thousand Numidians were posted between
the infantry and the river on the right flank. Hannibal commanded the
centre of the army in person, Hanno the right wing, Hasdrubal the left
wing; Maharbal commanded the cavalry.

Varro placed his infantry in close and heavy order, so as to reduce
their front to that of the Carthaginians. The Roman cavalry, numbering
two thousand four hundred men, was on his right wing, and was thus
opposed to Hannibal's heavy cavalry, eight thousand strong. The cavalry
of the Italian allies, four thousand eight hundred strong, was on the
left wing facing the Numidians.

Emilius commanded the Roman right, Varro the left. The Carthaginians
faced north, so that the wind, which was blowing strongly from the
south, swept clouds of dust over their heads full into the faces of the
enemy. The battle was commenced by the light troops on both sides,
who fought for some time obstinately and courageously, but without any
advantage to either. While this contest was going on, Hannibal advanced
his centre so as to form a salient angle projecting in front of his
line. The whole of the Gauls and Spaniards took part in this movement,
while the Africans remained stationary; at the same time he launched his
heavy cavalry against the Roman horse.

The latter were instantly overthrown, and were driven from the field
with great slaughter. Emilius himself was wounded, but managed to join
the infantry. While the Carthaginian heavy horse were thus defeating
the Roman cavalry, the Numidians maneuvered near the greatly superior
cavalry of the Italian allies, and kept them occupied until the heavy
horse, after destroying the Roman cavalry, swept round behind their
infantry and fell upon the rear of the Italian horse, while the
Numidians charged them fiercely in front.

Thus caught in a trap the Italian horse were completely annihilated, and
so, before the heavy infantry of the two armies met each other, not a
Roman cavalry soldier remained alive and unwounded on the field.

The Roman infantry now advanced to the charge, and from the nature of
Hannibal's formation their centre first came in contact with the head of
the salient angle formed by the Gauls and Spaniards. These resisted with
great obstinacy. The principes, who formed the second line of the Roman
infantry, came forward and joined the spearmen, and even the triarii
pressed forward and joined in the fight. Fighting with extreme obstinacy
the Carthaginian centre w