Battle of Benavente

Battle of Benavente
Part of the Peninsular War
British hussars at the battle of Benavente, 29 December 1808, by William Barnes Wollen.
Date 29 December 1808 Location Zamora, Spain 42°00′11″N 5°40′27″W / 42.0031°N 5.6742°W / 42.0031; -5.6742 Result British victory[1]
Belligerents
United Kingdom	France
Commanders and leaders
Henry, Lord Paget	Charles Lefebvre-Desnouettes  (POW)[1]
Strength
600[2]	550[2]
Casualties and losses
50 killed and wounded[2]	55 killed and wounded, 3 officers and 70 other ranks captured.[2]

Peninsular war: Napoleon's invasion

200km
125miles

Corunna

14

13

12

Benavente

11

10

9

Zaragoza

8

7

Somosierra

6

Tudela

5

4

3

Roses

2

Zornoza

1

  

  current battle

The Battle of Benavente (29 December 1808) was a cavalry clash in which the British cavalry of Lord Paget defeated the elite Chasseurs à cheval of the French Imperial Guard during the Corunna Campaign of the Peninsular War. The French chasseurs were broken and forced into the River Esla; their commanding officer, General Lefebvre-Desnouettes, was captured. The action was the first major incident in the British army's harrowing retreat to the coast and ultimate evacuation by sea.^[1]