Atilius Meets the Gauls
Just at that time the Consul Gaius Atilius had crossed
note
from Sardinia, and having landed at Pisae was
on his way to Rome; and therefore he and
the enemy were advancing to meet each
other. When the Celts were at Telamon in
Etruria, their advanced guard fell in with that of Gaius, and
the men being made prisoners informed the Consul in answer
to questions of what had taken place; and told him that both the
armies were in the neighbourhood: that of the Celts, namely,
and that of Lucius close upon their rear. Though somewhat
disturbed at the events which he thus learnt, Gaius regarded
the situation as a hopeful one, when he considered that the
Celts were on the road between two hostile armies. He therefore ordered the Tribunes to martial the legions and to advance
at the ordinary pace, and in line as far as the breadth of the
ground permitted; while he himself having surveyed a piece
of rising ground which commanded the road, and under which
the Celts must march, took his cavalry with him and hurried
on to seize the eminence, and so begin the battle in person;
convinced that by these means he would get the principal
credit of the action for himself. At first the Celts not knowing
anything about the presence of Gaius Atilius, but supposing
from what was taking place, that the cavalry of Aemilius had outmarched them in the night, and were seizing the points or vantage
in the van of their route, immediately detached some cavalry and
light armed infantry to dispute the possession of this eminence.
But having shortly afterwards learnt the truth about the presence
of Gaius from a prisoner who was brought in, they hurriedly
got their infantry into position, and drew them up so as to
face two opposite ways, some, that is, to the front and others to
the rear. For they knew that one army was following on their
rear; and they expected from the intelligence which had reached
them, and from what they saw actually occurring, that they
would have to meet another on their front.
