Battle of Pombal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Pombal |
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| Part of the Peninsular War | |||||
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| Belligerents | |||||
 French Empire |
 United Kingdom Portugal |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Michel Ney |
Viscount Wellington Luís do Rego Barreto |
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| Strength | |||||
| 9,340 | 16,000 | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 63 | 37 | ||||
The Battle of Pombal took place on March 11, 1811, in the town of Pombal, Portugal. It was a quick but not decisive battle during the Peninsular War. This fight happened as Marshal Masséna's French army was retreating from the Lines of Torres Vedras.
This battle was the first of several famous actions where Michel Ney protected the French army's rear. The French were being chased by Wellington and his British-Portuguese forces. Ney fought hard, stopping Wellington from completely defeating Masséna's army when it was weak. At Pombal, Ney turned part of his rearguard to face the larger British-Portuguese army. He slowed their advance before pulling back to join Masséna's main army.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
French Retreat from Torres Vedras
The French army, led by Marshal Masséna, had tried to break through the Lines of Torres Vedras. These were strong defensive lines built by the British and Portuguese to protect Lisbon. When the French could not break through, they had to retreat from Portugal.
Ney's Clever Plan
Michel Ney was put in charge of the rearguard, which was the part of the army that protected the main force from behind. His rearguard included two divisions of soldiers. Marshal Ney used a clever trick to fool the British. He moved his troops in a way that made Wellington think the French were going back to Torres Vedras. This made Wellington stop his attack for several hours. This gave Masséna's main army a big head start in their retreat.
British Pursuit Begins
When Wellington finally realized he had been tricked, his British-Portuguese army left Torres Vedras and started chasing the French. They caught up with Ney's rearguard at the town of Pombal.
The Battle at Pombal
French Position and Allied Advance
When Ney learned that the British were coming, he pulled back most of his troops. However, he left one division, led by Mermet, on the high ground near Pombal. A small group of soldiers was left inside the town's castle. Wellington ordered a Portuguese battalion and two companies of British riflemen to charge across the bridge and take the town. More Allied troops from the Light Division followed behind them.
Ney's Counterattack
As the Allied soldiers fought their way into the town, Ney saw that his troops might be overwhelmed. He quickly brought four battalions of French infantry down from the heights. They pushed the Portuguese and British riflemen back across the Arunca River. Ney reportedly encouraged his soldiers, telling them they would lose their good reputation if they didn't drive the enemy out of Pombal.
Fighting in the Town
The Light Division, led by William Erskine, quickly moved forward to support their leading troops. The 3rd and 4th Divisions also joined the fight against the French. Ney ordered his men to block the main road through Pombal. He then set the town on fire and pulled his soldiers back. The fire and barricades made it hard for the Allied columns to move through the town. This gave the French the rest of the day to retreat without further attacks.
What Happened Next
French Retreat Continues
Even though Ney had successfully held off the British, he set fire to Pombal and kept retreating along the Arunca River. The next major battle would be the Battle of Redinha.
A Lesson in Warfare
British general Sir Thomas Picton was very impressed by Ney's actions at Pombal. He had watched Ney's clever movements and called it a "perfect lesson in the art of war." This shows how skilled Ney was at protecting his army during a retreat.
See also
