Ancient Rome : from the earliest times down to 476 A. D.

g to the opposition of the Spanish allies of Rome. Hannibal now sent back a part of his troops, retaining 50,000 infantry and 9,000 cavalry, all veterans. With these he crossed the mountains, and ma

nished at the rapidi

hoped to intercept him on the Rhone. The Celtic tribes of the neighborhood were won over to his side. Troops collected from these were stationed along the river, but Scipio's main army remained at Massilia. It was Hannibal's policy to cross the river before Scipio arrived with his troops. He obtained all the boats possible, and constructed numerous raft

take every means to check Hannibal there. Instead, he sent most of his troops to Spai

ty, owing to the nature of the country and the resistance of the Celts, he hastened on through the country of the Centrónes, along the north bank of the Isara. As he was leaving this river and approaching the pass of the Little St. Bernard, he w

of the Po was a welcome sight to the half-famished and exhausted soldiers

Rhone lasted thirty-three days, and cos

ily, on its way to Africa, under the Consul Sempronius. The only troops immediately available were a few soldi

8, near the river Ticinus, a tributary of the Po. A cavalry skirmish followed, in which he was wounded and rescued b

d them. Hannibal forded the river farther up, and marched along its right bank unt

d been recalled from Sicily,

f Hannibal were drawn up ready to give the enemy a hot reception, if, as he expected, they should pursue his retreating vanguard. Sempronius was caught in the trap, and all h

arthaginian was wintering near Placentia, the Romans stationed troops to guard the two highways leading north from Rome and ending at Arretium and Ariminum, The Consuls fo

His route led through a marshy and unhealthy country, and many soldiers perished. Hannibal himself lost an eye from ophthalmia. When he had arrived at Faesulae a report

Hannibal, with the flower of his infantry, occupied the hill. His ligh

the mist rolled away, revealing the Carthaginian arms on the right and left. It was not a battle, but a mere rout. The main body of the Romans was cut to pieces, with scarcely any resistance, and the Consul himself was killed. Fifteen thousand Romans fell, and as many more were captured. The loss of th

country as he went. Crossing the Apennines, he halted on the shores of the Adriatic, in

command. Fabius was a man of determination and firmness, well advanced in years. He determined to avoid a pi

valry plundered their faithful allies. Finally, Fabius obtained what he considered a favorable opportunity for an attack. Hannibal, disappointed in his expectations that Capua would be friendly to him, and not being prepared to lay siege to the town, had withdrawn towards t

hing by torchlight. The plan was successful. The Romans abandoned the road and marched for the heights, along which they supposed the enemy were going. Hannibal, with a clear road before him, continued his m

uitous route. He arrived in Luceria, with much booty and a full money-chest, at harvest t

of his lieutenants, Marcus Minucius. The army was divided into two corps; one under Marcus, who intended to attack Hannibal at the first opportunity; the other under Fabius, who still adhered to his former tactics. M

s raised and put under the command of the Consuls, LUCIUS ?MILIUS PAULLUS and GAIUS TERENTIUS VARRO. It was decided to test Hannib

dus. Early one morning in June the Romans massed their troops on the left bank of the river, with their cavalry

ncreased by the thought that their homes, wives, and children were at stake, they were overwhelmed on all sides. Seventy thousand fell on the field, among whom were Paullus, Servilius, many officers, a