sees the disposition of the two armies; imagines he
almost hears the orders given out by the generals; follows all the
movements of the army; can point out the faults committed on both sides;
and is thereby qualified to determine, with certainty, the causes to which
the victory or defeat is owing. The success of this battle, however
inconsiderable it may appear from the small number of the combatants, was
nevertheless to decide the fate of Carthage.

The disposition of both armies was as follows. Xanthippus drew up all his
elephants in front. Behind these, at some distance, he placed the
Carthaginian infantry in one body or phalanx. The foreign troops in the
Carthaginian service were posted, one part of them on the right, between
the phalanx and the horse; and the other, composed of light-armed
soldiers, in platoons, at the head of the two wings of the cavalry.

On the side of the Romans, as they apprehended the elephants most,
Regulus, to provide against them, posted his light-armed soldiers, on a
line, in the front of the legions. In the rear of these, he placed the
cohorts one behind another, and the horse on the wings. In thus
straitening the front of his main battle, to give it more depth, he indeed
took a just precaution, says Polybius, against the elephants; but he did
not provide for the inequality of his cavalry, which was much inferior in
numbers to that of the enemy.

The two armies being thus drawn up, waited only for the signal. Xanthippus
orders the elephants to advance, to break the ranks of the enemy; and
commands the two wings of the cavalry to charge the Romans in flank. At
the same time, the latter, clashing their arms, and shouting after the
manner of their country, advance against the enemy. Their cavalry did not
stand the onset long, being so much inferior to that of the Carthaginians.
The infantry in the left wing, to avoid the attack of the elephants, and
show how little they feared the mercenaries who formed the enemies' right
wing, attacks it, puts it to flight, and pursues it to the camp. Those in
the first ranks, who were opposed to the elephants, were broken and
trodden under foot, after fighting valiantly; and the rest of the main
body stood firm for some time, by reason of its great depth. But when the
rear, being attacked by the enemy's cavalry, was obliged to face about and
receive it; and those who had broken through the elephants, met the
phalanx of the Carthaginians, which had not y