History of Rome

​At that time the Roman army was in the territory of Larinum. Minucius, the master of the horse, was in command, since the dictator, as has been said before, had set out for the city.

​However, the camp, which had been placed on a high mountain and in a secure position, was now brought down into the plain, and bolder plans were being agitated in accordance with the general’s character, so that an attack might be made either on the scattered foragers or on the camp left with a light guard.

​Nor did it escape Hannibal that the method of war had changed with the commander, and that the enemy would conduct operations more fiercely than cautiously.

​Moreover, he himself—what one would least believe when the enemy was so near—retaining two-thirds of his soldiers in the camp, sent out a third part to forage; ​then he moved the camp itself closer to the enemy, about two miles from Gereonium, onto a hill in sight of the enemy, so that they might know he was alert to protect the foragers if any force should be offered.

​From there, a hill appeared closer to him and directly threatening the Roman camp itself; to seize this, if they went openly by day, because the enemy would undoubtedly forestall them by a shorter path, Numidians sent secretly by night captured it.

​When the Romans, despising their small number, had dislodged those who held the position on the following day, they themselves transferred their camp thither.

​Then indeed only a tiny space of ground separated rampart from rampart, and almost the whole of that space the Roman battle-line had filled. At the same time, cavalry sent out with light-armed troops from the rear of the camp caused widespread slaughter and flight among the scattered enemy foragers.

​Nor did Hannibal dare to contend in a regular battle, because with so small a force he could scarcely protect his camp if it were attacked. And now, by the arts of Fabius, ​by sitting still and delaying, he was conducting the war, and had withdrawn his men to their former camp, which was before the walls of Gereonium. Some authors write that a battle was also fought in a regular engagement ​and with clashed standards: at the first encounter, the Carthaginian was routed even to his camp; then, a sally being made, terror was suddenly turned upon the Romans; and next, by the intervention of Numerius Decimius the Samnite, the battle was restored.

​This man, chief in birth and wealth not only of Bovianum, whence he came, but of all Samnium, was leading eight thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry to the camp by order of the dictator; when he appeared from behind, he presented to both sides the appearance of a new reinforcement coming from Rome with Q. Fabius.

​Hannibal, fearing also some ambush, withdrew his men, and the Roman, pursuing with the help of the Samnite, stormed two forts on that day.

​Six thousand of the enemy were slain, and fully five thousand of the Romans; yet, in a disaster so nearly equal, a groundless rumor of a brilliant victory, with still more groundless letters from the master of the horse, was carried to Rome.