The Pompeian party having collected their forces in Africa, the supreme
command was given to Publius Scipio,—Marcus Cato, who had been joined
with him in the command, giving it up. When it was deliberated, in
council, whether the city of Utica should not be demolished, on account
of its attachment to Cæsar, Cato opposed that measure, which was
strongly recommended by Juba: Cato’s opinion prevailing, he was
appointed governor of the city. Cneius Pompeius, the son of Pompeius the
Great, having collected some forces in Spain, which neither Afranius nor
Petreius would take the command of, renews the war against Cæsar.
Pharnaces, king of Pontus, son of Mithridates, after supporting the war
but a very short time, was subdued. When seditions were excited in Rome
by Publius Dolabella, a plebeian tribune, who moved for a law to abolish
the debts of the people, and on that account a tumult arose among the
people, Marcus Antonius, master of the horse, brought troops into the
town, and killed eight hundred of the people. Cæsar discharged the
veteran soldiers, who were grown mutinous, crossed over into Africa,
and engaged the forces of king Juba in a very hazardous combat.