29.34
After
the loss of their cavalry corps and its commander, the Carthaginians raised a
fresh force which they placed under Hamilcar's son Hanno. They had sent
repeated messages to both Hasdrubal and Syphax and at last sent a special
embassy to each of them, appealing to Hasdrubal to succour his native city
which was all but invested, and imploring Syphax to come to the aid of
Carthage and indeed of the whole of Africa. Scipio at the time was
encamped about a mile from Utica, having moved up from the coast where
for a few days he had occupied an intrenched position close to his fleet. The
mounted troops which had been supplied to Hanno were by no means strong
enough to harass the enemy or even to protect the country from his
depredations, and his first and most pressing task was to increase its
strength. Though he did not reject recruits from other tribes, his levy
consisted mainly of Numidians, by far the finest cavalry in Africa. When he
had brought his corps up to about 4000 men, he took possession of a town
called Salaeca, about fifteen miles from the Roman camp. This was reported
to Scipio, and he exclaimed, "What? Cavalry in houses in the summer! Let
there be more of them as long as they have such a leader!" Realising that the
less energy the enemy showed, the less hesitation ought he himself to show,
he instructed Masinissa and his cavalry to ride up to the enemy's quarters and
draw them into action: when their whole force was engaged and he was
being outnumbered he was to retire slowly, and when the moment arrived
Scipio would come to his support. The Roman general waited until
Masinissa had had sufficient time to draw the enemy, and then followed with
his cavalry, his approach being concealed by some low hills which
fortunately flanked his route.
Masinissa, in accordance with his instructions, rode right up to the
gates and, when the enemy appeared, retired as though afraid to meet him;
this simulated fear made the enemy all the more confident, until he was
tempted into a rash pursuit. The Carthaginians had not yet all emerged from
the city, and their general had more than enough to do in forcing some who
were heavy with wine and sleep to seize their weapons and bridle their
horses and preventing others from rushing out of the gates in scattered
disorder, with no attempt at formation and even without their standards. The
first who incautiously galloped out fell into Masinissa's hands, but they soon
poured out in a compact body and in greater numbers, and the fighting
became more equal. At last, when the whole of the Carthaginian cavalry
were in the field, Masinissa could not longer bear the weight of their attack.
His men did not, however, take to flight but retired slowly before the
enemy's charges until their commander had brought them as far as the rising
ground which concealed the Roman cavalry. Then these latter charged from
behind the hill, horses and men alike fresh, and threw themselves, in front
and flank and rear, upon Hanno and his Africans, who were tired out with
the fight and the pursuit. Masinissa at the same time wheeled round and
recommenced fighting. About 1000 who were in the front ranks, unable to
effect a retreat, were surrounded and killed, amongst them Hanno himself;
the rest, appalled at their leader's death, fled precipitately, and were pursued
by the victors for more than thirty miles. As many as 2000 were either killed
or made prisoners, and it is pretty certain that amongst them there were not
less than 200 Carthaginians, including some of their wealthiest and noblest
families
