25. Battle of Torrelavega - 28th February 1809

Our plan was to hold the line for long enough to let San Román’s division in the south to cross the mountains and join the Army of Asturias, now deployed at the gates of their own province the old Kingdom of Asturias. Then move to the west and Oviedo saving the Army to fight another day.

We held a front of almost 2 miles, and the divisions (from north to south) of Ballesteros/Kevin, Llano Ponte/Mikel and Briaz y Fuy had orders to pull back when pressed. We were to form a battle line further west, on the high ground overlooking the Eltz Fluss.

It was not my intention to fight against a force that seemed almost equal to our own. When we crossed the Eltz Fluss, Ballesteros was already asking for permission to start moving towards Oviedo.

I got reports from officers talking on behalf of their men, battalion, brigade and even divisional commanders pointing out the risk of dissolution for the Army of Asturias if we left the field without fighting allowing the French rascals to take the men’s home towns and villages. Many men would flee from the colors to go home and save what they can.
In the last few months, we were pushed back from within the walls of Miranda de Ebro and started our long retreat, in Santander we had to open the way for the surrounded allied forces taking heavy casualties in the process. It will be better to lose the Army doing some harm to the French invaders than to allow it to break up little by little.



So I ordered all commanders to deploy in good ground and fight. San Román’s (Martin) division arrived deploying on the high ground that was to be our right flank (blue flag), that allowed Briaz y Fuy to move his division in reserve to a central position.

In the center of the Spanish line there was a thin long strip of high ground (white flag) called “Arrowhead Ridge” that was going to be the key of the Spanish position. The divisions of Ballesteros and Llano Ponte linked there and both had deployed some guns on the tip of the arrow, Ballesteros was deployed on top and to the north to the sea, Llano Ponte to the south and linking with San Román.

The French attack began in the south of the line. San Román’s position was the highest point in the battlefield and Gral. Lobo’s brigade supported by the divisional batteries, a brigade from Llano Ponte’s command and some troops and guns from the reserve, repelled the French infantry.
Immediately the frogs put up another attack with additional troops. At that moment, I got reports that a full enemy division supported by cavalry was advancing aggressively towards Ballesteros in our far left so I left San Román still full of doubts about his chances of holding for long and rode fast to Arrowhead ridge.

I had deployed the reserves in echelon by brigades along the crest of Arrowhead ridge behind the front line. When I arrived there, Ballesteros infantry was already engaged with the enemy on the coast plain north of the ridge. It seemed that two more French brigades supported by four squadrons of chasseurs and three of dragoons were advancing towards the top of the ridge.

In the confusing fight that developed for Arrowhead ridge, the French infantry pushed hard closely supported by their cavalry against elements of Ballesteros and Llano Ponte’s divisions.
Led by their officers from the front the French skillfully charged Spanish squares with infantry and battalions in line were overrun by their horsemen. Gral. Briaz y Fuy in reserve was using his battalions to feed the fire line replacing those units retreating or routing.

San Román reported that he had pushed back some French attacks but his men were beginning to feel the strain. Asking whether we had a fallback position. The rest of the army were heavily engaged with enemy cavalry so it was not the right time to think about that.
In the center the French slowly but steadily were pushing us back. On the south side of the ridge Llano Ponte’s infantry and guns were holding fast, but on top and north of the ridge the French were getting the advantage.

In the south it looked that the French were pulling back, San Román confirmed this point and warned that maybe they were going to reinforce their attack in the north. An intercepted courier message told us the attack had not gone well for them.

I thought the French were going to kick us out of Arrowhead ridge, the reserve was running out of infantry the French advance was unstoppable. Coronel Dix was ordered to use his cavalry against some French infantry that had advanced trying to outflank to the north of the ridge, the 2º Escuadrón de Dragones de Mantilla distinguished themselves in the charge that took place, sweeping the French first line from north to south and pushing the French line 300 yards back giving a needed breath to the hard pressed infantry.

Part of Gral. Ballesteros division lost touch with the rest of the Army pushing too hard against a French brigade on the coast plain, the French cavalry commander switched his squadrons to the north of the ridge and got those brave troops in their rear right flank breaking and routing most of them within minutes.

I got a message from San Román saying that he was going to be forced to pull back to the west. An intercepted French courier said something about a 3rd division that had not moved yet.
Evaluating the situation, I felt that we had done well against a French force that was at least equal to our own and we were holding out. But I realized that our troops were at the end of their tether. There was still a strong force of enemy infantry on the slopes of the ridge, we didn’t know anything about the numerous French that retreated from the southern attack, Ballesteros division was out of action. Finally, I was pretty sure we couldn’t stand another big attack on Arrowhead ridge so I made the decision to retreat to Oviedo and informed my commanders.

San Román complained that it would be very hard for the men to start a retreat when they were not defeated, after an exchange of messages he reassured me that the right flank was holding. Llano Ponte said that he had a nice position for his guns and was doing damage to the French. We’ll wait a bit I thought.

After that the French cavalry started to pull back to the east. We organized a counterattack with the reserve cavalry plus Llano Ponte’s division and the remnants of Ballesteros’ men led by the 1º Batallón de Provinciales de Castropol. It was a success and we recovered the tip of the ridge. The battle died away while the French pulled back their last units to the east of the Eltz Fluss with our guns shooting at them.

In this battle I realized how long can be an hour of fight in this game and I don’t mean the lag.        

It was a very tense and busy battle for me, I really enjoyed it, thank you everyone. Congratulations to all the Spanish Commanders for their excellent job.

Llano Ponte holding the center of the line and supporting right and left as required.
San Román holding the attack of 2 French divisions.
Ballesteros doing his best with his conscript battalions, voluntarios and provinciales.