Battle of Villagarcia

Battle of Villagarcia
Part of the Peninsular War
A British heavy dragoon of the era
Date 11 April 1812 Location Villagarcia de la Torre, Spain 38°17′N 06°04′W / 38.283°N 6.067°W / 38.283; -6.067 Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
Stapleton Cotton John Le Marchant	François Antoine Lallemand
Strength
1,400	1,100
Casualties and losses
51 killed or wounded	53 killed or wounded, 136 captured[1]

The Battle of Villagarcia^[a] took place on 11 April 1812, near the village of Villagarcia de la Torre in Spain. Part of the Peninsular War, British cavalry under Sir Stapleton Cotton routed a French cavalry force led by Charles Lallemand.

The French cavalry had become isolated from the main body of their army, and Stapleton tried to cut them off through simultaneous frontal and flank attacks. The plan came close to disaster when troops making the frontal assault did so prematurely, before the situation was saved by the arrival of forces under John Le Marchant on the French left.

Casualties were roughly similar on both sides, but the French were forced to retreat and lost 136 prisoners.

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