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Bonaparte, Joseph-Napoleon, King of Naples and Sicily, King of Spain and the Indies, Comte de Survilliers


 

 

10128

Castalla

Account of combat.

12/04/1813 - 13/04/1813

Electronic



Alone among Napoleon's marshals, Suchet won his baton by his victories in Spain. However, he avoided cooperating with his fellow French commanders and acted as though Aragon and Valencia were his private kingdom. Even so, General Wellington knew that if Suchet's forces intervened in the battles in central and northern Spain, things might go badly for the British army. So Wellington requested that amphibious operations be directed against the east coast of Spain in order to keep Suchet's men occupied.

Since the summer of 1812, an 8000-strong anglo - Sicilian force, joined by about 6000 Spanish troops from Mallorca, occupied the port of Alicante on the east coast of Spain. The army frequently changed generals but did nothing to contribute to the anglo - Allied war effort. In February 1813, Murray was appointed to command the reinforced 18000-man force.

Prelude

In early April, after making some indecisive maneuvers, Murray posted his small army at Villena, northwest of Alicante. Meanwhile, Suchet decided to surprise the British general and his Spanish allies. The French marshal split his force into two columns, sending one column under General of Division Jean Harispe to attack a Spanish force at Yecla. A second column under Suchet's personal command marched against Murray at Villena.

On April 11, Harispe fell upon General Mijares and his 3000 Murcians at Yecla. In a surprise attack led by the 4th Hussar and 24th Dragoon Regiments, the Spanish troops were routed, losing 400 killed and 1000 prisoners. Two infantry battalions were virtually annihilated. The French admitted losses of 18 killed and 61 wounded.

Murray heard about the disaster by noon that day. He immediately beat a retreat toward Alicante, dropping off a 2200-man force under Colonel Frederick Adam at the pass of Biar to cover his withdrawal. On the morning of April 12, Suchet captured a Spanish battalion at Villena and set out in pursuit of Murray. At Biar, the French came up with Adam's rearguard but were unable to overrun the well-handled force, which consisted of British, King's German Legion (KGL), Italian and Spanish elements. In a brilliant five-hour action, Adam successfully fended off his French pursuers, allowing Murray to concentrate his army at Castalla. Each side suffered about 300 casualties and Adam was forced to abandon two of his four cannons.

Forces

Murray's army consisted of two British and two Spanish infantry divisions, plus Adam's brigade and 30 cannons, for a total of 17080 infantry and 1036 cavalry. General John Mackenzie's division consisted of the 1/27th Foot, the 4th and 6th Line battalions of the KGL, and two battalions of the Sicilian Estero Regiment. General William Clinton's division was made up of the 1/10th, 1/58th and 1/81st Foot, a battalion of the 2nd Italian Regiment, and De Roll's and Dillon's Swiss Regiments. Whittingham's Spanish division included 6 battalions of the Cordoba, Mallorca, Guadalajara, 2nd Burgos, 2nd Murcia and 5th Grenadier Regiments. Roche's Spanish division comprised several battalions of the Aragon Volunteers, Portuguese Volunteers, Alicante, Chinchilla and Canarias Regiments. Adam's light brigade included the 2/27th Foot, a battalion of 1st Italian Regiment, the Calabrian Free Corps, plus the light companies of the 3rd and 8th Line battalions, KGL. Two squadrons each of the 20th Light Dragoon and Olivenca Regiments and one troop of Foreign Hussars formed the cavalry.

Suchet had 11848 infantry in three divisions, plus 1424 cavalry and 24 guns. General of Division Robert's 1st Division was made up of about eight battalions from the 1st and 3rd Light, and the 114th and 121st Line Regiments. General of Division Pierre-Joseph Habert's 3rd Division comprised four battalions of the 14th Line (2 bns.), 16th and 117th Line Regiments. Harispe's 2nd Division was not engaged but probably included the 7th, 44th and 116th Line Regiments. General of Division Boussard led the 4th Hussar, 24th Dragoon and 13th Cuirassier Regiments.

Battle

The strong Castalla position consisted of a castle-topped ridge that overlooked a deep stream bed. A spur projecting forward from the ridge tended to split any attack on the position. Further, a flooded stream protected the right of the anglo - Allied line. Murray put Whittington's Spanish division in a fortified position on the left flank. Adam's brigade held the left-center and Mackenzie's division held the right-center. The British commander posted Clinton's division on the right flank. Part of Roche's division was placed in front of Clinton, supporting a cavalry screen. The remainder of Roche's men and the rest of the cavalry were positioned behind Castalla castle in reserve.

Suchet planned to send Robert and Habert with their divisions at the center of Murray's line. Meanwhile, five voltigeur (light) companies would threaten the extreme anglo - Allied left flank and Boussard's cavalry would envelop the enemy right flank. Harispe's division was kept in reserve. The French expected that a hard blow would send the Spanish and Italian infantry fleeing.

At noon, the French troops surged forward. Robert's attack was carried out in five columns. The three right-hand columns, together with the skirmishers, were repulsed by Whittingham's steady Spaniards. The two left-most columns came up against Adam and were likewise hurled back. In a short, close-range musketry duel, Adam's 2/27th Foot, deployed in line, inflicted 369 casualties on the 121st Line's attack column. Habert's advance was blocked by Mackenzie and Boussard's cavalrymen were unable to cross the flooded stream.

With his infantry defeated, his cavalry off to one flank and his men outnumbered, Suchet found himself in a difficult spot. Murray proved slow to take advantage of his success, however, and the French were able to retreat almost unmolested. Suchet's rearguard ably defended the pass of Biar and allowed the French to get away with little additional loss.

[edit] Results

The anglo - Allied force lost 440 casualties. Whittingham's men suffered 233 casualties, Adam lost 70 and Mackenzie lost 47. Suchet admitted 800 casualties at Yecla, Biar and Castalla, but this is probably too low. Murray claimed to have inflicted 2500 losses on his enemies. A more likely figure is 1300 French casualties at Castalla. Murray failed to benefit from his victory when he continued his retreat to Alicante. The next action in the theater was the Siege of Tarragona.