when the lines joined, labienus (pompey's cavalry leader) ordered the cavalry to attack. at first they did well, then caesar ordered his cavalry to withdraw. light troops fiercely attacked pompey's cavalry. the first line of the pompeiian horse were panicked by the cohort's javelins and caused the entire cavalry to fall into disorder. when the cavalry retreated, caesar's men slaughtered the light troops who supported them. they attacked pompey's left flank and, rejoined by their cavalry, were able to get behind and attack pompey's army from the rear. caesar raised the pressure further by ordering his as yet uninvolved third line to relieve the front ranks. the remaining pompeiian soldiers fled and soon the main battle was done.