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Wishing to move his army further from that of Fabius, and to gain and open part of the country where he could obtain forage, he ordered his guides one night after supper to lead the way at once to Casinatum. They, misunderstanding him because of his foreign pronunciation, led his forces to the borders of Campania, near the city of Casilinum.

These bad directions however became quite costly for the invading army

When Hannibal was marching down this valley, Fabius, by his superior knowledge of the country, came up with him, placed 4,000 men to guard the narrow outlet. ..... light armed troops fell upon and harassed the rear of Hannibal's army throwing it into disorder, and killing about 800 men

Plutarch's Lives - Life of Fabius Maximus Section VI

>Wishing to move his army further from that of Fabius, and to gain and open part of the country where he could obtain forage, he ordered his guides one night after supper to lead the way at once to Casinatum. They, misunderstanding him because of his foreign pronunciation, led his forces to the borders of Campania, near the city of Casilinum. These bad directions however became quite costly for the invading army >When Hannibal was marching down this valley, Fabius, by his superior knowledge of the country, came up with him, placed 4,000 men to guard the narrow outlet. ..... light armed troops fell upon and harassed the rear of Hannibal's army throwing it into disorder, and killing about 800 men Plutarch's Lives - Life of Fabius Maximus Section VI

1 comments

[–] Chaoticneutral 2 points (+2|-0)

If these were local scouts they probably weren’t the first to get ‘lost’.