07-22-2019, 06:29 AM
"...in this way his cavalry,..." is actually, "In this way was his cavalry disposed."
Appian refers here to the right and left wings of the infantry, not to the cavalry stationed on the Roman army`s flanks, which Appian tells us is all Numidian.
"He stationed his Numidian horse on his wings because they were accustomed to the sight and smell of elephants. As the Italian horse were not so, he placed them all in the rear, ready to charge through the intervals of the foot-soldiers when the latter should have checked the first onset of the elephants. To each horseman was assigned an attendant armed with plenty of darts with which to ward off the attack of these beasts. In this way was his cavalry disposed. Laelius [Gaius Laelius, Scipio's friend and second-in-command.] commanded the right wing and Octavius the left.
In the middle both Hannibal and himself took their stations, out of respect for each other, each having a body of horse in order to send reinforcements wherever they might be needed. Of these Hannibal had 4,000 and Scipio 2,000, besides the 300 Italians whom he had armed in Sicily."
I find it interesting in that wings are a means of command and control and also that it conflicts with Polybius` description of Laelius` command role in the battle.
Appian refers here to the right and left wings of the infantry, not to the cavalry stationed on the Roman army`s flanks, which Appian tells us is all Numidian.
"He stationed his Numidian horse on his wings because they were accustomed to the sight and smell of elephants. As the Italian horse were not so, he placed them all in the rear, ready to charge through the intervals of the foot-soldiers when the latter should have checked the first onset of the elephants. To each horseman was assigned an attendant armed with plenty of darts with which to ward off the attack of these beasts. In this way was his cavalry disposed. Laelius [Gaius Laelius, Scipio's friend and second-in-command.] commanded the right wing and Octavius the left.
In the middle both Hannibal and himself took their stations, out of respect for each other, each having a body of horse in order to send reinforcements wherever they might be needed. Of these Hannibal had 4,000 and Scipio 2,000, besides the 300 Italians whom he had armed in Sicily."
I find it interesting in that wings are a means of command and control and also that it conflicts with Polybius` description of Laelius` command role in the battle.
