26 March 1813 – North Spain - Day 4

 

Soult is short of supplies.

He establishes a new depot at Palencia and transfers 4 days supplies from Coca

The French now have six depots and must detach infantry to garrison them

Four of the six French corps have only 1 or 2 days supplies

It will take another two days to reorganise and resupply

To distract Wellington he orders 7^th and 13^th corps to attack Medina

 

Wellington has problems of his own

He concentrates his army in front of Benavente, Zamora and Medina

1^st, 3^rd and 4^th corps are in urgent need of reorganisation and resupply

Fortunately 5^th and 6^th corps in front of Medina are battle ready

 

The French start the battle of Medina with 6 infantry brigades, against the 7 British and 1 Spanish brigades.   To have any change of a successful attack their artillery must cause some damage to the British.   They fail to do so, and the subsequent French attack fails.