Scipio's+Siege+of+New+Carthage

Polybius, Roman Histories, 10.8-17:

He therefore rejected any such course; and on learning that the above city, New Carthage, was of very great service to the enemy, and a cause of great damage to himself in the present war, he made detailed inquiries about it during the winter from people acquainted with it. 2 He learnt in the first place that it stood almost alone among Spanish cities in possessing harbours fit for a fleet and for naval forces, and that it was at the same time very favourably situated for the Carthaginians to make the direct sea crossing from Africa. 3 Next he heard that the Carthaginians kept the bulk of their money and their war material in this city, as well as their hostages from the whole of Spain, and, what was of most importance, 4 that the trained soldiers who garrisoned the citadel were only about a thousand in number, because no one dreamt that while the Carthaginians were masters of nearly the whole of Spain it would enter anyone's head to besiege the city, 5 while the remaining population was exceedingly large but composed of artisans, tradesmen, and sailors, men very far from having any military experience. This he considered to be a thing that would tell against the city, if he appeared suddenly before it. 6 Nor was he ignorant of the position and plan of New Carthage and of the nature of the lagoon which surrounded it, but had learnt from some fishermen who plied their craft there that the whole lagoon was shallow and in most parts fordable, and that usually the water in it receded every day towards evening. 8 Taking all these facts into consideration he came to the conclusion that if he succeeded in his enterprise he would not only damage the enemy, but would much advance the Roman cause, while in the event of failure he could, since he was master of the sea, place his troops in a position of safety, once he had secured his camp — an easy matter as the forces of the enemy were at so great a distance.10 Abandoning, therefore, all other projects he spent his time while in winter quarters in preparing for this, 9 and though he had formed such a great project and was only of the age I just stated he concealed the plan from everyone except [|Gaius Laelius], until the time when he judged it proper to make it public.

2 Although authors agree that he made these calculations, yet when they come to the accomplishment of his plan, they attribute for some unknown reason the success not to the man and his foresight, but to the gods and to chance, 3 and that in spite of all probability and in spite of the testimony of those who lived with him, and of the fact that Scipio himself in his letter to Philip explained clearly that it was after making the calculations with I have just recited that he undertook all his operations in Spain and particularly the siege of New Carthage. 4 Be that as it may, he now gave secret orders to Gaius Laelius, who commanded the fleet, to sail to that city — 5 it was Laelius alone, as I above stated, who was aware of the project — 6 while he himself with his land forces marched rapidly against it. He had about twenty-five thousand infantry and two thousand five hundred horse. 7 Arriving on the seventh day he encamped to the north of the city, defending the outer side of his camp by a • palisade and double trench reaching from sea to sea, but erecting no defences at all on the side facing the town, where the nature of the ground sufficiently secured his position.

8 Now that I am about to narrate the siege and capture of the place, I think it behoves me to make my readers acquainted to some extent with its surroundings and actual position. 10 New Carthage lies half way down the coast of Spain, in a gulf which faces south-west and is about twenty stades long and ten stades broad at the entered. This gulf serves as a harbour for the following reason. 2 At its mouth lies an island which leaves only a narrow passage on either side, 3 and as this breaks the waves of the sea, the whole gulf is perfectly calm, except that the south-west wind sometimes blows in through both the channels and raises some sea. 4 No other wind, however, disturbs it as it is quite land-locked. In the innermost nook of the gulf a hill in the form of a peninsula juts out, and on this stands the city, surrounded by the sea on the east and south and on the west by a lagoon which extends so far to the north that the remaining space, reaching as far as the sea on the other side and connecting the sea with the mainland, is not more than two stades in breadth. 7 The town itself is low in the centre, and on its southern side the approach to it from the sea is level. On the other sides it is surrounded by hills, two of them lofty and rugged, and the other three, though much lower, yet craggy and difficult of access. 8 The biggest of these hills lies on the east side of the town and juts out into the sea, and on it is built a temple of Aesculapius. 9 The second is opposite it on the western side in a similar position, and on it stands a magnificent palace said to have been built by Hasdrubal when he aspired to royal power. 10 The three other smaller eminences are to the north of the city, 11 the most easterly being called the hill of Vulcan, the next one the hill of Aletes, who is said to have received divine honours for his discovery of the silver mines, while the third is known as the hill of Saturn. 12 An artificial communication has been opened between the lagoon and the neighbouring sea for the convenience of shipping, 13 and over the channel thus cut through the tongue of land that separates lagoon and sea a bridge has been built for the passage of beasts of burden and carts bringing in supplies from the country. 11 Such being the situation of the place, the Roman camp was protected on its inner side without any fortification by the lagoon and by the outer sea. 2 The intervening space, which connects the city with the mainland and which lay in the middle of his camp, was also left unintrenched by Scipio, either to intimidate the enemy or to adapt it to his own particular purpose, so that there should be no impediment to sorties from his camp and subsequent retirement into it. 4 The circumference of the city was formerly not more than twenty stades — I am quite aware that many state it to be forty, but this is not true, as I speak not from report but from my own careful observation — and at the present day it has still further shrunk.

