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Why did Scipio Africanus order his troops to attack early in the morning at the Battle of Ilipa?

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Scipio Africanus Silver coin from Carthago Nova, believed to be a portrait of Scipio Africanus the Elder; in the Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, National Museum, Copenhagen.

At the Battle of Ilipa, Scipio Africanus ordered his troops to attack early in the morning to disrupt the established routine of the Carthaginian commanders, Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago.12

For several days prior, both armies had engaged in light, indecisive skirmishing, forming up and retiring at similar times. By ordering his men to be fed and armed before daybreak and launching an assault at dawn, Scipio forced the Carthaginian forces to hurry onto the battlefield without having eaten.2

This tactical maneuver, which had been famously employed by Hannibal at the Battle of the Trebbia River, served two primary purposes:
* Exploiting Fatigue: It ensured the Carthaginian troops were hungry and exhausted, allowing their physical condition to deteriorate as the day progressed.2
* Concealing Troop Deployment: The haste of the Carthaginian response prevented them from noticing that Scipio had altered his formation, positioning his strongest units against the weakest parts of the Carthaginian line.12