Battle of Castalla

Battle of Castalla
Part of Peninsular War

Battle of Castalla
Date13 April 1813[1]
Location38°36′N 0°40′W / 38.600°N 0.667°W / 38.600; -0.667
Result Anglo-Spanish victory[1]
Belligerents
France French Empire United Kingdom United Kingdom,
Spain Spain
Kingdom of Sicily
Commanders and leaders
France Louis Suchet United Kingdom John Murray
Strength
15,000[1] 17,000[1] to 18,716
Casualties and losses
1,400[1] Biar: 301, 2 guns
Castalla:700[1]
Peninsular war: Aragón Catalonia
Map
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200km
125miles
21
Battle of Ordal at Ordal, on 13 September 1813
Castalla
20
Battle of Castalla (1812) at Castalla, on 21 July 1812 and on 13 April 1813
19
Battle of Altafulla at Altafulla, on 29 January 1812
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18
Siege of Valencia (1812) at Valencia, from 26 December 1811 – 9 January 1812
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17
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15
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14
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13
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12
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10
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9
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8
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7
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4
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2
Third siege of Girona at Girona, from 6 May to 12 December 1809
1
Battle of Valls at Valls, on 25 February 1809
  current battle

In the Battle of Castalla on 13 April 1813, an Anglo-Spanish-Sicilian force commanded by Lieutenant General Sir John Murray fought Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet's French Army of Valencia and Aragon. Murray's troops successfully repelled a series of French attacks on their hilltop position, causing Suchet to retreat. The action took place during the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars. Castalla is located 35 kilometers north-northwest of Alicante, Spain.

General Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington wanted to prevent Suchet from reinforcing the other French armies in Spain. He ordered, Murray, whose army had been built up to over 18,000 Allied troops, to accomplish this purpose. Murray's maneuvers were ineffective and prompted Suchet to lash out at his force. The French marshal fell upon a nearby Spanish force, beating it with heavy losses. Suchet then focused on crushing Murray. One of the British brigadiers, Frederick Adam conducted a rear guard action on 12 April, allowing Murray to draw up his army in a formidable defensive position near Castalla. On the 13th, Suchet's frontal attacks were repulsed with heavy losses by British troops under Adam and John Mackenzie and by Spanish troops led by Samuel Ford Whittingham. The French withdrew and Murray did not follow up his victory.

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bodart 1908, p. 448.