<P> The Centrones waited to attack , first allowing half of the army to move through the pass . This was meant to divide Hannibal 's troops and supplies and make it difficult for his army to organize a counter-attack , but Hannibal , having anticipated deceit by the Centrones , had arranged his army with elephants , cavalry and baggage in front , while his hoplites followed in the rear . Centrones forces had positioned themselves on the slopes parallel to Hannibal 's army used this higher ground to roll boulders and rain rocks down at the Carthaginian army , killing many more pack animals . Confusion reigned in the ranks caught in the pass . However , Hannibal 's heavily armed rearguard held back from entering the pass , forcing the Barbarians to descend to fight . The rearguard was thus able to hold off the attackers , before Hannibal and the half of his army not separated from him were forced to spend the night near a large white rock , which Polybius writes `` afforded them protection '' and is described by William Brockedon , who investigated Hannibal 's route through the Alps , as being a `` vast mass of gypsum ... as a military position , its occupation secures the defence of the pass . '' By morning , the Centrones were no longer in the area . </P>
<P> The Centrones waited to attack , first allowing half of the army to move through the pass . This was meant to divide Hannibal 's troops and supplies and make it difficult for his army to organize a counter-attack , but Hannibal , having anticipated deceit by the Centrones , had arranged his army with elephants , cavalry and baggage in front , while his hoplites followed in the rear . Centrones forces had positioned themselves on the slopes parallel to Hannibal 's army used this higher ground to roll boulders and rain rocks down at the Carthaginian army , killing many more pack animals . Confusion reigned in the ranks caught in the pass . However , Hannibal 's heavily armed rearguard held back from entering the pass , forcing the Barbarians to descend to fight . The rearguard was thus able to hold off the attackers , before Hannibal and the half of his army not separated from him were forced to spend the night near a large white rock , which Polybius writes `` afforded them protection '' and is described by William Brockedon , who investigated Hannibal 's route through the Alps , as being a `` vast mass of gypsum ... as a military position , its occupation secures the defence of the pass . '' By morning , the Centrones were no longer in the area . </P>
who crossed the alps with a herd of war elephants
who crossed the alps with a herd of war elephants
Hannibal
Hannibal