Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-10-18

reason to believe the battle OF lama was
fought. Zawan was celebrated for a
spring of water SO cOpious that it suppl
ed Carthage by means Of noble aque-
duct of 40 miles in extent, the ruins of
which exist at present. The advantages
Of this water connected with plain 81
magnitude, afording room
tsr the operations Of the cavalry, & well
known to both parties, must have beer
The spot where both generals endeasored
to fix upon,
Hannibal was anxious to avoid this
battle ard demanded an interview Of
Scipaio for the purpose of concluding a
peace. His eloquenee however was with
ont effect, and he made bis disposition
with his accustomed vigor and ability
and though surrounded with the most diss
couraging difficulties be did not forget
that hs had conquele G on the banks Of
Tacinus, at Trebia, Thrasymene and
Cannea. This was decisive and har
contested battle. Polyb was at a loss
who TO commend, most AYERS that the
action was gained more by the stead
yolor of the Romans than BY any poculia,.
merit Of Scipio, and seems to think thai
Hanpibal's plans displayed The most skill
and judgment. The forces of Hannibal
were dla@n up in three divisions, the
first was composed of mercenaries, Msu
ritanians Gauls. LigurIans, and native
of the Balearic Islands, the second dive
sion we're Carthagenians,--a body or.
which lis whole reliance was placed ::
the third division was the reserve, and
the worst part Of the army called the
Brutti; the whole front was covered By
eighty elephants. Scipio reviewing at
tentively these arrangements of Hanni-,
pal, made corresponding dispositions
the army which he brought With him from
Sicily did not exceed $4,000 men, but
they were picked troops, and on his ART
vi the African prince Nassanissa join
cd him With heavy bo,ly of cavalry, SO
that both armies might have consisted
OF $4,000 men OH each side. Hannibal1
placed gfeai dependence upon bis Eie
phants. Since Regplus had defeated the
Carthagenians, owing to their confpiusI
the operations and movements of these
animals in a small space, they had seeD]
careful to select spacious
plain for their battles; and these plain
are numerous lin the north of Africa
where there are but few trees. Sciplo|
formed his infantry into a phalanx SINH
lar to the Macedonian, and give suffici-
ent roem TO each soldier to WELD his
sword and shield, and If necessary, t,1
close their ranks and allow suficien
space for the elephants to pass through
without doing much damage--this plan
rendered their operations weak and Incl !
ticient. Hannibal had no very distin-
euished g nerals under him. The right
wingof Scipio's army was commanded by
Iaelius, and the left. Massanissa, the
centre was headed by scipio in person
The attack was commenced by the Re-
,cans. and on the very onset the Eie-
charts on which Hannibal placed such
great reliance, were driven back by the
Eight infantry, and threw the right wing
of HannibaI's army into confusion. Be
fore they bad tine to rally and recover
their position, they were furiously at
lacked by Massapissa at the head OF the
cavalry and driven off the field. The
battle then became general, the Cartha-
|geIians fought with great valor, but were
poorly supported by the mercenaries.
i.aelius had routed the Carthagenian ca
salry on the lett. Hannibal saw the
confusion but could apply no remedy
he placed himself at the head of the third
line and charged the Romans with pixies
this created a temporary arrangement OF
|ScipiO's t.sops who fell back in the rear.
|Scipio then changed the order of the bat
tie ard formed his army into one entire
line with which he made desperate effort
e. while valiently engaged on both sides.
Lealius with his horse came on the rear OF
the Carthagenians. Hannibal finding nlm-
self attacked in front by Scip;o, and on
rear & TANKS by Massanissa and Leailas,
sustained for a long time terrible car
nage and finally was compelled to III
with horse. Thus finished the great
contest in which the Carthagenlans lost
forty thousand men in killed and wound
ed and priisoners-and thus ended the
second punic war.