1813 Campaign Diary - Part 7 - Tortosa

6 to 14 August 1813

North East Spain 6 August 1813

General

This phase covers the period 6 to 14 August 1813 and the fighting in North East Spain between Fourth French Army and the Spanish Army supported by 5th British corps.

It was fought during the period November 2011 to May 2012

                                  Corps positions at start of campaign

Summary of the Campaign

 Marshal Suchet has deployed two corps to hold the eastern bank of the river Ebro at Lerida and Tortosa, with a further two corps in reserve at Tarragona and Barcelona.   His corps have deployed garrisons to hold the line of the river Ebro and important ports along the eastern coast.

Captain-General Copons has deployed his four corps along the western bank of the river Ebro and is awaiting the arrival of 5th British corps by sea from Alicante.   His objective is the capture of the town of Tortosa and the destruction of the French in North East Spain.

The allied plan of attack was to engage the two forward French corps before reinforcements could arrive from the east.   This plan failed when two attacks on fortified villages were repulsed with casualties.   The Spanish decided to hold the attack until the promised British reinforcements arrived.

The two forward French corps were overconfident and attacked despite being heavily outnumbered.   8th corps was surrounded by two Spanish corps and forced to surrender.   16th corps narrowly escaped a similar fate, but was so badly damaged that they could take no further part in the campaign.

By the time Suchet could concentrate his army he had already lost half of his strength.   Despite this he held at Cambrils to cover the retreat of 16th corps, and hoping to achieve local superiority long enough to defeat one or two of the Spanish corps.   This tactic almost cost him the rest of his army.   Four Spanish corps closed on Cambrils and the French were lucky to escape without a major battle.

The loss of Tortosa, plus almost half of the French army, and a hasty retreat to Tarragona left the Spanish army the clear winners of this phase of the campaign.

                                        Location of campaign battles

Campaign History

06 August       Start of campaign

07 August       Siege of Miravat

08 August       British land at Vinaros

10 August       Battle of Torrente                   Spanish victory

10 August       Battle of Miravat                    French victory

10 August       Battle of Tortosa                    French victory          

12 August       Second battle of Miravat        Spanish Victory

13 August       8th French corps surrender

13 August       Battle of Mora                        Spanish victory

14 August       Battle of Cambrils                   Allied victory

14 August       End of campaign



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