Battle of Valmaseda | |||||||
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Part of the Peninsular War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
French Empire | Spain | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Eugene-Casimir Villatte | Joaquín Blake | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
13,000 | 24,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
300 killed or wounded 300 captured baggage train captured | 50 killed or wounded |
The Battle of Valmaseda (or Balmaseda) took place on 5 November 1808, during Lieutenant-General Blake's retreat from superior French armies in northern Spain. Reinforced by veteran regular infantry from General La Romana's Division of the North (Spanish: Division del Norte), Blake's force suddenly turned on its pursuers and ambushed Marshal Victor's errant vanguard under Général de division Villatte.