Editing Hamilcar Barca (section)

===Hamilcar recalled===
[[Image:Macar240.PNG|thumb|200x200px|right|Hamilcar's march to Bagrades river]]
Hanno the Great was given command of the Punic army, which was raised from Carthaginian citizens and mercenaries recruited from abroad, plus cavalry squadrons and 100 elephants. Hanno sailed to Utica in the spring of 241 BC, obtained siege equipment from the city and overran the rebel camp, the rebels fleeing before the charging Punic elephants. Hanno, accustomed to fighting Libyans and Numidians, did not anticipate any further trouble and left his army for Utica. However, the rebels regrouped, and observing lax discipline among the Punic troops, launched a surprise sortie and routed the Punic army while Hanno was absent,<ref>Polybius 1.74.9</ref> driving the survivors to Utica and capturing all the baggage. Hanno marshaled his soldiers, but twice failed to engage the rebels under favorable conditions and twice failed to surprise them on other occasions. The Carthaginian government then raised an army of 10,000 soldiers and 70 elephants and put Hamilcar Barca in command. This army was small for leading a sortie against the stronger rebel forces, especially to lead into a pitched battle. The Carthaginians needed to gain the far side of the Bagradas, so they could manoeuvre freely, but lacked the strength to force a crossing against the superior rebel force guarding against this.{{sfn|Hoyos|2007|pp=111–112}} Hanno posted his army near [[Bizerte|Hippo Acra]], where Matho's army was besieging the town.<ref>Polybius 1.73.1, 75.2</ref>

====Battle of Macar River====
{{main|Battle of the Bagradas River (239 BC)}}
[[Image:Macar1.PNG|182x182px|right|thumb|Battle of Macar 240 BC. Battle of Bagradas, single column scenario]]

The rebels held the hills to the west of Carthage and the only bridge across the [[Bagradas river]] leading to Utica.<ref>Polybius 1.75.5</ref> Hamilcar observed that wind blowing from a certain direction uncovered a sandbar at the river mouth that was fordable and, under cover of night, the Punic army left Carthage and crossed the river. Hamilcar aimed to attack the small rebel band holding the bridge, but Spendius led the rebel force besieging Utica to confront Hamilcar. The Carthaginian army was caught in a pincer movement; Hamilcar pretended to retreat, and Spendius likely attempted to trap the outnumbered Carthaginians against the river with his two forces, pinning them with one and [[Flanking maneuver|out-flanking]] them with the other. When his troops rushed towards the retreating Carthaginians, Spendius was either unable to control them or believed that the Carthaginians were fleeing and encouraged his forces' pursuit.{{sfn|Hoyos|2007|p=122}} Hamilcar had managed to train his new recruits in some [[Foot drill|drill]] and basic battlefield maneuvers before they left Carthage.{{sfn|Hoyos|2007|p=116}} As the two rebel forces came into clear sight the Carthaginians wheeled, and [[Withdrawal (military)|marched away]]. The Carthaginians were marching in good order so they could perform a pre-planned manoeuvre which they had practiced in Carthage, but the rebels, many of whom were inexperienced soldiers, believed that the Carthaginians were running away. Shouting encouragement to each other they broke into a run to pursue.{{sfn|Hoyos|2007|pp=118, 117–118, 122–123}} Hamilcar unleashed his trap as the disorderly rebels closed on his formation. As the cavalry and then the elephants came closer to the infantry Hamilcar ordered each in turn to also wheel about to face the rebels.{{sfn|Hoyos|2007|p=123}} The modern historian Dexter Hoyos stresses that "[s]uch manoeuvres were about the simplest that any army could learn, once it mastered the absolute basics of marching in formation".{{sfn|Hoyos|2007|p=123}}

It is not exactly known how Hamilcar managed to outwit the rebels. According to one line of thought,<ref name="Bagnall, Nigel pp. 116">Bagnall, Nigel, ''The Punic Wars'', pp. 116–117</ref> the Carthaginian army order of march had the [[War Elephant]]s leading the column, with the light troops and cavalry behind the elephants. Heavy infantry formed the rearguard, and the whole army marched in a single file in battle formation.<ref name="Bagnall, Nigel pp. 116"/>

[[Image:Macar2.PNG|182x182px|right|thumb|Battle of Macar 240 BC. Battle of Bagradas, triple column scenario.]]
According to another line of thought,<ref name="Dodge, T.A, Hannibal, p. 135">Dodge, T.A, ''Hannibal'', p. 135</ref> Hamilcar’s army marched in three separate columns, with the war elephants placed nearest the rebel army. The cavalry and light infantry were in the middle, while the heavy infantry was posted furthest from the rebel army.<ref name="Dodge, T.A, Hannibal, p. 135"/>

Through brilliant maneuvering, Hamilcar inflicted a heavy defeat on the rebel forces, leading to the killing of 8,000 mercenaries and the capturing of 2,000 men.<ref>Polybius 1.76.4–5</ref> Hamilcar occupied the bridge, then established control over the surrounding region. Some of the surviving rebels fled towards Utica; others, after being driven from their camp near the bridge, fled to Tunis.