Such terror on account of this disaster was carried to Rome, that they believed
that the enemy was already approaching the city with hostile standards, and
that they had neither hope nor aid by which they might repel his attack from
the gates and walls. One consul having been defeated at the Ticinus, the other
having been recalled from Sicily, and now both consuls and their two consular
armies having been vanquished, what other commanders, what other legions were
there to be sent for? The consul Sempronius came to them whilst thus dismayed,
having passed at great risk through the cavalry of the enemy, scattered in every
direction in search of plunder, with courage, rather than with any plan or hope
of escaping, or of making resistance if he should not escape it. Having held
the assembly for the election of the consuls, the only thing which was particularly
wanting at present, he returned to the winter quarters. Cneius Servilius and
Caius Flaminius were elected consuls. But not even the winter quarters of the
Romans were undisturbed, the Numidian horse ranging at large, and where the
ground was impracticable for these, the Celtiberians and Lusitanians. All supplies,
therefore, from every quarter, were cut off, except such as the ships conveyed
by the Po. There was a magazine near Placentia, both fortified with great care
and secured by a strong garrison. In the hope of taking this fort, Hannibal
having set out with the cavalry and the light-armed horse, and having attacked
it by night, as he rested his main hope of effecting his enterprise on keeping
it concealed, did not escape the notice of the guards. Such a clamour was immediately
raised, that it was heard even at Placentia. The consul; therefore, came up
with the cavalry about daybreak, having commanded the legions to follow in a
square band. In the mean time an engagement of cavalry commenced, in which the
enemy being dismayed because Hannibal retired wounded from the fight, the fortress
was admirably defended. After this, having taken rest for a few days, and before
his wound was hardly as yet sufficiently healed, he sets out to lay siege to
Victumviae. This magazine had been fortified by the Romans in the Gallic war;
afterwards a mixture of inhabitants from the neighbouring states around had
made the place populous; and at this time the terror created by the devastation
of the enemy had driven together to it numbers from the country. A multitude
of this description, excited by the report of the brave defence of the fortress
near Placentia, having snatched up their arms, went out to meet Hannibal. They
engaged on the road rather like armies in order of march than in line of battle;
and since on the one side there was nothing but a disorderly crowd, and on the
other a general confident in his soldiers, and soldiers in their general, as
many as thirty-five thousand men were routed by a few. On the following day,
a surrender having been made, they received a garrison within their walls; and
being ordered to deliver up their arms, as soon as they had obeyed the command,
a signal is suddenly given to the victors to pillage the city, as if it had
been taken by storm; nor was any outrage, which in such cases is wont to appear
to writers worthy of relation, left unperpetrated; such a specimen of every
kind of lust, barbarity, and inhuman insolence was exhibited towards that unhappy
people. Such were the expeditions of Hannibal during the winter.
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