The battle of Utica

The War in Northern Afrika was going as planned, not one battle was lost and thousands of Carthaginian soldiers and citizens had already died. Almost all of the most important cities were already taken by Roman force, only Utica and Hippo Regius still remained a threat to Roman liberation of the land. Of course, the Carthaginians still had numerous inland settlements, but these poor and desolate cities were not going to help Carthage vanquish Rome anytime soon. Our conquest at the moment at least, was confined to Carthage Proper and all of it’s coastal cities. Fine with me.

We are now but a few hours marching distance from the city of Utica, our scouts report that the resistance, let by a mere captain named Gisgo, is about 860 soldiers strong. At least half of those is comprised of Skirmishers and the other half of Spearmen fighting in a greek phalanx.
All in all, this shoudn’t give to much problems for my, by now, fairly experienced consular sized force. Even the impetuous Gauls have yet to let me down, a fact which ‘ll no doubt surprise Augustus Verginius quite a lot.

The plan of assault was to split the army up in two different groups, one comprised solely of trustworthy Roman troops, and the other of brave gaullic mercenaries. Both Swordsmen and Spearmen.
Knowing how my right flank would appear weaker than my centre, I was hoping the Carthaginians would underestimate my Gaullic force, and concentrate their energy on breaking them.

The troops deployed


As soon as the battle horns were blown, the battle started, the enemy skirmishers and a platoon of spearmen headed for my right flank. And the skirmishers proceeded to charge my spearmen.

The Carthaginians play right into my hands, they charge the Gaullic Spearmen.


A combination of said spearmen and a contignent of Italian Cavalry break the Skirmishers in no time.

A great display of team work, a move straight out of the textbooks.


The Carthaginian spearmen try, in vain, to succeed in what the skirmishers could not. But the Gauls appear to be the better fighters, no surprise there.

The Spearmen decide to flee.


The victorious right flank moves forward, halting just before the street leading towards the city plaza. Again they meet a band of Spearmen.

Forming ranks.


Engaging spearmen once again


This time the spearmen hold out for quite some time, they fight with unexpected fierceness.


Flavius now ordered his main force to move, seeing his right flank was doing fine on its own. He decided to move to the city plaza, and move in from two sides, to not get bogged down in the city streets – where the enemy phalangites were at their best.

The orders are issued.


At that exact time, however, the Carthaginian captain decided to attempt a brake through on the right flank by charging his own unit into the marching Gauls. The slingers leading the right flank get caught trying to retreat and suffer some casualties.
On the other side of the plaza, the Roman main force engages the remaining spearmen and Skirmishers. Flavius himself moves to a more central position on the plaza, trying to get a quick overview of the battle at hand.

The Fight for the plaza ensues.


The Tide turns once the enemy leader dies.

The enemy captain get’s surrounded and dies in a desperate fight.


The desperate Spearmen fight to the last man.


The battle was a succes, 174 friendly soldiers died. Mostly Gauls, as expected before the battle. A fair trade off againt 867 dead Carthaginians.

The Results.


Now that Utica was secured Rome held most of the Original Carthaginian settlements, and had destroyed most – if not all- of it’s might.

Next Stop, Hippo Regius.

- Flavius Pacuvius.