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| Combat of Barquilla | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofPeninsular War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 French Empire |  United Kingdom Portugal | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Pierre Gouache | Robert Craufurd | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 200 infantry 30-40 cavalry | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 31 captured | 32–40 casualties | ||||||
 | |||||||
TheCombat of Barquilla (11 July 1810) was a minor skirmish between British and French forces two days after thesiege of Ciudad Rodrigo, in whichRobert Craufurd attacked Frenchgrenadiers covering aforaging party. The French grenadiers, formed in a singlesquare, made a fighting withdrawal, fending off Britishcavalry and escaping unscathed.
TheAnglo-Portuguese under Craufurd were forced back toFort Conception during the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, which fell on 9 July 1810. During this period the French launched raids near the allied positions.
In retaliation, Craufurd took five or six squadrons of cavalry and several companies of infantry to attack and cut off a raiding party sent by GeneralRoche Godart. These squadrons of cavalry included the 1st Hussars from theKing's German Legion, and the16th and14th Light Dragoons.
Two days after Ciudad Rodrigo fell, at four o'clock on the morning of 11 July, the British came into contact with a small body of troops near the village ofBarquilla. The badly outnumbered French force, under the command of CaptainPierre Gouache, was covering a foraging party in a corn field. It consisted of two companies of grenadiers of the 22nd Regiment of Junot's corps (around 200 men) supported by around 30 cavalry.
Craufurd brought up three squadrons of cavalry (the KGL 1st Hussars, the 16th and 14th Light Dragoons) to attack the French infantry, formed in a single square in a corn field. The first attack was made by the hussars of the KGL. As the horsemen closed in, the French grenadiers stood up and opened fire. However, the hussars then proceeded past the infantry square and charged the French cavalry. Upon seeing how large the British force was, the cavalry surrendered.
Meanwhile, the 16th Light Dragoons came forward and failed to come in contact with the square. The 14th Light Dragoons, led by Colonel Talbot, managed to attack the square but were badly repulsed. Talbot and eight of his men were killed and many horsemen were wounded.
The squadron was thrown in disorder but was recalled. However, Craufurd was too slow in bringing up his infantry and the French infantry withdrew without having suffered any casualties.
Despite having taken around 30 cavalry prisoner the combat was a failure. The British suffered 30-40 casualties, and failed to defeat the much smaller force of French infantry whilst allowing the infantry to escape with minimal losses.
Although the Combat of Barquilla was a minor incident duringMasséna's campaign, it was damaging to Craufurd's reputation. Two weeks later, despite suffering defeat, Craufurd redeemed himself at theBattle of the Côa. Captain Gouache, on the other hand, received recognition for his achievement and was promoted.
Media related toCombat of Barquilla (1810) at Wikimedia Commons| Preceded by Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo (1810) | Napoleonic Wars Combat of Barquilla (1810) | Succeeded by Combat of the Côa |
