How do you write description?

[Earniel]

I have no experience with writing battle scenes, so take this comment as you will.

Originally Posted by Willow Oran

Something to keep in mind that might help is that when you write action scenes - especially violent action scenes - is that the character will be sensing, thinking, and reacting more instinctively and at a faster pace than in quieter scenes.

I strongly agree with this. I also find shorter sentences lend themselves better for battlefields. IMO they tend to portray better the chaotic characteristic of a battle.

Spendius was feeling excited. He knew what he was doing was for the best, the annihilation of officers loyal to Hamilcar and the rise of a liberated army and a liberated Libya. Personal freedom and peace for Spendius were the goals, but he was aware that many people would benefit from his labors. He saw Baalhanno, the great, barrel chested warrior from Sicily standing in the distance, shouting out orders to the troops around him to gather.

This part I would (personally) rewrite something like this:

Spendius was excited. He believed in the task before him, he knew it was for the best. The annihilation of officers loyal to Hamilcar would lead to the rise of a liberated army, and a liberated Libya. Spendius's own motives in all this were personal freedom and peace. Yet he was well aware that many people would benefit from his labors. Finally he espied his intended target not far off: a great, barrel-chested warrior from Sicily. Baalhanno. Spendius watched as the general was loudly ordering his troops to gather.

I also notice you use personal names a lot more than descriptives. You might find the text flows better if you change a few of the 'Spendius' and 'Baalhanno's' into 'the general', 'his opponent', 'the Silcilian warrior', etc. The same goes for the following part, you've got three consecutive sentences all starting with 'he':

He carried short sword and shield. He had armored quickly, as had those of his men that weren’t ready to begin with. He was the single and greatest problem to Spendius’ attempt on the camp.

A bit more diversity (sometimes, just in the word-order) might improve fluity. (I should take this advise myself, since people still have to point my he/she repetitions out to me.)