Battle of Castalla (1812) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Castalla (1812)
Part of Peninsular War
Battle of Castalla, 21 July 1812, by Jean-Charles Langlois
Date 21 July 1812 Location Castalla, Spain 38°36′N 0°40′W / 38.600°N 0.667°W / 38.600; -0.667 Result French victory
Belligerents
First French Empire	Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
Jean Harispe	Joseph O'Donnell
Units involved
Army of Aragon	Army of Murcia
Strength
4,000	10,000
Casualties and losses
200	3,000 2 guns

The Battle of Castalla (July 21, 1812) was a fight during the Peninsular War. This war was a part of the bigger Napoleonic Wars. It happened near Castalla, a town in Spain, about 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Alicante.

In this battle, a smaller French army, led by Jean Isidore Harispe, fought against a larger Spanish army. The Spanish forces were commanded by Joseph O'Donnell. O'Donnell's plan for the battle didn't work out well. The French army quickly broke through the middle of the Spanish lines. This happened before the Spanish forces on the sides could even join the fight. In the end, the French won the battle.

What Led to the Battle?

French Victories in Valencia

Before this battle, a French army led by Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet had taken control of much of the province of Valencia. This happened during the successful Siege of Valencia.

Spanish Efforts to Stop the French

To the south, the Spanish Army of Murcia tried to regroup. They wanted to stop the French from moving further into Spain. On January 16, 1812, the Spanish managed to defeat a French attempt to capture their base at Alicante. This attack was led by General of Division Louis-Pierre Montbrun with about 5,500 French soldiers.

Wellington's Advice and O'Donnell's Plan

A British and Sicilian army, led by General Thomas Maitland, was expected to arrive in Alicante. Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington, a famous British general, asked the Spanish commander, Captain General Joseph O'Donnell, to try and hold off the French. However, O'Donnell did not follow Wellington's advice.

Instead, O'Donnell divided his army of 11,000 soldiers into three attack groups. His plan was to surround one of General Jean Isidore Harispe's French brigades.

The Battle Unfolds

French Position and Surprise Attack

The French commander, Colonel Jacques-Antoine-Adrien Delort, moved his soldiers out of the town of Castalla. He set them up on a ridge nearby, which was a good defensive spot.

As O'Donnell's three central Spanish brigades started to attack this position, something unexpected happened. The French 24th Dragoon regiment, a type of cavalry, suddenly arrived on the battlefield. They launched several powerful attacks against the Spanish center.

Spanish Defeat and Aftermath

The French cavalry and infantry fought fiercely. They killed or wounded about 1,000 Spanish soldiers. They also captured 2,135 prisoners. The Spanish forces on the right and left sides of the battlefield had taken such long routes that they were too far away. The fighting was over before they could even get there to help.

When General Maitland finally landed in Alicante, he found the Spanish Army of Murcia was in no condition to fight for several months. The day after the Battle of Castalla, Wellington won a very important victory over the French at Salamanca. This win greatly threatened Napoleon's control over Spain.