Battle of Cacabelos

Battle of Cacabelos
Part of the Peninsular War
The French General Colbert was hit by a shot fired by Thomas Plunkett.
Date 3 January 1809 Location León, Spain 42°36′N 6°43′W / 42.600°N 6.717°W / 42.600; -6.717 Territorial changes British retreat from Cacabelos after briefly halting pursuing French forces
Belligerents
French Empire	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Colbert-Chabanais  †	Edward Paget
Casualties and losses
200 men killed or wounded	200 men killed or wounded Roughly 50 men captured

Peninsular war: Napoleon's invasion

200km
125miles

Corunna

14

Cacabelos

13

12

11

10

9

Zaragoza

8

7

Somosierra

6

Tudela

5

4

3

Roses

2

Zornoza

1

  

  current battle

The Battle of Cacabelos was a minor battle of the Peninsular War that took place on 3 January 1809, at the bridge just outside the village of Cacabelos, Province of León, Spain, as British forces under Sir John Moore making their retreat to A Coruña. In the ensuing engagement with French Marshal Nicolas Soult's advance guard, British units were overwhelmed and forced to mount a hurried withdrawal across the bridge. Ultimately, however, the French forces failed to press their advance further due to heavy losses including the death of French Brigadier General Colbert-Chabanais. The resulting delay allowed Moore's forces to continue their retreat while keeping their forces largely intact.^[1]