40.31
When
the Roman praetor had satisfied himself that after so many days' inaction the
enemy would not expect him to take the initiative, he ordered L. Acilius to
take the division of allied troops and 6000 native auxiliaries, and make a
circuit round the mountain which lay behind the enemy's camp. When he
heard the battle-shout he was to charge down on their camp. They started in
the night to escape observation. At daybreak Flaccus sent C. Scribonius, the
commander of the allied troops, with his "select" cavalry up to the enemy's
rampart. When the Celtiberi saw them approaching more closely and in
greater strength than they had usually done, the whole of their cavalry
streamed out from the camp and the signal was given for the infantry also to
advance. Scribonius, acting on his instructions, no sooner heard the clatter of
the advancing cavalry than he turned his horses' heads and made for his
camp. The enemy followed in hot haste. First their cavalry came up and soon
after the infantry, never doubting but that they would that day capture the
Roman camp. They were not now more than half a mile from the rampart.
As soon as Flaccus considered that they were sufficiently drawn off from
guarding their own camp he sallied forth from his camp, his army which had
previously been drawn up inside the rampart being formed into three
separate corps. The battle-shout was raised not only to stimulate the ardour
of the combatants but also to reach the ears of those who were amongst the
hills. Without a moment's delay these charged down, as they had been
ordered, on the enemy's camp, where not more than 5000 men were left on
guard. The strength of the assailants compared with their own scanty
numbers and the suddenness of the attack so appalled them that the camp
was taken with little or no resistance. When it was captured Acilius set fire
to that part of it which could be best seen from the field of battle.
