Romans; which, when the consul observed, in order to break their ranks, he ordered Caius Livius Salinator, commander of the allied cavalry, to charge them at full speed, and the legionary cavalry to remain in reserve.  This tempest of cavalry first confused and disordered, and at length entirely broke the line of the Gauls; yet it did not make them fly.  That was prevented by their officers, who, when they quitted their posts, struck them on the back with their spears, and compelled them to return to their ranks:  but the allied cavalry, riding in among them, did not suffer them to recover their order.  The consul exhorted his soldiers to “continue their efforts a little longer, for victory was within their reach; to press the enemy, while they saw them disordered and dismayed; for, if they were suffered to recover their ranks, they would enter on a fresh battle with doubtful success.”  He ordered the standard-bearers to advance with the standards, and then, all exerting themselves at once, they at length forced the enemy to give way.  As soon as they turned their backs, and fled precipitately oh every side, the legionary cavalry was sent in pursuit of them.  On that day, fourteen thousand of the Boians were slain; one thousand and ninety-two taken—­as were seven hundred and twenty-one horsemen, and three of their commanders, with two hundred and twelve military standards, and sixty-three chariots.  Nor did the Romans gain the victory without loss of blood:  of themselves, or their allies, were lost above five thousand men, twenty-three centurions, four prefects of the allies, and two military tribunes of the second legion, Marcus Genucius and Marcus Marcius.

6.  Letters from both the consuls arrived at Rome nearly at the same time.  That of Lucius Cornelius gave an account of the battle fought with the Boians at Mutina; that of Quintus Minucius, from Pisae, mentioned, that “the holding of the elections had fallen to his lot, but that affairs in Liguria were in so uncertain a position, that he could not depart thence without bringing ruin on the allies, and material injury on the commonwealth.  He therefore advised that, if the senate thought proper, they should direct his colleague (as his war was decided) to return to Rome for the elections.  He said if Cornelius should object to this, because that employment had not fallen to his lot, he would certainly do whatever the senate should order; but he begged them to consider again and again whether it would not be more to the advantage of the republic, that an interregnum should take place, than that the province should be left by him in such a state.”  The senate gave directions to Caius Scribonius to send two deputies of senatorian rank to the consul, Lucius Cornelius, to communicate to him the letter sent by his colleague to the senate, and to acquaint him, that if he did not come to Rome to elect new magistrates, the senate were resolved, rather than Quintus Minucius should be called away from a war, in which no progress had