San Marcial

After the rout at Vitoria, Napoleon replaced his inept brother Joseph with capable Marshal Soult. The French retreat east allowed Wellington to lay siege to the important coastal fortress of San Sebastián. Soult made plans to relieve the French garrison …

1813-08-31

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After the rout at Vitoria, Napoleon replaced his inept brother Joseph with capable Marshal Soult. The French retreat east allowed Wellington to lay siege to the important coastal fortress of San Sebastián. Soult made plans to relieve the French garrison there after resting and reorganizing his formations. On August 31st, under the cover of the early morning mist, the French crossed the Bidassoa River and advanced toward Freire’s Spanish Army that was drawn up in line on the heights. Reille’s corps moved up the ridge to San Marcial, but the Spaniards were ready and turned his leading divisions back down the hill. Soult rallied the broken units, and with Villatte’s fresh troops, launched a second attack on the heights. Times had changed. The French no longer attacked with their old élan, and the Spanish, sensing that their country was almost rid of the hated invaders, fought with unaccustomed valor. The line of Spanish bayonets held firm against the second assault and the French lines faltered. Unable to keep his men from retreating back over the river, Soult ordered a withdrawal.

Irun, Spain

The Battle of San Marcial was a final battle fought on Spanish soil during the Peninsular War on 31 August 1813, as the rest of the War would be fought on French soil. The Spanish Army of Galicia, led by Manuel Freire, turned back Marshal Nicolas Soult's last major offensive against the army of Britain's Marquess of Wellington.

Wikipedia: Battle of San Marcial

French

Spanish

Peninsular War