The battle of Talavera in 1809 was one of the major battles of the Peninsular War and Arthur Wellesley's first victory in Spain itself, following which he was created Viscount Wellington of Talavera and Wellington. The two battalions of Foot Guards suffered 600 casualties out of a compliment of 2,000. Soldiers of the French 9th Light Regiment: Battle of Talavera on 28th July 1809 in the Peninsular War. In Spain: The War of Independence As the main battles—Talavera (July 1809) and Vitoria (June 1813)—were fought by Wellington, the guerrillas pinned down French garrisons, intercepted dispatches, and isolated convoys. The standard infantry weapon across all the armies was the muzzle-loading musket. The French guns continued to fire for a full hour, their shot falling among the parties of British troops collecting the wounded and dead, British and French, from the hillside. French deserters overnight revealed the plan of attack to Wellesley, who, at dawn, was on the Cerro de Medellin, watching Ruffin’s Divisional columns on the edge of the Portina Brook ravine, waiting to advance and Villatte’s Division on the summit of the Cerro de Cascajal, with 30 guns in battery to their front and Beaumont’s cavalry in support. This was very informative and visiting the battlefield is an invaluable way of understanding the battle. These men were liberated when Victor captured the British hospital on 6th August 1809. Battle of Talavera on 28th July 1809 in the Peninsular War. Reaching Stewart’s Brigade, Hill ordered the regiments to form open column of companies and led them to attack the French 9th Light on the summit; the battalion of detachments in the lead, followed by the 29th and the 48th regiments. The Republicans, attempting to bar the road to Madrid at Talavera de la Reina, were defeated by the professional army of the Nationalists, with heavy casualties on both sides. The whole regiment of the 29th then wheeled into line and advanced obliquely down the slope towards the Portina Brook, catching the reserve battalion of the 9th Light as it climbed the hill, driving it back in disorder. Guns also fired case shot or canister which fragmented and was highly effective against troops in the field over a short range. Combatants at the Battle of Talavera: British, Germans and Spanish against the French. 12 Regiments of Light 3. 4 Regiments of Provincial Grenadiers Cav… The brigades of Stewart and Tilson fell back behind the crest of the Cerro de Medellin, as Rettberg’s battery struggled to return the French cannonade. Attack of the British 29th Regiment at the Battle of Talavera on 27th/28th July 1809 in the Peninsular War. Joseph, on being informed of the actions taken by his subordinates, ordered a general withdrawal and, overnight, the French army crossed the River Alberche, resumed its old position at Cazalegas and the Battle of Talavera came to its bloody end. Talavera de la Reina is a city and municipality in the western part of the province of Toledo, which in turn is part of the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha, Spain.It is the second-largest nucleus of population in Castile–La Mancha and the largest in the province: its population of 83,793 makes it larger than the city of Toledo, although the latter remains the provincial capital. Wellesley was concerned about his left flank and wanted Cuesta to detach a substantial force to occupy the passes over the mountains on his left, not wishing to use British troops. Beyond the two Cerros lay a plain, with rugged mountains beyond, called the Sierra de Seguilla. Talavera de la Reina, city, Toledo provincia (provincia), in the comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) of Castile-La Mancha, central Spain, on the northern bank of the Tagus River near its confluence with the Alberche. 43rd Regiment collecting the dead after the Battle of Talavera on 28th July 1809 in the Peninsular War: picture by Lady Butler, British order of battle at the Battle of Talavera:Commander-in-Chief: Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley, commanded by Lieutenant General William Payne1st Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General Henry Fane: 3rd Dragoon Guards and 4th Dragoons, 2nd Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General Stapleton Cotton: 14th and 16th Light Dragoons, 3rd Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General George Anson: 23rd Light Dragoons and 1st Hussars, King’s German Legion, Corporal of First Foot Guards: Battle of Talavera on 28th July 1809 in the Peninsular War, Infantry:1st Division: commanded by Lieutenant General John Sherbrooke1st Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General Henry Campbell: 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, 1st/3rd Guards and 1 company 5th/60th Foot, 2nd Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General Alan Cameron: 1st/61st and 2nd/83rd Foot and 1 company 5th/60th Foot, 3rd Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General Ernst, Baron Langwerth: 1st and 2nd Line Battalions and 1st and 2nd Light Battalions, King’s German Legion, 4th Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General Sigismund, Baron Löw: 5th and 7th Line Battalions, King’s German Legion, 2nd Division: commanded by Major General Rowland Hill1st Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General Christopher Tilson: 1st/3rd Buffs, 2nd/48th and 2nd/66th Foot and 1 company 5th/60th Foot, British 5th/60th Rifles: Battle of Talavera on 28th July 1809 in the Peninsular War: picture by Atkinson, 2nd Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General Richard Stewart: 29th and 1st/48th Foot and 1st Battalion Detachments, 3rd Division: commanded by Major General Randoll Mackenzie1st Brigade: commanded by Major General Randoll Mackenzie: 2nd/24th, 2nd/31st and 1st/45th Foot, 2nd Brigade: commanded by Colonel Donkin: 2nd/87th, 1st/88th and 5th/60th Foot, 4th Division: commanded by Brigadier General Alexander Campbell1st Brigade: commanded by Brigadier General Alexander Campbell: 2nd/7th Fusiliers and 2nd/53rd Foot and 1 company 5th/60th Foot, 2nd Brigade: commanded by Colonel James Kemmis: 1st/40th and 97th Foot and 2nd Battalion Detachments and 1 company 5th/60th Foot, Artillery:Lawson’s, Sillery’s and Elliot’s batteriesRettberg’s and Heise’s batteries, British Light Dragoons: Battle of Talavera on 28th July 1809 in the Peninsular War, French order of battle at the Battle of Talavera:Commander in Chief: Joseph Bonaparte, King of SpainChief of Staff: Marshal Jourdan, I Corps: commanded by Marshal Victor1st Division commanded by General Ruffin2nd Division commanded by General Lapisse3rd Division commanded by General Villatte, IV Corps: commanded by General Sebastiani1st Division commanded by General Sebastiani2nd Division commanded by General Valence3rd Division commanded by General Leval, Cavalry Brigade commanded by General Merlin, Madrid Division commanded by General Dessolles. , at Torrijos, 15 miles from Toledo shortage of artillery French cannon shots passed over the of... 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