Second Punic War - Trebbia (218 BC)

This is the second scenario in our campaign representing the Second Punic War based on my own campaign rules. 

The scenario was played using the Commands & Colors Ancients rules but on hex terrain from Kallistra and using 6mm figures from Baccus instead of blocks.

The History

After the battle at the Ticinus River, Hannibal soon faced an entire Roman army under the Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus. As vain as he was inept, Sempronius wanted a victory to finish our his year as Consul. He took no cautionary advise from the wounded Publius Cornelius Scipio, but instead sent his army, cold and hungry, through the icy waters of the Trebbia to engage Hannibal's army on the far side. Hannibal had prepared the first of many traps for unwary Romans - he had placed his brother Mago and a picked force of cavalry and infantry out of sight in a ravine. The Romans did not discover them as they passed by. Despite their cold and hunger, the Roman infantry was doing well against Hannibal's main line. Then twin disaster struck. Mago's detachment emerged from hiding and struck the Romans from behind, and the weather turned markedly colder. Assailed from two sides, and now literally freezing to death, the Romans broke. Many died trying to recross the Trebbia. Sempronius's army of two double legions was effectively destroyed.

 

The Refight

The Romans and the Carthaginians faced off against each other. Rome at the bottom of this picture, and Carthage at the top.

View from the Roman lines

The Romans started the battle by advancing units on their right flank.

The Carthaginians used the same tactic, advancing units on their right flank.

The Romans advanced 3 units of infantry on their left flank: one of warriors, one of auxilia and one of light infantry. The light infantry used their javelin's to annoy the advancing elephants. This caused the elephants to rampage and retreat out of javelin range. They rampaged through the nearby Carthaginian heavy infantry and Numidian light cavalry causing heavy losses to both.

Hannibal then sprung his ambush. Hannibal's brother Mago, had been hiding in a ravine behind the Roman lines, and now charged out at the head of a unit of Carthaginian medium cavalry and two units of warrior infantry straight into the rear of the Roman right flank.

This surprise attack, destroyed the Roman right wing cavalry, caused severe damage to their supporting light infantry and even the warriors.

Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus then ordered the Roman infantry in the vicinity of the ambush to double-time and attack the advancing Mago and his men.

The Roman initial attack destroyed the Carthaginian cavalry causing Mago to retreat to the relative safety of a unit of warrior infantry, while his other unit of warriors fled towards their own lines.

The Romans continued to attack Mago's ambush, until Mago himself was killed and all his troops destroyed with the exception of a few warriors fleeing towards the safety of their own lines.

Seeing the seriousness of the situation, the Carthaginians ordered their heaviest troops into the fray. Hannibal himself led forward the heavy infantry on the Carthaginian left flank, while the other heavy infantry unit on their right flank advanced support by the elephants.

Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus then ordered the Roman infantry line on the left and centre to advance. The warriors on the far left attacked the Numidian light cavalry causing them to evade without loss. The Roman light infantry and auxilia threw their javelins at the advancing elephants, but this time with no noticeable success.

Hannibal ordered his two elite units on his right flank into action.

The Carthaginian elephants charged into the Roman left flank auxilia.

And the elite infantry charged into the Roman legionaries.

The elephants destroyed half of the auxilia but took heavy losses themselves before rampaging to their rear, luckily no Roman troops were trampled underfoot.

The elite Carthaginian infantry caused serious damage to the Romans legionaries and then beat a hasty retreat back to their own lines, forming up between the light infantry.

The Romans ordered their line to reform, moving up fresh troops. They still tried to annoy the elephants with their javelins but again with no success.

Hannibal ordered the line of Carthaginian infantry to advance towards to Romans. The light infantry threw their javelins at the Romans but with no noticeable effect.

Two units of Roman legionaries, led by Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus himself, charged into the elite Carthaginian heavy infantry. The elite Carthaginians manages to get in the first blow, causing Roman casualties, before they themselves were wiped out. 

On the Roman left, the Consul and his legionaries were attacked by Carthaginian infantry supported by Hanno and his Numidian light cavalry. They caused some casualties on the Romans before being forced to retreat.

While on the Roman right, Hannibal led his elite infantry to attack the Roman auxilia, but only caused them to retreat.

The Roman left flank cavalry performed a mounted charge at the Numidian light cavalry who still hadn't recovered from being trampled by the rampaging elephants. They were wiped out.

In the centre, the Carthaginians wiped out the legionaries, causing the Consul to retreat to the safety of his own auxilia.

The Roman left flank cavalry performed a mounted charge into the rear of Hanno and his Numidian light cavalry. The caused some casualties but this was not the overwhelming success they had hoped for.

Ignoring the Roman cavalry to his rear, Hanno, the Numidians and the Carthaginian infantry charged onwards, destroying the remnants of the Roman legionaries in front of them.

But the Roman cavalry didn't give up that easily, and yet again attacked the rear of the Numidian cavalry. This time wiping them out.

The Carthaginians had lost so many troops, their morale failed, and they retired leaving Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus and his Roman army in control of the field.

Scenario Result 

Carthaginian Victory: Carthaginians 5 - Romans 7

Romans 7 victory banners and 2 glory point

Carthaginians 5 victory banners and 1 glory points

Campaign Result 

	Victories	Banners
Romans	1	12
Carthaginians	1	11