talavera (july 28, 1809)
the battle in pictures

THE DAWN ATTACK ON THE CERRO MEDELLÍN
The Cerro Medellin was the most prominent topographical feature and the key to British position. After a nocturnal repulse Victor’s I Corps assaulted it by a second time the Cerro Medellín. Only Victor was convinced from the feasibility of this attack, against the opinions of Joseph and Jourdan, so the movement was allowed by Joseph with the proviso that only the I Corps units were used
Spanish deployment in Talavera British line The French I Corps faces the British The French IV Corps follows the line
Ruffin advances his 3 brigades against Cerro Medellin A French brigade is routed but the disordered British must to withdraw The other French unit takes several losses attacking the battery and disordered is fully routed by the British line The British Light Dragoons take by surprise the disordered French routing them (failing recall later)
The French dawn attack on the Medellin failed like in the real life. The Ruffin division is very battered and the British retain the crucial Medellin.
 
THE  AFTERNOON ATTACK
16.00 h. View from the French right showing Ruffin and the Spanish infantry on Sierra de Segurilla 16.30 h. The French disperse Cameron's Brigade A combined attack (British infantry and Spanish cavalry) routs the French The Spanish go mad and follow their attack being dispersed
17.00 h. Anson's cavalry find the ditch while attacking the French saqures The Baden infantry is routed by the batteries of the Pajar de Vergara The British line is stabilized
17.30 h. The British line attack the French in the center routing two brigades The British Light Dragoons (with KGL hussars) charge again the French infantry routing one unit and being rejected by the second (after failing recall)
18.00 h The French disperse a KGL brigade making a hole in the British line The Hollandaise infantry disperse the British in the Pajar de Vergara zone 18.30h The British line is dangerously thin
19.00- 19.30 h h The Spanish skirmishing at Sierra de Segurilla (1) disperse a French unit (2) whereas the Brtish (light Dragoon+KGL hussars) cavalry trying to end the job, smash a French battery (3).... before to go battle-mad again (4) and be rejected by the French squares...
19.30 h. A dangerous hole appears a British line. ... and the French forces attack through. The IV Corps cavalry routs successively two British brigades THE BRITISH LINE IS BROKEN!!!
Spanish cavalry try to stop the French advance routing several units before to be dispersed or rejected 20.00h. The British of Cerro Medellin make a fighting retreat
and the British withdraw (!) 20.30 h. The British cavalry reject the pursuing French dragoons ... and Welleslely (he will not be known as Wellington) concedes the day, protected by the Spanish at Talavera
 
THE FINAL RESULTS
French Losses
141 inf + 7 cav + 8 art = 18,720 men		 Allied Losses
British 95 inf + 5 cav + 6 art = 12,720 men
Spanish 6 inf + 15 cav + 4 art = 3,000 men
Total 15,720 men + 30 guns
French Victory points
25 bases
5 batteries (x3)
1 dead general (x3) (Sherbrooke)
100 objectives
TOTAL = 143 points 		 Allied Victory points
29 bases
3 batteries (x3)
0 generals
63 objectives
TOTAL = 101 points
SUBSTANTIAL FRENCH VICTORY
Additional comments
The French human losses were higher than the Allied, but as the battlefield remained in French hands it can be assumed that the French were able to recover a higher proportion of losses than the British. Therefore, this re-fight of Talavera is a disastrous British rout, given the difficulty to refill the units from Britain. The French used their superiority in artillery to weaken the British units before close combat, thus negating the power of the British line.The Spanish do not fought bad (good dice!), and stopped the initial French pursuit with their cavalry. It can be supposed than Wellesley will be called to home...



THE SCENARIO

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