Annals Of The Peninsular Campaigns, From 1808 To 1814—Vol. III by Thomas Hamilton

Author:Thomas Hamilton [Hamilton, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, Napoleonic Wars, Europe, France, Spain & Portugal, Great Britain, General
ISBN: 9781782890096
Google: 8PluCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2013-02-25T04:58:00+00:00

The enemy, taking advantage of the darkness, continued his flight during the night; and, at day-dawn, the pursuit was renewed on the part of the allies. The advanced-guard, consisting of Major-General Baron Bock's and General Anson's brigades of cavalry, which joined during the night, succeeded in coming up with the enemy's rear division, strongly posted behind the village of La Serna. The two brigades instantly charged; and the French cavalry, panic-stricken by their recent defeat, fled in great confusion, leaving the infantry to their fate. The whole of the latter, consisting of three battalions, were made prisoners.

After this disaster, Clausel continued his retreat, by forced marches and in great disorder, towards Valladolid. Being joined, however, by a considerable body of cavalry and horse artillery from the north, he succeeded in crossing the Douro, with little further annoyance from the allies, whose march was delayed by the difficulty of bringing up the supplies. Lord Wellington reached Valladolid on the thirtieth, but finding Clausel continued his retreat on Burgos in a state of great disorganization, on the day following he re-crossed the Douro, and halted at Cuellar.

Lord Wellington then determined to march against the army of the centre, which, in order to favour the escape of the defeated force, had approached the flank of the allies. Preparations for this purpose were immediately set on foot, and on the seventh of August the army commenced its movement on Madrid, by the route of Segovia, leaving a force under General Paget on the Douro to observe the motions of the enemy.

Joseph Bonaparte could muster, for the defence of the capital, about twenty thousand men,—a force altogether inadequate to offer any serious impediment to the march of the allies. In Madrid all was confusion. So decisive a movement on the part of Lord Wellington had been altogether unforeseen, and no arrangements had been made for the defence of the capital. Joseph had left Madrid on the twenty-first of July, and marched by the Escurial to join Marmont. In the neighbourhood of Arevalo he received intelligence of Marmont's defeat. He then marched by his right to Segovia, with the intention of drawing Lord Wellington's attention from the army of Clausel. No sooner, however, did he learn that Lord Wellington was advancing against him, than he fell back rapidly on Madrid.

In the meantime the allied army continued its progress. No attempt was made to defend the passage of the Guadarama mountains; but, on the tenth, an engagement took place with a body of the enemy's cavalry, which had been sent forward to watch the motions of the allies. This force was driven in the morning by General August. D'Urban, moved on to Majalahonda, where he took post with his brigade of Portuguese cavalry, Captain Macdonald's troop of horse artillery, and the cavalry and light infantry of the German legion.

The enemy's cavalry having again approached, General D' Urban ordered the Portuguese brigade to charge the leading squadrons of the enemy, which appeared too far in advance to be supported by the main body.

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