The Battle of Ecnomus
Meanwhile the Carthaginian commanders had briefly
note
addressed their men. They pointed out to
them that victory in this battle would ensure the war in the future being confined to
the question of the possession of Sicily; while
if they were beaten they would have hereafter to fight for their
native land and for all that they held dear. With these words
they passed the word to embark. The order was obeyed
with universal enthusiasm, for what had been said brought
home to them the issues at stake; and they put to sea in
the full fervour of excited gallantry, which might well have
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struck terror into all who saw it. When their commanders
saw the arrangement of the enemies' ships they adapted
their own to match it. Three-fourths of their force they
posted in a single line, extending their right wing towards the
open sea with a view of outflanking their opponents, and
placing their ships with prows facing the enemy; while the
other fourth part was posted to form a left wing of the whole, the
vessels being at right angles to the others and close to the shore.
The two Carthaginian commanders were Hanno and Hamilcar.
The former was the general who had been defeated in the engagement at Agrigentum. note He
now commanded the right wing, supported by beaked vessels
for charging, and the fastest sailing quinqueremes for outflanking, the enemy. note The latter, who had been
in the engagement off Tyndaris, had charge of
the left wing. This officer, occupying the central position of
the entire line, on this occasion employed a stratagem which
I will now describe. note The battle began by the
Romans charging the centre of the Carthaginians, because they observed that it was weakened by their
great extension. The ships in the Carthaginian centre, in
accordance with their orders, at once turned and fled with a
view of breaking up the Roman close order. They began to
retire with all speed, and the Romans pursued them with exultation. The consequence was that, while the first and second
Roman squadrons were pressing the flying enemy, the third and
fourth "legions" had become detached and were left behind,
—the former because they had to tow the horse-transports,
and the "Triarii" because they kept their station with them
and helped them to form a reserve. But when the Carthaginians thought that they had drawn the first and second squadron
a sufficient distance from the main body a signal was hoisted
on board Hamilcar's ship, and they all simultaneously swung
their ships round and engaged their pursuers. The contest
was a severe one. The Carthaginians had a great superiority
in the rapidity with which they manœuvred their ships. They
darted out from their line and rowed round the enemy: they
approached them with ease, and retired with despatch. But
the Romans, no less than the Carthaginians, had their reasons
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for entertaining hopes of victory: for when the vessels got
locked together the contest became one of sheer strength:
their engines, the "crows," grappled all that once came to
close quarters: and, finally, both the Consuls were present in
person and were witnesses of their behaviour in battle.
