Then taking, himself from the right wing and Lucius Marcius and Marcus Junius from the left, the leading three troops of horse and placing in front of them the usual number of velites and three maniples (this body of infantry the Romans call a cohort),
he advanced straight on the enemy at a rapid pace, wheeling in the one case to the left and in the other to the right, the rear ranks always following the direction of the front ones.
When they were not far away from the enemy, while the Spaniards, who continued their direct advance, were still at some distance, as they were marching slowly, he fell, as he had originally intended, directly on both wings of the enemy with the Roman forces.
The subsequent movements, which enabled the rear ranks to get into the same line as the leading ones and place themselves in a position to attack the enemy, were in contrary directions both as regards the right and left wings and as regards the infantry and cavalry.
For the cavalry and light infantry on the right wing wheeling to the right attempted to outflank the enemy, while the heavy infantry wheeled to the left.
On the left wing the maniples wheeled to the right and the cavalry and velites to the left.
The consequence of this was that the right of the cavalry and light-armed troops on both wings had become their left.
But the general, regarding this as of small importance, devoted his intention to the really important object — outflanking the enemy — and he estimated rightly,
for a general should, of course, know the actual course of events, but employ those movements which are suited to an emergency.
Walbank Commentary