Battle of Almaraz

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Battle of Almaraz
Part of the Peninsular War
Date 18–19 May 1812 Location Almaraz, Spain 39°48′N 5°40′W / 39.800°N 5.667°W / 39.800; -5.667 Result Anglo-Portuguese victory
Belligerents
France	United Kingdom Portugal
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Aubert †	Rowland Hill
Strength
1,100	6,000 9 guns
Casualties and losses
150 killed or wounded 259 captured	33 killed 156 wounded[1]

Peninsular War
Castile 1811–13

200km
125miles

20

19

Burgos

18

17

16

Salamanca

15

Astorga

14

13

Almaraz

12

11

Ciudad Rodrigo

10

9

8

7

Arlabán

6

5

Albuera

4

Campo Maior

3

2

Badajoz

1

  

  current battle

The Battle of Almaraz was fought during the Peninsular War on 18–19 May 1812, in which the Anglo-Portuguese Army under Lord Hill destroyed a French pontoon bridge across the River Tagus, in Almaraz, Spain. The bridge was protected by two French garrisons at either end.^[2][3][4]

The action was swift-moving, deceptive, and daring. The decisive result produced a substantial improvement in the Allied position by keeping French forces separated ahead of the imminent Battle of Salamanca.