5 Scipio, then, when the fleet arrived in due time, decided to call a meeting of his troops and address them, using no other arguments than those which had carried conviction to himself and which I have above stated in detail. 6 After proving to them that the project was feasible, and pointing out briefly what loss its success would entail on the enemy and what an advantage it would be to themselves, he went on to promise gold crowns to those who should be the first to mount the wall and the usual rewards to such as displayed conspicuous courage. 7 Finally he told them that it was [|Neptune] who had first suggested this plan to him, appearing to him in his sleep, and promising that when the time for the action came he would render such conspicuous aid that his intervention would be manifest to the whole army. 9 The combination in this speech of accurate calculation, of the promise of gold crowns, and therewithal of confidence in the help of Providence created great enthusiasm and ardour among the lads.

 12 Next day, encircling the city from the sea by ships furnished with all kinds of missiles under the command of Laelius, and sending forward on the land side two thousand of his strongest men together with the ladder-bearers, he began the assault at about the third hour. 2 Mago, who was in command of the place, divided his regiment of a thousand men into two, leaving half of them on the citadel and stationing the others on the eastern hill. 3 After the rest, he armed two thousand of the strongest with such arms as were to be found in the town, and posted them near the gate leading to the isthmus and the enemy's camp: the others he ordered to do their best to defend the whole of the wall. 4 As soon as Scipio had given the signal for the assault by bugle, Mago sent the armed citizens out through the gate, feeling sure of striking terror into the enemy and entirely defeating their design. 5 They delivered a vigorous assault on the Romans who had issued from the camp and were now drawn up on the isthmus, and a sharp engagement ensued, accompanied by vehement shouts of encouragement from both sides, those in the camp and those in the town respectively cheering on their own men. 6 But as the assistance sent to either side was not equal, the Carthaginians arriving through a single gate and from a distance of nearly two stades and the Romans from close by and from several points, the battle for this reason was an unequal one. 7 For Scipio had purposely posted his men close to the camp itself in order to entice the enemy as far out as possible, well knowing that if he destroyed those who were so to speak the steel edge of the population of the town he would cause universal dejection, and none of those inside would venture out of the gate. 8 However, for some time the battle was hotly contested, as both sides had picked out their best men. But finally, as reinforcements continued to come up from the camp, the Carthaginians were forced back, by sheer weight, and took to flight, 9 many of them falling in the actual battle or in the retreat but the greater number being trodden down by e ach other in entering the gate. 10 When this took place the city people were thrown into such panic that even the defenders of the walls fled. 11 The Romans very nearly succeeded in entering together with the fugitives, and at any rate set up their scaling ladders in full security. 13 Scipio took part in the battle, but consulted his safety as far as possible; 2 for he had with him three men carrying large shields, who holding these close covered the surface exposed to the wall and thus afforded him protection. 3 So that passing along the side of his line on higher ground he contributed greatly to the success of the day; 4 for he could both see what was going on and being seen by all his men he inspired the combatants with great spirit. 5 The consequence was that nothing was omitted which was necessary in the engagement, but the moment that circumstances suggested any step to him he set to work at once to do what was necessary.

6 When the front rank advanced confidently to mount the ladders, it was not so much the numbers of the defenders which made the assault hazardous as the great height of the wall. 7 Those on the wall consequently plucked up courage when they saw the difficulties of the assailant. 8 For some of the ladders broke, as owing to their height so many mounted them at the same time, while on others those who led the way grew dizzy owing to their elevated position, and a very slight resistance on the part of the besieged sufficed to make them throw themselves off the ladders. 9 Also whenever the defenders adopted the expedient of throwing beams or suchlike things from the battlements the whole of those on the ladders would be swept off and fall to the ground. 10 Yet in spite of all these difficulties nothing could restrain the dash and fury of the Romans, but while the first scalers were still falling the vacant places were instantly taken by the next in order. 11 The hour, however, was now advanced, and as the soldiers were worn out by fatigue, Scipio recalled the assailants by bugle.

