Battle of Almaraz

Overview

The Battle of Almaraz was fought during the Peninsular War on 18–19 May 1812, in which the Anglo-Portuguese Army under Lord Hill destroyed a French pontoon bridge across the River Tagus, in Almaraz, Spain. The bridge was protected by two French garrisons at either end.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The destruction of the French pontoon bridge at Almaraz severed a direct crossing of the River Tagus, disrupting French communications and movement between the armies operating on either side of the river. By eliminating the bridge and overcoming the two garrisons guarding it, Hill's force denied the French a logistical and operational link at a critical point in the Peninsular War. The action took place in 1812, a year of intensifying Allied pressure in the Peninsula, and the loss of the crossing complicated French coordination at a time when Wellington's armies were pressing their advantage across multiple fronts.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (1)