Hostilius, on his way to Capua, met the consul Claudius at Venusia.

Here forty thousand infantry and two thousand five hundred horse were selected from both armies, with which the consul might carry on the war against Hannibal.

The rest of the troops Hostilius was directed to march to Capua to deliver them over to Quintus Fulvius, proconsul.
41.

Hannibal, having drawn together his forces from all quarters, both those which he had in winter quarters, and those which he had in the garrisons of the Bruttian territory, came to Grumentum in Lucania, with the hope of regaining the towns which through fear had revolted to the Romans.

To the same place the Roman consul proceeded from Venusia, exploring the way as he went, and pitched his camp about fifteen hundred paces from the enemy.