Ab urbe condita

Three years after Satricum had been rebuilt by the Volscians, whilst M. Vaierius Corvus was consul for the second time with Caius Poetilius, a report was sent on from Latium that emissaries from Antium were going round the Latin cantons with the view of stirring war.

Valerius was instructed to attack the Volscians before the enemy became more numerous, and he proceeded with his army to Satricum. Defeat of the Volscians and Destruction of Satricum. —Here he was met by the Antiates and other Volscian troops who had been previously mobilised in case of any movement on the sale of Rome. The old standing hatred between the two nations made each side eager for battle; there was consequently no delay in trying conclusions.

The Volscians, bolder to begin war than to sustain it, were completely defeated and fled precipitately to Satricum. The city was surrounded, and as it was on the point of being stormed —the scaling ladders were against the walls —they lost all hope and surrendered to the number of 4000 fighting men in addition to a multitude of noncombatants.