Scipio Africanus by Richard A. Gabriel

Author:Richard A. Gabriel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc.
Published: 2008-06-21T04:00:00+00:00

THE BATTLE AT THE TOWER OF AGATHOCLES, 204 BCE

The Roman landing caused a panic in the immediate countryside, and the local residents fled into the towns. When the news reached Carthage, a great fear gripped the city. Preparations for a siege began immediately, and a general call to arms was issued. Carthage sent Syphax appeals to honor his treaty and send aid to Carthage. The citizens’ fear was fed by a stark reality “that they had no military force of any strength in the city and no general to lead the resistance.”56

Livy is exaggerating the Carthaginian situation, for Carthage had the experienced Hasdrubal, son of Gisgo, at its service. He had earlier gone into the interior to raise a force of mercenaries and, as Appian tells us, already levied some six thousand infantry and six hundred horses from among the Carthaginians and the same number of troops from the Libyans, for a force of some thirteen thousand men and twelve hundred cavalry.57 Most of these troops, however, were raw recruits and irregulars who were no match for the disciplined and combat-hardened Romans. Hasdrubal was also short of cavalry, and later he made efforts to obtain some four thousand horses from the Numidians.58 When Scipio landed Hasdrubal’s small force was some twenty-five miles inland from Carthage and not in position to disrupt the Roman landing or even place itself between Scipio and his line of advance toward Carthage.59

Scipio quickly moved inland for a short distance, occupied the ridge overlooking the sea, and placed pickets and outposts to guard the approaches to the beach, where his army was unloading its men, equipment, and supplies. Cavalry units were sent forward to raid the nearby farms, spread fear, and obtain provisions.60 The Carthaginians sent a small cavalry squadron of five hundred men along the coast to reconnoiter the Roman positions and cause what disruption and delays they could. They clashed with Scipio’s cavalry screen and suffered heavy casualties, including the death of their commander, a young noble named Hanno.61 Scipio then sent his units farther afield, capturing the nearest town and raiding the countryside. The well-populated area around Utica was agriculturally rich, and Scipio sent large cargos of captured material, including eight thousand civilian captives, back to Sicily on his transports.62 Meeting no resistance, Scipio moved his whole force closer to Utica and encamped on a line of hills about a mile southwest of the city itself.63 The Roman fleet moved into position offshore, ready to land marines or bombard the city.

Scipio’s attack on Utica was prompted by Roman caution. Without Syphax to supply his army, Scipio was forced to ensure his own lines of supply. Utica was located on the western side of the Bay of Tunis, about one-third of the way down the Promontory of Fair God, and some twelve miles from Carthage. Scipio intended to turn Utica into an operational base from which he could supply his troops and establish their winter quarters. Utica was a major port with a good

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