cted the time, as we mentioned above, in
slow operations, then, as soon as he perceived that neither the shout,
nor the efforts of the enemy, nor the weapons which they threw,
retained their former force, having ordered the commanders of the
cavalry to lead round their squadrons to the flank of the Samnites, so
that, on receiving the signal, they should charge them in flank, with
all possible violence, he commanded, at the same time, his infantry to
advance leisurely, and drive the enemy from their ground. When he saw
that they were unable to make resistance, and that their exhaustion
was certain, drawing together all his reserves, whom he had kept fresh
for that occasion, he made a brisk push with the legions, and gave the
cavalry the signal to charge. The Samnites could not support the
shock, but fled precipitately to their camp, passing by the line of
the Gauls, and leaving their allies to fight by themselves. These
stood in close order under cover of their shields. Fabius, therefore,
having heard of the death of his colleague, ordered the squadron of
Campanian cavalry, in number about five hundred, to fall back from the
ranks, and riding round, to attack the rear of the Gallic line, then
the chief strength of the third legion to follow, with directions that
wherever they should see the enemy's troops disordered by the charge,
to follow the blow, and cut them to pieces, when in a state of
consternation. After vowing a temple and the spoils of the enemy to
Jupiter the Victorious, he proceeded to the camp of the Samnites,
whither all their forces were hurrying in confusion. The gates not
affording entrance to such very great numbers, those who were
necessarily excluded, attempted resistance just at the foot of the
rampart, and here fell Gellius Egnatius, the Samnite general. These,
however, were soon driven within the rampart; the camp was taken after
a slight resistance; and at the same time the Gauls were attacked on
the rear, and overpowered. There were slain of the enemy on that day
twenty-five thousand: eight thousand were taken prisoners. Nor was the
victory an unbloody one; for, of the army of Publius Decius, the
killed amounted to seven thousand; of the army of Fabius, to one
thousand two hundred. Fabius, after sending persons to search for the
body of his colleague, had the spoils of the enemy collected into a
heap, and burned them as an offering to Jupiter the Victorious. The
consul's body could not be found t