A fresh despatch from our man on the Italian front…..

The forces of Phil Barca (nice pun on that behemoth of ancient warfare WRG’s “Phil Barker”), met Scipio Buchanicus on the field of battle “somewhere in Northern Italy”. 

The Romans began well with an aggressive advance by their Quincunx-heavy centre. The cavalry/light infantry flanks, probed but it was clear that the centre was the true Schwerpunkt...as the Alammani will say in 2000 years time! The Carthaginian centre advanced to meet them, wary of the Quincunx prodigious fighting strength.

Their left moved boldly forward but Masinissa Banks stayed resolutely on his start line. Was something amiss? Hadn’t they received the back-pay?

In the centre the Roman Velites peppered the Carthaginian spear with javelins causing more than the usual number of disorders. The Maniples charged through and units began to die. However the fight on the flanks was taking a turn for the worse for the Romans. Malcolm’s cavalry, elephants and scutarii proved more than a match for the Roman cavalry who were soon destroyed or being driven back. 

The Banks/Aldridge contest was more even as Rob’s veteran Italian cavalry seemed capable of holding...or scaring...multiple Punic units. Definitely something not right with the Carthaginian right wing.

Phil Barca was grimly holding on. 

Units were pulled back to dress the line but rallies proved elusive, and soon Tonius Maius had broken through and was turning towards the camp. The nadir was reached when a velite unit charged a Punic spear unit in the flank to administer the “Coup de grace”...as the Franks will say sometime in the future.  Phil’s General died and he forgot to use his “stratagem” to save him! However  Malcolms’ attack had broken the Roman right. Buchanicus fled the field and his Quincunx was destroyed by a cavalry flank charge after the Scutarii’s frontal attack. Malcolm’s Numidian’s made a dash for the camp and Nike awarded the victory to Phil Barca and his allies.

A very close game. If a few chits had fallen the other way Scipio Buchanicus may well have been awarded the victory wreath.

Simon