06/04/2026
The Battle of Salamanca on 22 Jul 1812. In which the 2nd of foot (The Queens Royal Regiment/ West Surrey) participated as part of Hinde's Brigade.
The Battle of Salamanca (July 22, 1812) was one of the most decisive engagements of the Peninsular War. It saw the Anglo-Portuguese Army, led by Arthur Wellesley (the future Duke of Wellington), deliver a crushing defeat to the French "Army of Portugal" under Marshal Auguste Marmont.
🛡️ Strategic Context
For weeks, both armies had been maneuvering across the Spanish countryside, searching for an advantage without committing to a full-scale battle. Wellington was actually preparing to retreat toward Portugal, fearing his supply lines were at risk, when Marmont made a critical tactical error.
⚔️ The Turning Point
Believing the British were in full retreat, Marmont extended his left wing too quickly and too far to try and cut off Wellington’s path. This created a dangerous gap in the French line.
Wellington, famously observing the scene while eating a chicken leg, reportedly threw the bone away and shouted:
"By God, that will do!"
Key Phases of the Battle
The Sudden Strike: Wellington launched a lightning-fast attack on the overextended French left. In less than an hour, the French flank was shattered.
The Cavalry Charge: Major General Le Marchant led a heavy cavalry charge that rode down several battalions of French infantry, effectively breaking their morale and formation.
French Command Chaos: Early in the fighting, Marshal Marmont was severely wounded by a shell fragment. His second-in-command was also wounded shortly after, leaving the French army leaderless during the most critical moments.
The Battle of Salamanca changed the momentum of the war. It proved that Wellington was not just a defensive general but a master of maneuver and offensive warfare.
As a direct result of the victory, the Allies were able to liberate Madrid for the first time, and the French grip on Spain was permanently weakened. It also boosted the morale of the Sixth Coalition in Eastern Europe, showing that Napoleon's forces were no longer invincible.
