The Celts, descending on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Etruria&groupId=582&placeId=1089">Etruria</a>, overran the country devastating it without let or hindrance and, as nobody appeared to oppose them, they marched on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> itself.
When they had got as far as <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Clusium&groupId=479&placeId=898">Clusium</a>, a city three days\' journey from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, news reached them that the advanced force which the Romans had posted in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Etruria&groupId=582&placeId=1089">Etruria</a> was on their heels and approaching.
On hearing this, they turned to meet it, eager to engage it.
At sunset the two armies were in closed proximity, and encamped for the night at no great distance from each other.
After nightfall, the Celts lit their camp-fires, and, leaving orders with their cavalry to wait until daybreak and then, when visible to the enemy, to follow on their track,
they themselves secretly retreated to a town called Faesulae and posted themselves there, their intention being to wait for their cavalry, and also to put unexpected difficulties in the way of the enemy's attack.
At daybreak, the Romans, seeing the cavalry alone and thinking the Celts had taken to flight, followed the cavalry with all speed on the line of the Celt's retreat.
On their approaching the enemy, the Celts left their position and attacked them, and a conflict, at first very stubborn, took place,
in which finally the numbers and courage of the Celts prevailed, not fewer than six thousand Romans falling and the rest taking to flight. Most of them retreated to a hill of some natural strength where they remained.
The Celts at first attempted to besiege them, but as they were getting the worst of it, fatigued as they were by their long night march and the suffering and hardships it involved, they hastened to rest and refresh themselves, leaving a detachment of their cavalry to keep guard round the hill,
intending next day to besiege the fugitives, if they did not offer to surrender.
Walbank Commentary