Battle of Vesuvius

The Battle of Vesuvius was fought in 339 B.C. during the Latin War between the Roman Republic. The Romans were suffering a horrible defeat after the left wing of their army was shattered. Publius Decius Mus, commander of the left wing, deliberately sacrified himself in a suicide charge to permit the withdrawal of the remainder of the army. The result was a drawn battle for Rome instead of a disaster.