Battle of Uclés ( 1809 ) The Battle of Uclés ( 13 January 1809 ) saw an Imperial French corps led by Marshal Claude Perrin Victor attack a Spanish force under Francisco Javier Venegas . The French easily crushed their outnumbered foes , capturing over half of the Spanish infantry . Uclés is located in the province of Cuenca east of Tarancón and southeast of Madrid . The action occurred during what is called the Peninsular War in English - speaking countries and the Spanish War of Independence in Spain . The war was part of a larger struggle known as the Napoleonic Wars . Emperor Napoleon invaded Spain with a huge army in late 1808 , scattered the Spanish forces , and seized Madrid . However , the appearance of a British army commanded by John Moore caused the French emperor to order his army to pursue the British into northwest Spain . With their enemies spread thin , the Spanish armies began to revive . In late December 1808 , the " Army of the Center " led by Pedro de Alcántara Álvarez de Toledo , 13th Duke of the Infantado advanced slowly toward Madrid , causing alarm among the scanty French forces guarding the capital . The cautious Infantado sent his lieutenant Venegas with a strong vanguard to annoy the French . After Venegas won a minor action at Tarancón , Victor concentrated his corps and marched against him in mid - January 1809 . Without instructions or support from Infantado , Venegas unwisely tried to hold a strong position at Uclés . Victor overwhelmed the Spanish defenders with one division and herded many of them into the arms of his second division which had marched around their flank . Gathering up Venegas ' survivors , Infantado led his crippled army into the mountains but not before losing much of his artillery . Blamed for the fiasco , Infantado was relieved of command . The next action in the area was the Battle of Ciudad - Real in March . Background . After the Dos de Mayo Uprising and the subsequent disaster at the Battle of Bailén , the French occupying armies in Spain were forced to pull back behind the Ebro River in the northeast . Shocked and enraged at the turn of events , Napoleon ordered 130 , 000 veteran soldiers to march into Spain . The French emperor planned to unite the reinforcements with the troops already there and lead them to conquer Spain and Portugal once and for all . Meanwhile , the Spanish people had been deceived by their relatively easy successes and believed that the struggle was almost over . The Spanish generals and politicians began to squabble among themselves . By 10 October 1808 , Napoleon had 244 , 125 soldiers massed in eight army corps , the cavalry reserve , the Imperial Guard , and other formations for the purpose of conquering Spain . In November 1808 , the Napoleonic armies struck with crushing force and the Spanish defenses unraveled in battles at Burgos , Espinosa , Tudela , and Somosierra . On 1 December , Madrid meekly capitulated to Napoleon . The French emperor reinstalled his brother Joseph Bonaparte as king and began rewriting the laws . He intended to send armies to seize Seville in the south and reconquer Portugal at the first opportunity . However , a new enemy appeared on the scene to upset Napoleon ' s plans . On 11 December 1808 , General John Moore led a British army numbering 22 , 500 foot soldiers , 2 , 500 horsemen , and 66 artillery pieces northeast from Salamanca . Moore had written to a fellow general , " if the bubble bursts and Madrid falls , we shall have to run for it . " Soon after , Moore learned that Napoleon had seized Madrid and that over 200 , 000 Imperial French troops were in the field . Nevertheless , the British general decided to strike at Marshal Nicolas Soult ' s isolated II Corps in the north of Spain . When the British cavalry routed Soult ' s horsemen at Sahagun on 21 December , the French general was completely surprised . Meanwhile , Napoleon found out what was going on and ordered 80 , 000 troops to march north to annihilate the British . Getting news of the avalanche coming his way , Moore led his army toward Corunna in northwest Spain . Though ultimately the British army was safely evacuated , Moore was slain