Battle of Carpio

The Battle of Carpio or Battle of El Carpio took place at El Carpio, near Medina del Campo, Valladolid, on 23 November 1809, between a Spanish force of 19,000 men commanded by the Lieutenant-General Diego de Cañas y Portocarrero, Duke del Parque and a French force of 10,000 regulars and 1,700 cavalry under the General François Étienne de Kellermann during the Peninsular War. The French forces were defeated and forced to leave the town. In this struggle, died two distinguished Spanish leaders, Salvador de Molina and Colonel Juan Drimgold.

Battle of Carpio
Part of the Peninsular War
Date23 November 1809
Location
El Carpio, Valladolid, near Medina del Campo, Spain
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
French Empire Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
François Étienne de Kellermann Duke del Parque
Strength
11,700 19,000
Casualties and losses
1,100 dead or wounded 60 dead and 88 wounded

Background

Del Parque led the northern army in a two pronged offensive against Madrid. He enjoyed some success at first, pushing back Marchand and the VI Corps at Tamames. Then the southern army met disaster at the Battle of Ocaña. Historian David Gates wrote,[1]

Marchand again left Salamanca to the enemy and fell back to the Douro, uniting with Kellermann's colonne mobile - which had hastened to his assistance - at Medina del Campo. After fighting a cursory engagement there, however, Del Parque learnt of the Ocaña débâcle and, realising that Joseph's forces were now free to concentrate against him, went into immediate retreat for the sanctuary of the sierras.[1]

Kellermann and Marchand caught up with Del Parque at the Battle of Alba de Tormes on 26 November 1809 and inflicted a stinging defeat on the Spanish army.[1]

Notes
  1. Gates (2002), 204
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References
  • Gates, David (2002). The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. London: Pimlico. ISBN 0-7126-9730-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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