19 October 1813 – Santiago Campaign – Day 1

The campaign opens with all four British corps on hold orders

The militia garrisons of Oviedo, Astorga and Sanabria have already been driven out by the French occupation of those towns, and have become guerrilla brigades.

Wellington must hold not only the city of Santiago, but also the port of Corunna and his lines of communications to Portugal through Ourense.

Marshal Soult opens the campaign by occupying Ponferrada, and threatening Wellington’s contact with Portugal.   This has caused the Spanish garrison to take to the hills and convert to a guerrilla brigade.   Soult hopes that Wellington will moves his reserve south to secure his communications with Portugal.

However his main attack is against the northern port of Corruna.   He has ordered 7^th corps to occupy Ribadeo.   Again the Spanish garrison has moved into the mountains and become a guerrilla brigade.   Behind cover of this move he has taken command of 16^th corps and moved north to take command of the attack on Corunna.   In addition he has taken 12 infantry brigade from the reserve to create a depot at Ribadeo.

Wellington is aware of movement in the north and south.   His patrols have made contact with 7^th and 13^th corps.  But he has no knowledge of the move of 16^th corps.   It will take two days for guerrilla reports to reach him from Ribadeo and three days from  Oviedo.