Salamanca

Battle Name : Salamanca

Date(s) : 22 July 1812

Part of : The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , The Peninsular Campaign ,

Outcome : A victory for British Peninsular Army over French Peninsular Army

Type of battle : Land

Summary

Marmont with 49,000 French troops attempted to cut the lines of communication with Portugal of Wellington's 51,000 troops. All Marmont's moves and after he was wounded and his deputy killed General Clausel's moves were predicted and successfully aggressively countered. The French lost over 13,000 men killed or captured. Only a courageous fighting retreat by General Ferrey's division prevented a total rout of the French.
Wellington's credentials as an attacking General were established.