Battle of El Bodón The Battle of El Bodón was fought on 25 September 1811 by elements of the Anglo - Portuguese army and elements of the French army during the Peninsular War . Prelude . Soon after the Battle of Fuentes d ' Onoro , the French army withdrew from the northern frontier of Portugal , and the Duke of Wellington , with three divisions of the British Army and a corps of cavalry , blockaded Ciudad Rodrigo . In September 1811 , Marshal Marmont assembled the army of the north , consisting of 60 , 000 infantry and 5 , 000 cavalry , in the neighbourhood of Salamanca , and moved on Ciudad Rodrigo , for the purpose of raising the blockade . Engagement . On the approach of the French force , the British outposts were withdrawn , and Ciudad Rodrigo was relieved . The head - quarters of the Duke of Wellington were at that time established at Fuente Guinaldo , a village about in the rear of Ciudad Rodrigo . The battalion on guard at the headquarters was the 2nd battalion of the 5th Foot was ordered to march to the front and reinforce two brigades of Portuguese artillery and a squadron of cavalry positioned about from Ciudad Rodrigo . About to the right of that location was the village of El Bodón , which was occupied by the third division , under Sir Thomas Picton . The light division occupied the ground between the village of El Bodón and the river Águeda , on which its right rested ; the fourth and only remaining division was in rear of Fuente Guinaldo , occupying different villages , and not brought into position . Major Henry Ridge of the 2nd / 5th Foot recalled : There were two roads leading from Ciudad Rodrigo ; one to Fuente Guinaldo , the most practicable for guns , was to the right of the 2nd / 5th foot while the other passed through the position held by the 2nd / 5th . It was some time before it became clear to the British along which of the two roads the French would advance as the undulating ground masked the French movements . Major Ridge ordered the guns to be unlimbered and the mules harnessed , ready to move at a moment ' s warning and deployed the 2nd / 5th along an elevated ridge , with its right protected by a deep defile . As the French cavalry approached the British position it became clear what their objective was , and the British guns opened fire against the French columns . At this moment the Duke of Wellington arrived , and after a few minutes of reconnoitring , told Major Ridge that he approved of the arrangements he had made , and would order up a brigade of cavalry in support . However , the Duke had hardly time to move to the rear before the British were charged by a large body of cavalry , which for a moment succeeded in capturing the guns . By well - directed running fire from the 2nd / 5th , followed by a charge of bayonets , the guns were retaken , and the French repulsed . Major General Charles Colville arrived with allied reinforcements ( the British 77th Foot , commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Broomhead , and 21st Portuguese regiment commanded by Colonel Bacellar ) , and took command for the allied force . This force , now of about 1 , 500 men , maintained the post for three hours , although frequently charged by French cavalry , and exposed to heavy fire from the guns of a division of infantry which were in reserve . The position was eventually abandoned when the French infantry moved forward , and the allies were forced to retire . As the ground over which the allies retreated was very favourable for cavalry , the allies were forced retired in squares of regiments , and were repeatedly charged , but the French were unable to break into them . During these operations , the French pushed forward a strong body of infantry , which succeeded in cutting off the light division , but by a judicious movement of Major General Craufurd , who crossed the Agueda , that division was saved , and managed a retreat in good order . Aftermath . The Duke of Wellington took up a position in front of Guinaldo , with the three divisions named above , from which , not being tenable , he retired on the following day and posted himself strongly behind the Cob . The French only having supplies for ten days , were obliged to fall back , and then the Anglo - Portuguese army reoccupied nearly the same ground it did before this attack . The following is a copy of the General Order issued by Wellington after the encounter :