28 June 1813 – Battle of Maqueda

Tactical map of battle area

Marshal Oudinot, 11th French army, has orders to attack Maqueda

General Hill, 2^nd Anglo-Spanish army, has orders to defend Maqueda

 

8^th Spanish corps is the garrison of Maqueda

One of their infantry brigades is detached to Talavera on garrison duty

 

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

British –    8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Spanish – 3 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

4^th British corps is on the left, with their cavalry on the far side of the river

8^th Spanish corps is in and around Maqueda

3^rd British corps is on the right

 

33^rd Italian corps on the left, half of corps either side of the river

32^nd Westphalian corps in the centre

31^st French corps on the right

End of move 2

French advance

 

Left - British send two infantry brigades to support the cavalry on the left bank

Centre – Hill has taken command of the right half of the town

Right – British wait for French to advance

 

Left – Oudinot has taken command of half of Italian corps on the right bank

Left – He has also taken command of the Westphalian artillery

Centre – Westphalians advance

Right – French advance

End of move 4

Artillery open fire

 

Left – Two British infantry brigades retreat, one shaken and one disordered

Centre – British wait for French to advance

Right – British cavalry retreat out of artillery range

 

Left –Artillery hit two infantry brigades

Centre – Westphalians wait as flanks advance

Right – French gunners receive 10% casualties, pass morale test

End of move 6

French win artillery exchange

French advance

 

Left – British infantry retreat, but pass morale test and rally

Centre – Spanish artillery retreat level with town

Right – Gunners fail morale test and retreat shaken, remainder of infantry withdraw

 

Left – Artillery manhandle forward, infantry advance

Centre - Westphalians advance towards town

Right – French advance, cavalry move forward to engage British dragoons

End of move 8

Start of French attack

 

Left – British cavalry lose melee and rout

Centre – Spanish lancers routed by Westphalian artillery

Right – British dragoons routed by French artillery

 

Left – Italian cavalry win melee, infantry advance in support

Left – Routed Italian gunners rally, infantry advance

Centre – Westphalian infantry approach town, cavalry prepare to charge

Right – French gunners rout British dragoons

Right – Rallied British gunners return to abandoned guns

End of move 10

Anglo- Spanish retreat

 

Left – British division left of the river retreat, covered by rifle brigade

Left - British between river and town hold their position

Centre – Spanish garrison routed, British infantry counter attack

Right – British artillery routed, infantry retreat

 

Left – Italians secure bridge

Left – Italian infantry advance

Centre – Westphalian infantry gain upper hand in town fighting

Right – French infantry advance on hill

 

 

Summary

On the left Italians secure bridge and British retreat

Fighting continues in both parts of Maqueda

But the Westphalian infantry are winning

On the left French prepare to storm the hill]

General Hill orders the Anglo-Spanish army to retreat

The French have won the battle

French have lost 1 infantry, 1 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (700 men)

British have lost 5 infantry, 1 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (2300 men)

Spanish have lost 1 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (500 men)