Last minute hotel reservation!

 

Albuera

16 May 1811

Spanish Battle Tour Guides

A brutal, in-your-face battle where pure courage won the day for the British.

A force under Marshal Beresford had moved south away from Badajoz to fend off Marshal Soult's attempt to relieve the first siege of that frontier fortress.

Taking up positions at Albuera with some 35,000 men, made up of British, Portuguese and Spanish troops, Beresford readied himself for Soult's 24,000 troops.

In a superb flanking manouevre, the French marshal attacked the Allies right wing, brushing aside Spanish units and got ready to roll up the defenders' line.

Many of General Joachim Blake's Spaniards fought bravely against great odds and a British counterattack failed with massive casualties - the result of a blinding downpour that hid the proximity of Polish lancers until it was too late.

One British brigade suffered 80% casualties.

A second French attack almost succeeded, due to General d'Espana's refusal to reinforce the line and poor communication high in the British command.

A decision by General Lowry Cole to hit the French column on its flank turned the battle, but it was still desperate times.

For much of the firefight British and French troops were within 20 paces of each other.

After four hours of bitter fighting the French broke before a British charge and the day was won.

Marshal Beresford was severely criticised for his leadership during the battle, but was backed up by the Duke of Wellington.

 

 
 
Napoleon Bonaparte
Career Portraits
Quotes Family
Loves Letters
Plots Murdered?
His will Places
   
Era of Napoleon
Powers Opponents
Coalitions Allies
People Timelines
Key sites Shrapnel
   
Warfare
Campaigns Battles
Armies Generals
Marshals Winners
Glossary Medical
Weapons 1812 War
Uniforms Battlefields
   
War at Sea
Naval War Heroes
Artworks Signals
Nelson Trafalgar
   
Maps
Key Maps Peninsula
Animated 1796/1800
1809 Russia
   
French Revolution
Revolution Guillotine
Posters People
   
Art, Film, Games
Education Goya
Sharpe Hornblower
Books Movies
DVDs Music
Wargames Images
Cartoons Caricatures
   
Other
About Us Sources
Awards Sitemap
Links Militaria
Miniatures Reenactors
Forum Quizzes
Home Waterloo Diorama
   
Napoleonic Auctions
General Miniatures
Militaria  
   
   
Copyright Richard Moore 1999 | Privacy Policy | Contact Us