at the Battle of Corunna on 16 January 1809 and 5 , 000 of his soldiers died during the mid - winter retreat . Because of his unsuccessful effort to destroy Moore ' s army , Napoleon ' s plans for conquering Spain and Portugal were temporarily sidetracked . Napoleon personally quit Spain on 19 January 1809 and never returned . By the 23rd he was in Paris , preparing for the next war with the Austrian Empire . Though perhaps 75 , 000 Frenchmen had died in the struggle so far , the emperor hoped that his brother Joseph and his marshals would soon complete the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula . This hope proved to be a vain one . Operations . The month of December saw General of Division Laurent Gouvion Saint - Cyr drub the Spanish forces of Captain General Juan Miguel de Vives y Feliu at the Battle of Molins de Rey while Marshal Jean Lannes began the Second Siege of Zaragoza . With Napoleon and his main field army away chasing Moore , the Imperial troops holding Madrid were too weak to mount any offensives . In total , there were 28 , 000 infantry , 8 , 000 cavalry , and 90 guns in Marshal Claude Perrin Victor ' s I Corps , Marshal François Joseph Lefebvre ' s IV Corps , and the cavalry divisions of Generals of Division Antoine Lasalle , Marie Victor de Latour - Maubourg , and Édouard Jean Baptiste Milhaud . Not counted was King Joseph ' s Royal Guard consisting of four battalions and one cavalry regiment of Frenchmen plus two small regiments of Spanish deserters . The cavalry formed the outer line of defense . Latour - Maubourg posted a cavalry brigade each in Tarancón , Ocaña , and Madridejos . To the west , Milhaud ' s troopers patrolled the area around Talavera de la Reina . Farthest west were Lasalle ' s horsemen watching Almaraz where there was an important bridge across the Tagus River . Victor defended Aranjuez with General of Division Eugène - Casimir Villatte ' s division while Lefebvre held Talavera with the divisions of Generals of Division Horace François Sébastiani and Jean - Baptiste Cyrus de Valence . The 55th Line Infantry Regiment of General of Division Jean - Joseph , marquis Dessolles ' s absent reserve division was posted at Guadalajara . Aside from the Royal Guards , Madrid was garrisoned by General of Division François Amable Ruffin with an I Corps division and General of Division Jean François Leval with a IV Corps division . The " Army of the Center " ended its retreat at Cuenca on 10 December 1808 . Its new commander General Pedro de Alcántara Álvarez de Toledo , 13th Duke of the Infantado allowed his soldiers to rest but was forced to execute three soldiers . One , a lieutenant had refused to march and positioned his artillery battery to fire on the troops who were obeying orders . The remnant of the 1st Division was sent home to Valencia province to recruit , while the 2nd , 3rd , and 4th Divisions were reorganized into four divisions including a Vanguard and a Reserve . Many low - strength line regiments were consolidated from three battalions into one or two . Stragglers and reinforcements swelled the ranks . The soldiers ' spirits rose when a brigade under General Conde de Alacha Lilli marched into camp , having escaped from Napoleon ' s armies . Hearing that the emperor had gone off to the north , Infantado decided to launch an offensive toward Madrid before his reorganization was completed . Spanish offensive . On 25 December 1808 , Infantado sent General Francisco Javier Venegas with the Vanguard and most of the cavalry to seize Tarancón while Brigadier General Senra and 4 , 000 soldiers moved on Aranjuez . Serna found Villatte ' s division at Aranjuez and declined to attack , an action for which he was harshly criticized by Infantado . Meanwhile , Venegas managed to encircle General of Brigade André Thomas Perreimond and his dragoon brigade in Tarancón . At the last moment , the French detected what was afoot and hurriedly saddled up their horses . Perreimond decided to break out at once . When the dragoons charged the Spanish force that had gotten behind the town , the infantry were forced to form squares . Perreimond ' s troopers then rode between the