Battle of Albuera in the Peninsular War

Battle of Albuera in the Peninsular War Battle of Albuera -Conflict Date: The Battle of Albuera was fought on May 16, 1811, and was part of the Peninsular War, which was part of the larger Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). Armies Commanders: Allies Marshal William BeresfordLieutenant General Joaquin Blake35,884 men French Marshal Jean de Dieu Soult24,260 men Battle of Albuera - Background: Advancing north in early 1811, to support French efforts in Portugal, Marshal Jean de Dieu Soult invested the fortress city of Badajoz on January 27. After stubborn Spanish resistance, the city fell on March 11. Learning of Marshal Claude Victor-Perrins defeat at Barrosa the next day, Soult left a strong garrison under Marshal Édouard Mortier and retreated south with the bulk of his army. With his situation in Portugal improving, Viscount Wellington dispatched Marshal William Beresford to Badajoz with the goal of relieving the garrison. Departing on March 15, Beresford learned of the citys fall and slowed the pace of his advance. Moving with 18,000 men, Beresford scattered a French force at Campo Maior on March 25, but was subsequently delayed by a wide range of logistical issues. Finally laying siege to Badajoz on May 4, the British were forced to cobble together a siege train by taking guns from the nearby fortress town of Elvas. Reinforced by the remnants of the Army of Estremadura and the arrival a Spanish army under General Joaquà ­n Blake, Beresfords command numbered over 35,000 men. Battle of Albuera - Soult Moves: Underestimating the size of the Allied force, Soult gathered 25,000 men and began marching north to relieve the Badajoz. Earlier in the campaign, Wellington has met with Beresford and suggested the heights near Albuera as a strong position should Soult return. Utilizing information from his scouts, Beresford determined that Soult intended to move through the village on his way to Badajoz. On May 15, Beresfords cavalry, under Brigadier General Robert Long, encountered the French near Santa Marta. Making a hasty retreat, Long abandoned the east bank of the Albuera River without a fight. Battle of Albuera - Beresford Responds: For this he was sacked by Beresford and replaced by Major General William Lumley. Through the day on the 15th, Beresford moved his army into positions overlooking the village and river. Placing Major General Charles Altens Kings German Legion Brigade in the village proper, Beresford deployed Major General John Hamiltons Portuguese division and his Portuguese cavalry on his left wing. Major General William Stewarts 2nd Division was placed directly behind the village. Through the night additional troops arrived and Blakes Spanish divisions were deployed to extend the line south. Battle of Albuera - The French Plan: Major General Lowry Coles 4th Division arrived in the early morning of May 16 after marching south from Badajoz. Unaware that the Spanish had joined with Beresford, Soult devised a plan for assaulting Albuera. While Brigadier General Nicolas Godinots troops attacked the village, Soult intended to take the bulk of his troops in a wide flank attack on the Allied right. Screened by olive groves and freed from the hassle of Allied cavalry, Soult began his flanking march as Godinots infantry moved forward with cavalry support. Battle of Albuera - The Fight is Joined: To sell the diversion, Soult advanced Brigadier General Franà §ois Werlà ©s men on Godinots left, causing Beresford to reinforce his center. As this occurred, French cavalry, then infantry appeared on the Allied right. Recognizing the threat, Beresford ordered Blake to shift his divisions to face south, while ordering the 2nd and 4th Divisions to move to support the Spanish. Lumleys cavalry was dispatched to cover the right flank of the new line, while Hamiltons men shifted to aid in the fighting at Albuera. Ignoring Beresford, Blake only turned four battalions from General Gen Josà © Zayas division. Seeing Blakes dispositions, Beresford returned to the scene and personally issued orders to bring the rest of the Spanish into line. Before this could be accomplished, Zayas men were assaulted by the division of General Jean-Baptiste Girard. Immediately behind Girard, was General Honorà © Gazans division with Werlà © in reserve. Attacking in a mixed formation, Girards infantry met fierce resistance from the outnumbered Spaniards but were able to slowly push them back. To support Zayas, Beresford sent forward Stewarts 2nd Division. Rather than forming behind the Spanish line as ordered, Stewart moved around the end of their formation and attacked with Lieutenant Colonel John Colbornes brigade. After meeting initial success, a heavy hail storm erupted during which Colbornes men were decimated by an attack on their flank by French cavalry. Despite this disaster, the Spanish line stood firm causing Girard to halt his assault. The pause in the fighting allowed Beresford to form Major General Daniel Houghton and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Abercrombies behind the Spanish lines. Advancing them forward, they relieved the battered Spanish and met Gazans attack. Focusing on Houghtons segment of the line, the French battered the defending British. In brutal fighting, Houghton was killed, but line held. Watching the action, Soult, realizing he was badly outnumbered, began to lose his nerve. Advancing across the field, Coles 4th Division entered the fray. To counter, Soult dispatched cavalry to attack Coles flank, while Werlà ©s troops were thrown at his center. Both attacks were defeated, though Coles men suffered heavily. As the French were engaging Cole, Abercrombie pivoted his relatively fresh brigade and charged into Gazan and Girard’s flank driving them from the field. Defeated, Soult brought up troops to cover his retreat. Battle of Albuera - Aftermath: One of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsular War, the Battle of Albuera cost Beresford 5,916 casualties (4,159 British, 389 Portuguese and 1,368 Spaniards), while Soult suffered between 5,936 and 7,900. While a tactical victory for the Allies, the battle proved to be of little strategic consequence as they were forced to abandon their siege of Badajoz a month later. Both commanders have been criticized for their performance in the battle with Beresford failing to use Coles division earlier in the fight and Soult being unwilling to commit his reserves to the assault. Selected Sources British Battles: Battle of AlbueraPeninsular War: Battle of AlbueraHistory of War: Battle of Albuera