Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 29
Frank Gardener Moore, Professor Emeritus in Columbia University, Ed.

34. The Carthaginians, having lost a squadron of cavalry with its commander¹ and acquired other horse by a fresh levy, placed Hanno the son of Hamilcar² in command. [2] Again and again they summoned Hasdrubal and Syphax by letters and messengers, finally even by envoys. They bade [p. 339]Hasdrubal bring aid to his native city, now almost³ invested; they entreated Syphax to come to the rescue of Carthage, to the rescue of all Africa. [3] Scipio at that time had his camp near Utica, about a mile from the city,⁴ having shifted it from the seashore, where for a few days the camp had been established close to the fleet. [4] Hanno, who had received a cavalry force not strong enough even to prevent the devastation of farms, to say nothing of attacking the enemy, made it his very first task to increase the number of his horsemen by recruiting. [5] And though he did not reject men from other tribes, it was nevertheless especially Numidians that he hired, they being easily the foremost type of cavalry in Africa. [6] Already he had about four thousand horsemen when he seized a city named Salaeca,⁵ some fifteen miles from the Roman camp. When this was reported to Scipio, he said “Cavalry summering under roofs! [7] Let them be even more numerous, provided they have that kind of a commander!” [8] Thinking that the more spiritless they were the less must he delay, he sent Masinissa forward with cavalry, ordering him to ride up to the gates and draw the enemy out into battle. When the whole multitude should have sallied out and in battle should then prove too powerful for them to withstand easily, he was gradually to retire. He would himself come into the battle at the right moment. [9] After delaying only long enough to give time, as it seemed, for Masinissa, who had preceded him, to draw out the enemy, Scipio followed with the [p. 341]Roman cavalry and advanced unseen under cover of⁶ the hills, which were most conveniently placed on both sides of a winding road.

[10] Masinissa according to plan, now as inspirer of terror, now as the terror-stricken, would either ride up to the very gates, or retiring would tempt them to reckless pursuit whenever his pretence of fear added to the enemy's boldness. [11] Not yet had all sallied out, and the commander was exerting himself in various ways, as he compelled some men heavy with wine and sleep to take up their arms and bridle their horses, and stood in the way of others, to prevent their dashing out of all the gates, scattering and unformed, with no order, no standards. [12] At first, as they rashly charged, Masinissa would meet their attack. Later larger numbers, dashing out of a gate in a mass, had made it an even combat. [13] Finally, when all their cavalry was engaged, they could no longer be withstood. Yet Masinissa did not flee in disorder, but retiring gradually would meet their attacks until he drew them to the hills which concealed the Roman cavalry. [14] Thereupon the horsemen dashing out, themselves with undiminished strength and their horses fresh, surrounded Hanno and the Africans, who were exhausted by fighting and pursuit; and Masinissa, suddenly turning his horses about, went into battle again. [15] About a thousand men who had been at the head of the column, finding retreat difficult, were cut off and slain along with Hanno himself, their commander. [16] As for the rest, who were terrified especially by the death of their commander, the victors pursuing them in headlong flight for thirty miles either captured or slew about two thousand more [p. 343]horsemen. [17] Among these it was well established that⁷ there were not less than two hundred Carthaginian horsemen, some of them distinguished both for wealth and noble blood.