14 The garrison were now overjoyed at having, as they thought, repelled the danger, 2 but Scipio, who was now waiting for the fall of the tide, got ready five hundred men with ladders on the shore of the lagoon and recruited his force at the isthmus and by the gate. 3 Then after addressing his soldiers he gave them still more ladders than before so that the whole extent of the wall was covered with escaladers. 4 When the signal for attack was sounded and the assailants setting up the ladders against the wall mounted it everywhere in the most daring manner, the defenders were thrown into great confusion and became very despondent. 5 They had thought they were delivered from peril, and now they saw they were menaced again by a new assault.6 As at the same time they had run out of ammunition and their losses were without severe as to dispirit them, they supported the assault with difficulty, but nevertheless offered a stubborn resistance. 7 Just when the escalading attack was at its height 8 the tide began to ebb and the water gradually receded from the edge of the lagoon, a strong and deep current setting in through the channel to the neighbouring sea, so that to those who were not prepared for the sight the thing appeared incredible. 9 But p135 Scipio had his guides ready and bade all the men he had told off for this service enter the water and have no fear. 10 He indeed possessed a particular talent for inspiring confidence and sympathy in his troops when he called upon them. 11 Now when they obeyed and raced through the shallow water, it struck the whole army that it was the work of some god. 12 So that now remembering Scipio's reference to Neptune and the promise he made in his speech their courage was redoubled, and under cover of their shields they forced their way in dense order to the gate and began to try to cut down the doors with axes and hatchets.13 Meanwhile those who reached the wall through the lagoon finding the battlements deserted not only set up their ladders unmolested, but ascended them and occupied the wall without striking a blow, 14 the defenders having been diverted to other quarters, especially to the isthmus and gate there, and having never conceived it possible that the enemy would reach the wall from the lagoon, 15 while above all there was such disorderly shouting and such crowding and confusion that they could neither hear nor see to any effect.

15 The Romans, having once taken the wall, at first marched along it sweeping the enemy off it, the nature of their arms being very well adapted for such a service. 2 Upon reaching the gate some of them descended and began to cut through the bolts, upon which those outside began to force their way in, while the escaladers at the isthmus had p137 now overpowered the defence and established themselves on the battlements. 3 Finally, when the walls had been taken in this manner, those who entered through the gate occupied the hill on the east after dislodging its defenders. 4 When Scipio thought that a sufficient number of troops had entered he sent most of them, as is the Roman custom, against the inhabitants of the city with orders to kill all they encountered, sparing none, and not to start pillaging until the signal was given. 5 They do this, I think, to inspire terror, so that when towns are taken by the Romans one may often see not only the corpses of human beings, but dogs cut in half, and the dismembered limbs of other animals, 6 and on this occasion such scenes were very many owing to the numbers of those in the place. 7 Scipio himself, with about a thousand men, proceeded to the citadel. On his approach Mago at first attempted to resist, but afterwards, when he saw that the city had undoubtedly been captured, he sent a message begging for his life and surrendered the citadel. 8 After this, upon the signal being given, the massacre ceased and they began pillaging. 9 At nightfall such of the Romans as had received orders to that effect, remained in the camp, while Scipio with his thousand men bivouacked in the citadel, and recalling the rest from the houses ordered them, through the tribunes, to collect the booty in the market, each maniple separately, and sleep there, keeping guard over it. 10 Summoning also the light-armed troops from the camp he stationed them on the easternmost hill.

11 Such was the manner in which the Romans gained possession of Spanish Carthage. 16 Next day the booty, both the baggage of the troops in the Carthaginian service and the household stuff of the townsmen and working classes, having been collected in the market, was divided by the tribunes among the legions on the usual system. 2 The Romans after the capture of a city manage matters more or less as follows: according to the size of the town sometimes a certain number of men from each maniple, at other times certain whole maniples are told off to collect booty, but they never thus employ more than half their total force, the rest remaining in their ranks at times outside and at times inside the city, ready for the occasion. 4 As their armies are usually composed of two Roman legions and two legions of allies, the whole four legions being rarely massed, all those who are told off to spoil bring the booty back each man to his own legion, and after it has been sold the tribunes distribute the profits equally among all, including not only those who were left behind in the protecting force, but the men who are guarding the tents, the sick, and those absent on any special service. 6 I have already stated at some length in my chapters on the Roman state how it is that no one appropriates any part of the loot, but that all keep the oath they p141 make when first assembled in camp on setting out for a campaign. 8 So that when half of the army disperse to pillage and the other half keep their ranks and afford them protection, there is never any chance of the Romans suffering disaster owing to individual covetousness. 9 For as all, both the spoilers and those who remain to safeguard them, have equal confidence that they will get their share of the booty, no one leaves the ranks, a thing which usually does injury to other armies. 17 For since most men endure hardship and risk their lives for the sake of gain, it is evident that whenever the chance presents itself it is not likely that those left in the protecting force or in the camp will refrain, since the general rule among us is that any man keeps whatever comes into his hands. 2 And even if any careful king or general orders the booty to be brought in to form a common fund, yet everyone regards as his own whatever he can conceal. 3 So that, as most of the men start pillaging, commanders cannot maintain any control and run the risk of disaster, 4 and indeed many who have been successful in their object have, after capturing the enemy's camp or a town, not only been driven out but have met with complete disaster simply for the above reason. 5 Commanders should therefore exercise the utmost care and foresight about this matter, so that as far as is possible the hope of equal participation in the booty when such a chance presents itself may be common to all.

