028 The Great Plains - Punic Wars

Longer Version - Hasdrubal and King Syphax both succeeded in escaping from the destruction of their camps with about 2,500 infantry and cavalry. They both set about raising fresh troops determined as they were to stop the armies of Scipio from advancing across North Africa. Within a month with the new levies that were raised in Carthage and in Numidia, and the timely arrival of 4,000 Celitberian mercenaries who were on their way to help the Carthaginians - Hasdrubal and Syphax had assembled a combined strength of around 30,000 men. This combined Carthaginian army congregated on the Great Plains, around Souk el Kremis, on the upper reaches of the Bagradas River so they could organize themselves at leisure. As soon as Scipio heard that the enemy had congregated, he detailed some of his men to continue the Siege of Utica while he set out with the rest of the army arriving at the Great Plains 5 days later. He encamped on a Hill about 4 miles from the Carthaginian army.