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Rome now sent out the consuls with two legions. One of them overcame Crixus
with 30,000 men near Mount Garganus, two-thirds of whom perished together
with himself. Spartacus endeavored to make his way through the Apennines to
the Alps and the Gallic country, but one of the consuls anticipated him and
hindered his march while the other hung upon his rear. He turned upon them
one after the other and beat them in detail. They retreated in confusion in
different directions. Spartacus sacrificed 300 Roman prisoners to the manes
of Crixus, and marched on Rome with 120,000 foot, having burned all his
useless material, killed all his prisoners, and butchered his pack-animals
in order to expedite his movement. Many deserters offered themselves to him,
but he would not accept them. The consuls again met him in the country of
Picenum. Here was another great battle and then, too, a great defeat for the
Romans. Spartacus changed his intention of marching on Rome. He did not
consider himself ready as yet for that kind of a fight, as his whole force
was not suitably armed, for no city had joined him, but only slaves,
deserters, and riff-raff. However, he occupied the
mountains
around Thurii and took the city itself. He prohibited the bringing in of
gold or silver by merchants, and would not allow his own men to acquire any,
but he bought largely of iron and brass and did not interfere with those who
dealt in these articles. Supplied with abundant material from this source
his men provided themselves with plenty of arms and continued in robbery for
the time being. When they next came to an engagement with the Romans they
were again victorious, and returned laden with spoils.
