Battle of Sabugal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Sabugal |
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| Part of the Peninsular War | |||||||
 A contemporary sketch of the battlefield |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 French Empire |
 United Kingdom Portugal |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| André Masséna |
Arthur Wellesley Sir William Erskine |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 12,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1,500 | 500 | ||||||
The Battle of Sabugal was an important fight during the Peninsular War. It happened on April 3, 1811, in Sabugal, Portugal. This battle was between the Anglo-Portuguese Army led by Arthur Wellesley, who later became the Duke of Wellington, and French troops led by André Masséna.
This battle was the last major clash as the French army, under Marshal Masséna, was retreating from Portugal. They were being chased by the Anglo-Portuguese forces led by Wellington. The French invasion of Portugal in 1810 had failed.
The weather was very bad during the battle, with heavy rain and thick fog. Despite this, the Allied forces managed to push the French army back. This was a big victory for the British and Portuguese.
Wellesley later called the actions of his Light Division in this battle "one of the most glorious that British troops were ever engaged in."
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
The Peninsular War Background
The Peninsular War was a big conflict in Europe. By October 1810, the French army, led by Marshal Masséna, had been stopped. They couldn't get past the strong defenses known as the Lines of Torres Vedras in Portugal.
The war had reached a point where neither side could easily win. Masséna realized he couldn't reach Lisbon before winter. So, he decided to stay for the winter and fight again in spring.
However, the Allies used a "scorched earth" tactic. This meant they destroyed food and supplies so the French couldn't find anything. This made it very hard for the French army to get food.
French Retreat and Allied Pursuit
After a tough winter, Masséna ordered his army to retreat on March 3, 1811. The British forces, led by Wellesley, followed closely behind them. By early April, the French were just inside Portugal, lined up along the Côa river.
The French army was spread out. General Drouet's 9th Corps was in the north. General Loison's 6th Corps was in the middle. General Reynier's 2nd Corps was in the south, near Sabugal. General Junot's 8th Corps was resting behind them.
Wellesley saw a chance to attack Reynier's 2nd Corps, which was somewhat separated. He planned to hit them hard at Sabugal.
Wellington's Plan
Wellington planned a big attack. The 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th British-Portuguese divisions were to attack the French from the front.
Meanwhile, the Light Division was supposed to go around the French side. They were meant to attack Reynier's forces from the rear. However, due to bad weather and a mistake, the Light Division attacked the French side instead of their rear. This made the battle more difficult.
The Battle Unfolds
First Attacks and French Resistance
On the morning of April 3, at 10:00 AM, the 1st Brigade of the British-Portuguese Light Division crossed the Côa river. They surprised some French guards, and the sound of their muskets alerted the French 4th Légére (Light) regiment.
The French quickly formed up and moved towards the British. At first, they pushed the British back. But British artillery fire soon forced the French to retreat.
The 1st Brigade chased the French up a nearby hill. However, the French still had more soldiers and pushed the British back again. The British had to take cover behind some small stone walls.
Weather Challenges and Counter-Attacks
Heavy rain started to fall, making it hard for both sides to fire their muskets. The 1st Brigade tried another attack, but it failed. The French had brought up their own artillery.
With more French soldiers arriving, General Reynier forced the British back to the stone walls at the bottom of the hill.
British Reinforcements and French Retreat
The 1st Brigade attacked the hill a third time. This time, they had help from the 2nd Brigade, which had just arrived. The French were pushed back at first.
But Reynier kept sending in more French units to fight the British 16th Light Dragoons and the remaining soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Brigades.
As the rain stopped, Reynier could see the other British divisions starting their frontal attack. This sight convinced Reynier to pull his troops back. The British managed to capture some of his and General Pierre Soult's baggage carts. Bad weather prevented a full chase of the retreating French.
Erskine's Role in the Battle
Major-General William Erskine was in charge of the Light Division during the battle. Wellington's original plan was for the Light Division to go around the French left side. They would then attack from behind, while other divisions attacked from the front.
However, the day started with thick fog. Other commanders decided to wait for better visibility. But Erskine, who was very nearsighted and sometimes made strange decisions, ordered his 1st Brigade forward.
Instead of going around the French side, the brigade got lost in the fog. They crossed the river in the wrong place and ended up hitting the French left side directly.
Erskine then became overly cautious. He told Colonel George Drummond not to help his fellow brigade commander. After this, Erskine rode off to join the cavalry, leaving the Light Division without a leader for the rest of the battle.
General Reynier then turned most of his 10,000 soldiers against Beckwith's 1,500 men, pushing them back. When Drummond heard the sounds of fighting getting closer, he realized Beckwith's men were retreating. He ignored Erskine's orders and led his 2nd Brigade across the river to join Beckwith. Together, they pushed the French back.
When the fog cleared, Reynier saw the other four British divisions advancing. He quickly pulled back most of his army. He left about 3,000 men to hold off four divisions. A British soldier noted that the French fought very well despite being outnumbered. Reynier later said his army lost 760 men.
What Happened Next
The Battle of Sabugal was a clear victory for the Anglo-Portuguese forces. It was an important step in pushing the French out of Portugal.
The Peninsular War continued with different types of fighting. There was a "guerrilla war" where small groups fought the French. There was also "conventional warfare" with large armies.
The French retreat from Portugal marked the end of the third Portuguese campaign.
Images for kids
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A contemporary sketch of the battlefield
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The River Coa, French pickets in the foreground, the Allies preparing to cross the River
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The battle
