Siege of the Salamanca forts

Siege of the Salamanca forts
Part of the Peninsular War
1858 map of Salamanca shows empty spaces in the southwest corner of the city where the forts were located
Date 17–27 June 1812 Location Salamanca, Spain Result Anglo-Portuguese victory
Belligerents
France	United Kingdom  Portugal
Commanders and leaders
Auguste de Marmont	Arthur Wellesley
Strength
40,800 36 guns	48,000 4 guns 6 howitzers
Casualties and losses
800 killed, wounded or captured 36 guns lost	99 killed 331 wounded

The siege of the Salamanca forts (17–27 June 1812) saw an 800-man Imperial French garrison directed by Lieutenant Colonel Duchemin defend three fortified convents in the city of Salamanca against the 48,000-strong Allied army led by Arthur Wellesley, Lord Wellington. During this time, the French commander Marshal Auguste de Marmont led a 40,000-man French army in an unsuccessful attempt to relieve the garrison. An Allied failure to bring sufficient artillery ammunition caused the siege to be prolonged. The garrison repulsed a premature British attempt to storm the fortified convents on 23 June, but finally surrendered four days later after an artillery bombardment breached one fort and set another one on fire. During his maneuvering, Marmont formed the idea that Wellington was only willing to act on the defensive. This mistaken notion would contribute to Marmont's defeat at the Battle of Salamanca a month later.