Medina de Rio Seco
Combatants: French versus Spanish
Date: 14 Jul 1808 - The French Won - Bessiers
Refought: 13 Jan 2008 - The French Won - Bessiers
Battle Plans
This was always going to be a difficult battle for the Spanish because of a shortage of cavalry and artillery; the superior and more numerous French cavalry were always going to get round a flank at some point. The Spanish plan was ambitious and involved getting round the French right flank, whilst holding the ridge line with General Blake's two divisions, before the French could try a flanking manouvre of their own (the Spanish Divisions for this manoeuvre were not yet on the table and would have to march pretty smartly to reach Blake see sketch below).
Unfortunately the French decided to ignore the Spanish holding the ridge (apart from a large screen of skirmishes who annoyed the Spanish greatly and killed most of their gunners) and attack virtually in the same area that the Spanish were to try their outflanking move.
The French put all their cavalry on their right and they immediately advanced around the Spanish left flank, this completely bogged down the Division that was advancing to attack on that flank. Meanwhile the French put the majority of their Artillery into a grand battery and prepared to chew up Blakes Left. The Spanish plan had not lasted an hour, before being overtaken by events! At this point the Spanish needed a new plan but none was forthcoming.
The arrival of the Spanish 4th Division on Blake's left prevented a collapse but it was really only reinforcing failure and after some intitial success was forced to retreat in the face of the French grand battery to its front and French infantry on its left. Meanwhile in its rear the Army of Castile was being tied in knots by the French Cavalry and a couple of French Brigades. Some French cavalry were eventually to get behind both these formations and force the surrender of 6 bns of infantry that had run out of places to rout to. By this time Blake finally decided to retire from the ridge line and make a run for Medina. The bulk of the Spanish casualties were concentrated in the Army of Castile and 4th Division which instead of taking part in an assault ended up defending against the bulk of the French Army.
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Maps
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