans meanwhile had transported their baggage across and placed it all
together. There was not space enough for an entrenched camp, so seeing the
enemy in motion, they deployed into line of battle. Two legions, the fifth
from Calpurnius' army and the eighth under Quinctius, formed the centre -the main strength of the army. The ground was level and open up to the
hostile camp; there was no fear of surprise or ambush.
