History of Rome: Books Twenty-Seven to Thirty-Six (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from History of Rome: Books Twenty-Seven to Thirty-Six

2. Marcellus, who was not much discouraged at this so great a disaster, sent a letter to the senate at Rome, with an acco'unt of the loss of the general and army at Herdonea oh serving, however, that he who, after the battle of Cannes, had humbled Hannibal when elated with victory, was now march ing against him, and that he would cause that his present joy and exultation should not continue long. At Rome, indeed, the grief occasioned by what had occurred, and the fears en tertained for the future, were excessive. The consul passing out of Samnium into Lucania, pitched his camp at Numistro, on a plain within view of Hannibal, who occupied a hill. He added also another demonstration of his confidence; for he was, the first to lead out his troops to battle, nor did Hannibal decline fighting when he saw the standards carried out from the gates. However, they drew up their forces so that the right wing of the Carthaginians was extended up the hill, while the left wing of the Romans was contiguous to the town. For a long time neither side had any advantage; but the bat tle having continued from the third hour till night, and the first lines, which consisted, on the part of the Romans, of the first legion and the right wing of the allied infantry, on the part of Hannibal, of the Spanish soldiers, the balearic sling ers, and the elephants, which were driven into the field after the commencement of the battle, being fatigued with fighting, the first legion was relieved by the third, and the right wing of allied infantry by the left; while on the part of the enemy fresh troops took up the battle in place of those who were tired. A new and desperate conflict suddenly arose, instead of that which was so feebly maintained, their minds and bodies being unimpaired by fatigue; but night separated the combatants while the victory was undecided. The following.

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