squares to safety , but not before 50 to 60 saddles were emptied . Because the Spanish cavalry was late into action , the two dragoon regiments got away without further damage . Farther to the west , on December 24 Lefebvre marched to seize the bridge at Almaraz as instructed . His soldiers captured the bridge and four cannons in a coup , dispersing the Spanish defenders . At this time , the marshal made a remarkable error . Leaving only Lasalle ' s cavalry and two battalions on the Tagus , he marched northeast to Ávila , ignoring repeated instructions from King Joseph to desist . Arriving at Ávila on 5 January , Lefebvre ' s corps was completely removed from the defensive lines around Madrid . Infuriated with his disobedient subordinate , Napoleon removed Lefebvre from command and gave the IV Corps to Sébastiani . With the IV Corps out of position , revolts breaking out , and the " Army of the Center " threatening Madrid , Joseph and his adviser Marshal Jean Baptiste Jourdan were in a panic . Only Villatte and Latour - Maubourg with 9 , 000 soldiers stood between Infantado and the capital . But , instead of pressing his advantage , the Spanish commander became inert between 26 December and 11 January . Infantado seems to have spent his time concocting fantastic strategical schemes while leaving his lieutenant Venegas without instructions . To support the " Army of the Center " , a 6 , 000 - man Spanish division under General Marquis del Palacio moved north from the Sierra Morena to Villaharta . While Infantado dithered , Joseph and Jourdan moved swiftly against the local insurrections . The 27th Light Infantry put down the rebellion in Chinchón with extreme brutality ; all the men in the town were massacred . Colmenar Viejo suffered also , with numerous inhabitants being executed . Joseph ordered Victor to shift east from Aranjuez to Arganda del Rey to block the road from Tarancón . On 8 January , the division of Dessolles arrived in Madrid followed in two days by the return of the IV Corps from Ávila . These heavy reinforcements allowed Napoleon ' s defensive scheme around Madrid to be reestablished . Reinforced by the Dutch Brigade , Leval ' s division was sent to garrison Talavera while Valence ' s division was ordered to hold Toledo . The divisions of Dessolles and Sébastiani became the Madrid garrison . Victor was sent Ruffin ' s division as a reinforcement and ordered to attack . Battle . Victor marched forth on 12 January with 12 , 000 infantry and 3 , 500 cavalry in the divisions of Ruffin , Villatte , Latour - Maubourg , and the I Corps light cavalry . Learning of the enemy ' s approach , Venegas withdrew from Tarancón to Uclés where he was joined by Senra ' s brigade . He requested further instructions from the commander of the " Army of the Center " but none were forthcoming . Instead , Infantado sent three or four battalions of reinforcements and advised his lieutenant that he was on the way . However , he did not give any date for his appearance . Venegas had reservations about offering battle to Victor . But , perhaps swayed by the favorable defensive position at Uclés , he decided to stand his ground with approximately 9 , 500 foot soldiers , 1 , 800 horsemen , and five cannon , one of which was broken down . Though some of the regiments were veterans of Bailén , many of the units had shaky morale . Another authority credited Venegas with 9 , 500 infantry , 2 , 000 cavalry , and 480 artillerists for a total of 11 , 980 troops . On 11 January 1809 , Infantado ' s 21 , 216 - strong army consisted of the 3 , 929 - man Vanguard under Major General José María de la Cueva , 14th Duke of Albuquerque , the 4 , 295 - strong Reserve led by Lieutenant General Manuel la Peña , the 5 , 121 - man 1st Division commanded by Lieutenant General Antonio Malet , Marqués de Coupigny , the 5 , 288 - strong 2nd Division under Major General Conde de Orgaz , approximately 2 , 800 cavalry , 383 sappers , and 386 artillerists . Venegas ' force was a collection of units drawn piecemeal from all five major units of the " Army of the Center " . The Vanguard contributed 2 , 848 men , the Reserve 1 , 634 , the 1st Division 2 , 804 , the 2nd Division 1 , 917 , and the cavalry 1 , 814 . There were also 383 sappers and about 100 artillerists . The units from the Vanguard were the " Murcia " ( 652 ) , 1st Battalion of " Cantabria " ( 315 ) , " Jaen Provincial " ( 342 ) , " Chinchilla Provincial " ( 354 ) , " Catalan Volunteers " ( 499 ) , " Barbastro Cazadores " ( 221 ) , and " Campo Mayor " ( 465 ) Regiments . From the Reserve were the 1st Battalion of " Walloon Guard " ( 425 ) , 1st Battalion of " Irlanda " ( 377 ) , and " Andalucia Provincial Grenadiers " ( 522 ) Regiments . From the 1st Division came the 1st and 3rd Battalions of " Africa " ( 771 ) , 1st and 3rd Battalions of " Burgos " ( 519 ) , " 3rd of Seville " ( 106 ) , " Cuenca Provincial " ( 626 ) , " Navas de Tolosa " ( 542 ) , and " Cadiz Tiradores " ( 818 ) Regiments . The 2nd Division contributed the 1st , 2nd , and 3rd Battalions of " Military Orders " ( 848 ) , " 4th of Seville " ( 224 ) , " Toro Provincial " ( 265 ) , " Bailen " ( 472 ) , and " Carmona Volunteers " ( 456 ) Regiments . The mounted contingent included the " Castalla " Dragoon ( 125 ) , and " Borbon " ( 119 ) , " España " ( 342 ) , " Lusitania " ( 158 ) , " Pavia " ( 428 ) , " Principe " ( 141 ) , " Reyna " ( 276 ) , " Santiago " ( 74 ) , and " Tejas " ( 131 ) Cavalry Regiments . The strength and composition of the Imperial units that would fight at Uclés were as follows . Note that the list includes men present under arms and is from a 1 February 1809 state , which was two weeks after the battle . Ruffin ' s 5 , 429 - man 1st Division of the I Corps comprised three battalions each of the 9th Light , 24th Line , and 96th Line Infantry Regiments . Villatte ' s 6 , 376 - strong 3rd Division of the I Corps was made up of three battalions each of the 27th Light , 63rd Line , 94th Line , and 95th Line Infantry Regiments . General of Brigade Louis Chrétien Carrière Beaumont led the 1 , 386 troopers of the corps cavalry , the 2nd Hussar and 5th Chasseurs à Cheval Regiments . The I Corps had 48 field pieces manned by 1 , 523 gunners plus 487 sabers of the " Westphalian " Chevau - léger Regiment . There were four foot artillery batteries , two per infantry division , plus two additional horse artillery batteries . General of Division Pierre Belon Lapisse ' s 2nd Division was on detached duty . Latour - Maubourg ' s 2 , 527 - strong 1st Dragoon Division included the 1st , 2nd , 4th , 9th , 14th , and 26th Dragoon Regiments . The three brigades were commanded by Generals of Brigade Perreimond , Ignace Laurent D ' Oullemberg , and Alexandre , vicomte Digeon . Another source stated that Victor directed 16 , 300 men at Uclés . Of these , Ruffin led 5 , 000 troops , Villatte 7 , 000 , Latour - Maubourg 2 , 500 , Beaumont 1 , 300 , and the artillery 500 . Venegas strung out his soldiers along a northeast to southwest ridge . Three infantry battalions and four cavalry regiments formed an advance guard to watch the approach of the French from Tribaldos village . Four battalions defended the town of Uclés in the center with remaining cavalry and the four guns in front . Eight battalions held the right flank , while six battalions deployed on the left flank . Venegas held only a single battalion in reserve ; the rest of his units formed a single overextended line . On 13 January , Victor marched from Tarancón at dawn in two columns . Victor with Villatte ' s and most of Latour - Maubourg ' s divisions took the right - hand road , which was more direct . Ruffin ' s division and some cavalry took the left - hand road . Villatte quickly drove the advance guard out of Tribaldos ; it fell back to the main Spanish position . After getting a good look at the Spanish line , Victor ordered Ruffin to swing to the right and take Venegas in flank and rear . Victor deployed Villatte ' s division and the cavalry , a total of about 7 , 000 foot soldiers and 2 , 500 horsemen . In the center , a battery unlimbered and began bombarding the Spanish cavalry and Uclés . The dragoons were posted behind the artillery . Meanwhile , the 94th and 95th Line under General of Brigade Jacques - Pierre - Louis Puthod made a wide sweep to the right . Ascending the