Successes of Minucius
When Minucius took over the command from
note
Fabius, he at first kept along the line of
hills, feeling certain that he would sooner or
later fall in with the Carthaginians; but when
he heard that Hannibal had already taken Geronium,
and was collecting the corn of the country, and had pitched
his camp in front of the town, he changed the direction of his
march, and descended from the top of the hills by way of a
ridge leading down into the plains. Arriving at the height
which lies in the territory of Larinum, and is called Calena, he
encamped round its foot, being eager on any terms whatever to
engage the enemy. When Hannibal saw the enemy approaching, he sent a third of his army foraging for corn, but took the
other two-thirds with him, and, advancing sixteen stades from
Geronium towards the enemy, pitched a camp upon a piece of
rising ground, with a view at once of overawing his opponents,
and affording safety to his foraging parties: and there being
another elevation between him and the two armies, which was
near, and conveniently placed for an attack upon the enemy's
lines, he sent out about two thousand light-armed troops in
the night and seized it. At daybreak when Minucius saw
these men, he took his own light-armed troops and assaulted
the hill. After a gallant skirmish the Romans prevailed; and
subsequently their whole camp was transferred to this place.
For a certain time Hannibal kept his men for the most part
within their lines, because the camps were so close to each
other; but, after the lapse of some days, he was obliged to
divide them into two parties, one for pasturing the animals, and
one for gathering corn: being very anxious to carry out his
design of avoiding the destruction of his booty, and of collecting
as much corn as possible, that his men might have abundant
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food during the winter, and his horses and beasts of burden as
much so; for the chief hope of his army rested on his
cavalry.