Battle of García Hernández

Battle of García Hernández

Part of: Wellington's Spanish Campaign 1809–1813

Adolph Northen : Battle of García Hernández

date	July 23, 1812
place	Garcihernández , Spain
output	Victory of the King's German Legion (English Army)

Parties to the conflict
United Kingdom	France
Commander
Georg von Bock	Maximilien Foy
Troop strength
450 cavalrymen	approx. 1600 infantrymen
losses
150 men	1400 men

The battle of García Hernández took place one day after the Battle of Salamanca on July 23, 1812 in the vicinity of what is now Garcihernández in Spain .

The heavy cavalry brigade of the British German Legion ( King's German Legion ) under Major General von Bock attacked the French rearguard and smashed three French squares one after the other .

course

Under the direct command of Wellington , the light cavalry brigade under Major General Anson and the heavy Dragoon Brigade of the Legion under Major General von Bock (1st and 2nd Regiment King's German Dragoons) met the well-positioned French rearguard made up of artillery , cavalry and some battalions of infantry who was directly commanded by Brigadier General Maximilien Foy , who after the debacle of Salamanca had taken over the command of the French army instead of the wounded Marmont . Lord Wellington ordered the attack on the enemy cavalry, which withdrew under the attack of Anson's brigade and in the face of the advancing dragoons. The third, left squadron under Rittmeister Gustavus von der Betten spontaneously decided to counter the flank fire of the nearby infantry by attacking them. Von der blankets and Lieutenant Voss died in the hail of bullets from the square and Rittmeister von Uslar-Gleichen took the lead and continued the attack. The dragoons managed to reach the French bayonets in spite of heavy defensive fire. A horse that got too close to the square with its dead rider was hit too late and immediately fell on the kneeling first member of the French infantry, which briefly caused disorder in the rifle line. The attackers took advantage of this, penetrated through the gap into the square and smashed it.

Rittmeister von Reitzenstein was inspired by this success to attack the second square on the ridge with his second squadron. “He was met by strong and destructive defensive fire in which Lieutenant Heugel fell and Lieutenant Tappe was badly wounded. To be sure, the morale of the French infantry was shaken, as they had just seen their comrades overrun in such a terrible way, and when a few anxious individuals left the formation, Reitzenstein hurried in with his willingly following men; the square broke and the greater part of the battalion was cut down or taken prisoner. "

The remnants of the two broken squares formed a third square, which was also broken and completely wiped out by the third squadron under Rittmeister Baron Marschalck and parts of the second under Lieutenant Fumetty.

Another attack on the fourth square formed by the fleeing infantrymen was unsuccessful because the dragoons were too decimated and exhausted. Rittmeister von Uslar was killed and Lieutenant Fumetty wounded in a hail of musket balls and stones. The Dragoons refrained from further attacks.

losses

Four officers died on the British side, including the two German dragoon riders; two lieutenants were wounded. 48 men were killed and 56 injured of the NCOs and men. 67 horses died, 46 were wounded. Six men were taken prisoner and four horses were captured.

consequences

The battle of García Hernandez on July 23, 1812 in Spain. Oil on canvas painted in 1863 by Adolf Northen (1828–1876) owned by the Landesmuseum Hannover. Battle plan.

What is remarkable about this battle is the fact that a pure cavalry unit succeeded in defeating a well-managed infantry unit set up in squares.

Wellington wrote in his report to Bathurst of July 24, 1812 :

"We renewed the pursuit at break of day in the morning with the same troops, and Major General Bock's and Major General Anson's brigades of cavalry, which joined during the night;" and, having crossed the Tormes, we came up with the enemy's rear of cavalry and infantry near La Serna. They were immediately attacked by the 2 brigades of dragoons, and the cavalry fled, leaving the infantry to their fate. I have never witnessed a more gallant charge than was made on the enemy's infantry by the heavy brigade of the King's German Legion, under Major General Bock, which was completely successful; and the whole body of infantry, consisting of 3 battalions of the enemy's 1st division, were made prisoners. "

( “We resumed the chase at dawn with the same troops, and Major General Bocks and Major General Anson's cavalry brigades who had joined us during the night, and after crossing the Tormes, we met near La Serna on the enemy rearguard with cavalry and infantry. They were immediately attacked by two brigades of Dragoons, and the cavalry fled, leaving the infantry to their fate. I have never seen a braver attack on enemy infantry than this led by the heavy brigade of the King's German Legion under Major General Bock, which was absolutely successful; and the entire troop of infantry, consisting of three battalions of the enemy's first division, were captured. " )

García Hernández was a decisive event for the King's German Legion . In recognition of the performance of the Dragoons, the officers of the entire Legion were put on an equal footing with officers serving in the regular British Army retrospectively from the date of their last promotion by a decree of the British War Office dated August 10, 1812.

The Legion's dragoons were given the place of honor when they entered Madrid and led the parade .

literature

• H. Vogt, R. Knötel: Das Deutsche Reiterbuch - Husaren, Dragoons, Cuirassiers , 1895, reprint Melchior Verlag 2006, ISBN 3-939102-83-0
• Beamish, N. Ludlow: History of the King's German Legion , 2 volumes 1832 and 1837. Here: Reprinted by Naval & Military Press, Dallington, East Sussex, 1997, 2 volumes, ISBN 0-9522011-0-0
• Friedrich Engels : Cavalry , London 1858 ( online edition )

Remarks

1. ↑ August Heinrich v. Voss adH Münte (born April 9, 1784, † July 23, 1812) History of the King's German legion Von North Ludlow Beamish, p. 615
2. ↑ Beamish, Volume 2, pp. 84 ff. (Own translation from English)
3. ^ Selections from the Dispatches and General Orders of Field Marshall the Duke of Wellington . John Murray, London 1851, p. 612
4. ↑ See Beamish, Volume 2, p. 86