Consul's whirlwind trip to Rome; Victumulae attack

This check caused such profound terror in Rome that it was already believed that the enemy was marching on the city with banners unfurled. More hope, more resources to repel the assaults he would deliver at the gates and the ramparts. "A consul had been defeated on the banks of the Ticino, the other recalled from Sicily, and the two consular armies had just been defeated. From which leaders, from which legions to implore help from now on?" Terror reigned everywhere when Sempronius was seen arriving. Despite a thousand perils, despite Hannibal's cavalry, scattered here and there in the plain to plunder, more reckless than prudent, without hope of not being seen, of resisting, if discovered, the consul had managed to escape. 'escape. He held consular meetings; this is what was most desired in the present circumstance:then he returns to his cantonments. Cneius Servilius and Caius Flaminius had been named consuls. Moreover, the Romans were constantly disturbed in their winter quarters by the Numidian horsemen who wandered on all sides, or by the Celtiberians and the Lusitanians, in places where the cavalry found too many obstacles. All supplies were intercepted from them, with the exception of those which arrived by the Po, on boats. There was a market near Piacenza, defended by solid walls and a strong garrison:Hannibal, who flattered himself that he was master of it, advanced with his cavalry and his light troops; and, as secrecy alone could ensure the success of the enterprise, he attempted his attack by night, but he did not succeed in deceiving the vigilance of the guards. The cry of alarm was uttered with such force that it resounded even in Plaisance. Also, at daybreak, the consul had arrived with his cavalry; the legions had orders to follow him, formed into square battalions. However, there was a cavalry battle; Hannibal came out wounded, which frightened the Carthaginians:the garrison, moreover, had made a strong resistance. After a few days of rest, and his wound barely healed, he returned to the campaign to attack Victumulae, another market that the Romans had fortified during the Gallic war. It had become the residence of a crowd of inhabitants of neighboring tribes, and the fear of looting had then gathered there almost the entire population of the countryside. This multitude, animated by the fine example shown by the garrison of Placentia, hastened to arms, and advanced against Hannibal. It was more of a gathering than an army in good order. The action took place on the road itself; but, as there was, on one side, a crowd without discipline, on the other, soldiers sure of their general, a handful of people was enough to rout about thirty-five thousand men. The next day the place capitulated, and received a garrison. The besieged are summoned to bring their arms; they obey. Suddenly the signal is given to the victors to plunder the city, as if it had been taken by assault; it lacks none of the horrors which ordinarily, in history, signal the capture of cities; so much brutality, barbarism, and the most cruel insolence were exercised against these unfortunate vanquished. Such were Hannibal's winter expeditions.