Siege of Tarifa (1812)

Siege of Tarifa (1812)
Part of the Peninsular War
Royal Irish Fusiliers repel a French assault
Date 19 December 1811 – 5 January 1812[1] Location Tarifa, Spain 36°00′50″N 5°36′22″W / 36.014°N 5.606°W / 36.014; -5.606 Result Coalition victory[1]
Belligerents
French Empire Duchy of Warsaw	Spain United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Jean François Leval	Francisco Copons John Byrne Skerrett
Strength
8,000[2]–10,400[1] 16 guns	2,300[2]–4,500[1] 26 guns
Casualties and losses
600[1]–680 killed, wounded or captured 9–14 guns lost	68–150[1] killed, wounded or captured

Peninsular war: Siege of Cádiz

150km
100miles

Tarifa

7

Bornos

6

Zújar

5

Barrosa

4

Baza

3

Fuengirola

2

Cádiz

1

  

  current battle

In the siege of Tarifa from 19 December 1811 to 5 January 1812, an Imperial French army under Jean François Leval laid siege to an Anglo-Spanish garrison led by Francisco Copons. Despite the advice of British Colonel John Byrne Skerrett to evacuate the town, Copons decided to hold out. Some wanted to evacuate to and defend the small island that was attached by a causeway from the town.^[3]

Tarifa is located on the southernmost tip of Spain, about 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Cadiz. The siege occurred during the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars.