In April of 218 B.C., Hannibal recalled those soldiers that had been on leave during the winter, after he had heard about Fabius' choice of war. Then he sent his army up the northern coast toward the Ebro river while he sent his wife, Imilce, and his year old child back to Carthage. Then he rode after his army already heading straight for the Alps.
His army moved in separate divisions without haste. In fact, it seemed to be grouped by nations differing a great deal from each other. The Numidians and Moors from Africa rode without reins on horseback, with their pipes wailing. These desert riders kept to themselves and when they charged, the throw of their long javelins outranged enemy missiles; fighting knee to knee they wielded small shields of elephant hide and long knives, using both arms against a foeman who had only one arm free if he guided his horse with reins. While the swift Numidians relied on a quiver full of javelins, the heavier horsemen counted on the
