In this case, the two consuls prepared to face Hannibal were Publius Cornelius Scipio (father of Africanus) and Tiberius Sempronius Longus. Scipio had been severely injured in a skirmish with Hannibal a week or two before Trebia. His losses were heavy and Scipio was humbled by his first encounter with the Carthaginian general. Longus, however, was newly arrived and anxious to fight. He immediately sent out a reconnaissance force which surprised and defeated a Carthaginian raiding party. This small victory fooled Longus into thinking he could defeat Hannibal in a larger battle.
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