end of the ridge where the slope was less steep , Puthod ' s six battalions attacked the Spanish left flank and began driving it back . From his vantage point at the monastery in Uclés , Venegas ordered some units from the right flank to go to the assistance of his imperilled left . However , the French attack proceeded swiftly and crumpled up the Spanish left flank before the reinforcements could give any help . Puthod ' s troops soon reached the walls of Uclés . When Victor saw the success of his right wing , he ordered Villatte ' s left wing brigade under General of Brigade Michel - Marie Pacthod to attack the Spanish right flank . Since many of the defending units had been sent to the left , Pacthod ' s assault easily reached the top of the ridge . Shaken by the obvious reverse on the left flank , the right flank troops offered little resistance . Soon , Venegas ' s entire force was retreating from the field . The cavalry seems to have fought hardly at all leaving only two or three battalions under General Pedro Agustín Girón to act as the rear guard . Meanwhile , Ruffin ' s division lost its way and made a wider march than intended . Though Ruffin was late to the field , he and his troops fortuitously arrived squarely in the Spanish rear . Latour - Maubourg ' s pursuing dragoons drove Venegas ' hapless soldiers right into the arms of Ruffin ' s nine battalions . The nimble Spanish cavalry largely escaped along with some left flank infantry , while Girón ' s men broke out between two French regiments . But the majority of the Spanish foot soldiers were trapped and forced to surrender . Results . The French captured four generals , 17 colonels , 306 lower - ranking officers , and 5 , 560 men for a total of 5 , 887 prisoners . The I Corps also seized four artillery pieces and 20 colors . In addition , the Spanish suffered losses of perhaps 1 , 000 killed and wounded . Victor admitted a loss of 150 though another source gave a total of 200 French casualties . Despite their easy triumph , the French soldiery got out of control after the battle , sacking Uclés and murdering 69 civilians . In particular , monks were singled out for slaughter for allegedly firing on French soldiers . The prisoners were also treated cruelly , according to two French eyewitnesses . When the Spaniards were marched to Madrid , their captors shot down those who were unable to keep up ; 30 or more men per day were put to death in this manner . Meanwhile , Infantado with his remaining 9 , 000 soldiers set out from Cuenca on 12 January . By that evening he reached La Horcajada , which is east of Uclés . Continuing their advance on the 13th , Infantado ' s men came across the remnants of Venegas ' force and got word of the disaster . The army commander called for an immediate withdrawal to Cuenca . Gathering up his wagon train and supplies , Infantado abandoned his base and led his troops to Chinchilla de Monte - Aragón where he arrived on 20 January . However , the Spanish guns were delayed by bad weather and swollen streams . Protected by only one cavalry regiment , the artillery convoy was intercepted by Digeon ' s brigade at Tórtola de Henares on the 18th . In all , 15 artillery pieces were seized by the French dragoons . After occupying Cuenca , Victor determined that the " Army of the Center " was out of reach . The marshal then went looking for Palacios ' division at Villaharta . When Palacios heard of the Uclés debacle , he withdrew to the Sierra Morena . Finding that his prey escaped , Victor occupied Madridejos . Deeming the Spanish people sufficiently cowed by the victory at Uclés , Napoleon finally allowed his brother Joseph to make a triumphal entry into his capital at Madrid . The spectacle occurred on 22 January after which King Joseph entered his palace . Under threat , Joseph ' s Spanish subjects swore fealty to their new king . After marching to join Palacios at the Despeñaperros Pass , Infantado was removed from command for failing to support Venegas . General Tomás de Morla y Pacheco , 3rd Conde de Cartaojal assumed command of the " Army of the Center " . The next action was the Battle of Ciudad - Real on 27 March 1809 .