The Carthaginian general Hannibal surprised and destroyed a large Roman detachment.

In the summer of 208 BC, the Roman consuls Marcus Claudius Marcellus and Titus Quinctius Crispinus ordered a part of the Roman garrison of Tarentum to move up and assist in an offensive against the Carthaginian-allied town of Locri.

[1] Hannibal received word from the people of Thurii of the Roman move and laid an ambush along the road from Tarentum with 3,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry.

[1] The Romans failed to conduct a reconnaissance and the Carthaginians achieved complete surprise.

[1] The rest of the Roman force fled cross-country back to Tarentum.