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| Battle of Tamames | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of thePeninsular War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 French Empire |  Spain | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Jean Marchand | Duke del Parque | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 11,000[1] | 21,000[1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1,300–1,400 killed or wounded[1][2] | 700–713 killed or wounded[1] 1 gun lost[2] | ||||||
 | |||||||
TheBattle of Tamames was lost by part of MarshalMichel Ney'sFrench army under General of DivisionJean Marchand in thePeninsular War. The French, advancing out ofSalamanca, were met and defeated in battle by aSpanish army on 18 October 1809.[3]
TheSpanish campaign in late 1809 started with theBattle of Talavera.
The Spanish drew their forces in a defensive line on a low ridge above the village of Tamames. Despite being on defensive ground, the battle opened badly for the Spaniards under Generaldel Parque, who resorted to severe measures to restore discipline. The Spanish cavalry was routed early on, but fire from del Parque's own infantry quickly brought their retreat to grief and directed them back into the fight. Spanishartillery positions similarly fell to the French but were retaken at bayonet point by del Parque's infantry.
The French attacked in massed columns but never in enough strength to dislodge the Spanish. The difficult ground meant that the French cavalry could not be deployed effectively.
Immediate French losses amounted to about 1,200 killed or wounded on the battlefield. A pursuit by the Spanish cavalry increased these losses twofold; the Spaniards captured the French colours and a12-pounder.
The VI Corps under Marchand consisted of his own 1st Division (three battalions each of 6th Light, 39th, 69th and 76th Line), General of DivisionMaurice Mathieu's 2nd Division (three battalions each of 25th Light, 27th and 59th Line, and one battalion 50th Line), Brigadier general Jean Lorcet's Corps cavalry brigade (3rd Hussars, 15th Chasseurs, 15th and 25th Dragoons). There were about 9,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 30 cannon.
Del Parque's army included Major generalMartin de la Carrera's Vanguard, Maj-GenFrancisco Xavier Losada's 1st Division, Major generalConde de Belvedere's 2nd Division, Major generalFrancisco Ballasteros's 3rd Division, Major generalMarquis de Castrofuerte's 5th Division and thePrince of Anglona's Cavalry Division. Altogether there were about 20,000 infantry, 1,400 cavalry and 30 artillery pieces.
The French lost 1,300 killed, wounded and captured. There were 23 officers killed and 55 wounded, including Lorcet. Del Parque's army suffered 713 killed and wounded and one gun captured.
Del Parque begged theDuke of Wellington to join him in an attempt to overrun Leon and Old Castile. However, the British general refused. Wellington had found the Spanish completely uncooperative during the campaign which culminated in theBattle of Talavera and his subsequent retreat to Portugal. Marchand would avenge his defeat at theBattle of Alba de Tormes in November.
TheSpanish campaign in late 1809 proceeded with the second Madrid offensive in theBattle of Ocaña.
Media related toBattle of Tamames at Wikimedia Commons| Preceded by Battle of Almonacid | Napoleonic Wars Battle of Tamames | Succeeded by Battle of Ocaña |
