ORDER OF BATTLE // April 11, 1812
Battle of Villagarcia
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 2,500 estimated
Great Britain
1,400
Medium-confidence figure
France
1,100
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Villagarcia was a cavalry engagement during the Peninsular War in which a British mounted force under Stapleton Cotton routed a French cavalry detachment commanded by François Antoine Lallemand. The British force of approximately 1,400 faced a French strength of around 1,100, inflicting 136 casualties on the French side. The engagement demonstrated the capacity of Wellington's cavalry arm to defeat French mounted forces in open action, contributing to British operational confidence in the Peninsular theater during the active 1812 campaign season.
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