6 The tribunes, then, were now dealing with the booty, but the Roman commander, when the whole of the prisoners, numbering little less than ten thousand, had been collected, ordered first the citizens with their wives and children, and next the working men, to be set apart. 7 Upon this being done, after exhorting the citizens to be well disposed to the Romans and to be mindful of the kindness shown to them, he dismissed them all to their houses 8 Weeping and rejoicing at one and the same time, owing to their unexpected delivery, they made obeisance to Scipio and dispersed. 9 He told the working men that for the time being they were public slaves of Rome, but if they showed goodwill and industry in their several crafts he promised them freedom upon the war against Carthage terminating successfully. 10 He ordered them to enrol themselves in the quaestor's office, appointing a Roman superintendent over every thirty, the whole number being about two thousand. 11 Selecting from the other prisoners those who were strongest, finest looking, and in the prime of youth, he incorporated them with the crews of his ships, and having thus got half as many sailors as before, he manned the captured vessels also, and made the complement of each ship nearly double what it had been, 13 the captured vessels numbering eighteen sail and his original fleet thirty-five. 14 He promised these men also their liberty after the final defeat of Carthage if they displayed good will and zeal. 15 By this treatment of the prisoners he produced in the citizens great affection and loyalty to himself and to the common cause, while the workmen were most zealous owing to their hope of being set free.16 Having thus by his foresight seized the opportunity of making his fleet half as large again. . . . 1. Why did the City defenders not put anyone on the Sea Walls? Did they not ever imagine that they were vunerable from there? 2. How did Scipio use this victory to further his war cause? 3. Were the men who were captured in the City difference makers in the war? 4. Did the New Carthagian's prefer the rule under Roman occupation or under the influence of Carthage?

This passage is about Scipio's seige of New Carthage. To summarize the article, Scipio wants to take the City of New Carthage which is now under the control of the Carthagians. He devises a plan in winter to assualt the city in the spring. He learns that at low tide, he can walk some of his troops through the shallow bay an assualt the cities walls. During the actual battle the first assaults on the city by land entry points are at a stalemate. The troops that go thru the water in the bay are unopposed and are able to use ladders to climb the city wall and gain access. This turns out to make the city fall much easier thru this surprise tactic. Scipio himself went into the shallow water to show his troops that this could be accomplished. After the city falls he promises some of the stongest men that he would set them free after the fall of Carthage if they served the Romans and join their Navy. With this act he is able to double the size of the Roman Navy.

It demonstrates how the Roman Military Machine was able to be so sucessful in the following years to establish the Roman Empire. This battle takes place during the Second Punic War in 209 BCE. The Romans had lost many battles to the Carthagians until Scipio was able to defeat them at Zama and end the War. While this seige was a Roman Military victory, it was not a victory over Hannibal's army.

The links created demonstrate how Roman society was very militaristic society. The rise of the empire was because the Romans kept fighting over many years. The links show the ships the Romans used as well as the type of camps they constructed. These were all part of the military machine that Rome developed during their many years of fighting. Some other links connect the reader from the old city (New Carthage) to the city today in Spain (Cartenga).

__Works Cited:__ []

[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cartagena_(209_BC]) [] []
 * Howard Hayes Scullard; //A History of the Roman World, 753 to 146 BC//; 2003; [|ISBN 0-415-30504-7]
 * Keegan, John, //A history of warfare//, Hutchinson, 1993, [|ISBN 0091745276]

=== This is a very interesting document, and I liked how you put the article into the context of Roman history. In terms of criticisms I would say that you could probably do a bit less summary of the document and a couple more connections and insights into what this would tell us about the history of the Roman military or these specific events in Roman history. You could probably go a bit more in depth with some of your current connections as well. Also, make sure you are spell checking your document and using correct versions of words. (Ex. Thru is an abbreviation, the actual word is through) However, spelling errors are very easy mistakes to make and super easy to fix, so I would just check your spelling and maybe fix some of your sentences to make it easier to read. Nice work! --Maggie Dewar ===

I really like the document, and think that you put a good amount of work into looking up info at this document. I really think that you might want to include a few more hyperlinks, and possibly look more ate details and connections like Maggie said. Otherwise, you did a really good job. -Josh Kaylor

I thought it was a good summary, but it seemed a little short. Thought it was unclear in the summary why the roman navy doubled in size. As mentioned above, few more links above may be helpful. Overall it is good, but some more detail should finish it up nicely. - Peter L.