The unexpected battle that almost broke the siege of Cádiz

The Battle of Barrosa, also known as the Battle of Chiclana or Battle of Cerro del Puerco, took place on 5 March 1811. It was part of an unsuccessful maneuver by an Anglo-Iberian force to break the French siege of Cádiz during the Peninsular War. The overall command of the Anglo-Spanish forces was ceded to General Manuel la Peña, while the Anglo-Portuguese contingent was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham. The Anglo-Portuguese force comprised around 4,000 British troops.

The Allied forces had around 8,000 Spanish troops. General José Pascual de Zayas y Chacón led a force of 4,000 Spanish troops in a sally from Cádiz. A force of Spanish irregulars under General Antonio Begines de los Ríos was ordered to join the main Allied force. However, the French, under the command of Marshal Victor, were aware of the developing threat and reinforced their troops with six companies of voltigeurs to storm the bridgehead entrenchments.

Despite this, the Allied forces were able to repel the French attack, resulting in the capture of a regimental eagle. The Battle of Barrosa was a tactical victory for the British, but the French were able to regroup and reoccupy their siege lines, and the siege remained in force until finally being lifted on 24 August 1812.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons