While the Carthaginians were organising their forces, and probably eating and resting after their march, the rebels at the bridge from the river mouthand Utica from the river mouthwere rushing to confront them. Spendius sent the bulk of the rebels at Utica east, and pulled out nearly all of the men guarding the bridge; a total of over 20,000 rebels, possibly as many as 25,000, was marching towards the 10,000 Carthaginians. Hamilcar advanced his army along the bank of the Bagradas towards the bridge, possibly hoping to attack the rebels at the bridge and defeat them in detail before they could be reinforced from Utica. In the event the Carthaginians faced rebel forces converging on them from the west and north, each of approximately the same strength as the entire Carthaginian army. The Carthaginian column had their 70 elephants at the front, followed by heavy cavalry and light infantry, with the heavy infantry at the rear in several parallel columns; there were gaps between these various components. There is no mention in the sources of cavalry scouts or outriders.