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Alba de Tormes

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Title
Alba de Tormes
Description
After the victory at Tamames, Del Parque’s Army of the Left advanced from its mountain sanctuary, sparring with French forces. By mid November, Del Parque’s 32,000 Spaniards were on the verge of attacking Kellerman’s 16,000 man force when news of …
Publisher
Date
1809-11-26
Scenario#
113
Scenario Description
After the victory at Tamames, Del Parque’s Army of the Left advanced from its mountain sanctuary, sparring with French forces. By mid November, Del Parque’s 32,000 Spaniards were on the verge of attacking Kellerman’s 16,000 man force when news of the Spanish disaster at Ocaña reached him. Del Parque retreated rapidly back towards the mountains. The French were caught flat-footed by the suddenness of the retreat. Confident that he had made a clean escape from the French, Del Parque set up camp at Alba de Tormes. Kellerman’s cavalry, however, had kept pace with Del Parque, and on the 28th made contact with the Spanish army. Only two of the five Spanish divisions had crossed the River Tormes to safety on the far side. Kellerman knew the Spanish would escape if he waited for his infantry to arrive, so he ordered his 3,000 troopers to attack the 16,000 Spaniards to his front. He reasoned that if his troopers could attack before the Spaniards could all form square, they would inflict significant loss on the Spanish infantry. With Lorcet’s light cavalry in the lead, the French horsemen swept through the Spanish cavalry and into the unprepared Spanish infantry formations. Losada’s division and most of Belveder’s disintegrated under the onslaught, and the survivors ran for the bridge and safety on the far side. La Carrera’s division on the left (off map) had time to form square, and follow-up French cavalry attacks there were repulsed. La Carrera’s men were still in grave danger. Since the Spaniards could not move in square, they would be destroyed if the French infantry showed up in time. Fortunately it was a short November day, and the sun was setting as the French infantry units appeared on the horizon. In the gathering darkness, La Carrera ordered his units to make a run for the bridge, and most of the Spaniards made it across. Spanish losses were about 3,000 for the battle, and another 3,000 who deserted on the retreat. French losses were negligible. Kellerman’s bold gamble paid off. Worse yet for the Spaniards, Del Parque’s army endured a savage winter in the mountains. Barely 16,000 men remained as the spring campaigning season began.
Location
Alba de Tormes, Spain
Battle Narrative
In the Battle of Alba de Tormes on 26 November 1809, an Imperial French corps commanded by François Étienne de Kellermann attacked a Spanish army led by Diego de Cañas y Portocarrero, Duke del Parque. Finding the Spanish army in the midst of crossing the Tormes River, Kellermann did not wait for his infantry under Jean Gabriel Marchand to arrive, but led the French cavalry in a series of charges that routed the Spanish units on the near bank with heavy losses. Del Parque's army was forced to take refuge in the mountains that winter. Alba de Tormes is 21 kilometres (13 mi) southeast of Salamanca, Spain. The action occurred during the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars.
Narrative Source
Combatants
French
Spanish
Additional Information
Peninsular War

Geolocation