Editing Battle of Almonacid (section)

==Battle==
===First attacks===
After intense artillery fire, returned in kind by the Spaniards, [[Jean François Leval]] with Polish and German-[[Dutch Brigade (Peninsular War)|Dutch]] divisions attacked the Spanish left wing. The [[Bailén]] and [[Jaén, Spain|Jaén]] battalions of the 3rd Division twice repelled the Poles, but received no reinforcement from the reserve. With the Polish division encouraged by the Germans coming up to their left, the French army was able to storm the vital position of the Cerrojones, even though at great cost (the three Polish regiments making up the division lost 47 officers). The French right was supported by a large body of troops advancing over the level ground at the foot of that hill, carrying out an envelopment on the extreme left, not stopped by a cavalry charge by the horsemen of [[Fernando VII]] and [[Granada]], led by Colonel Antonio Zea and Commander Nicolás Chacón (Captain Francisco Soto died in this charge). The 1st division, in order to confront the Germans, had to withdraw somewhat and to reposition itself diagonally to the rearguard. However, as the centre and right were now retreating as well, under attack by the remaining enemy forces supported by the reserve which had just arrived under [[Dessolles]] and [[Joseph Bonaparte]], this division was itself forced to take refuge on the Castillo hill.

===Start of the battle===
The 4th division was heavily attacked by numerous enemy artillery and could only respond with one horsedrawn battery. Their chief Lieutenant-Colonel, captain of the Artillery, Jose Chacón, soon fell mortally wounded and died from these injuries on 13 August in [[Tembleque]]. Lieutenant-Colonel Alvaro Chacón from this same Corps also died on the battlefield. The regiments of [[Jerez de la Frontera]], [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]] and the Spanish Guards distinguished themselves through their calmness and courage, the second under the command of its colonel [[Brigadier]] [[Francisco Carvajal]]. The cavalry on the right did not pursue the charge launched to contain the French, and thus the French were able to press their attack with continued vigour. The 5th division also yielded the field in a similar manner and it was not long before the enemy also occupied the town and the Castillo hill. There, the Spanish troops were unable to resist the terrible rain of projectiles that the French artillery aimed at them from all sides.

[[Gaspar de Vigodet|Vigodet]]'s division intervened in time to prevent an immediate and disastrous defeat, speedily and skilfully carrying out a change of front, protected by lively fire from the Spanish guns. This manoeuvre contained the pursuit of the disorganised forces of the centre and also restored order on the left, where the Polish and German divisions threatened to surround the line completely and to cut off its retreat. There the 2nd division mounted renewed resistance to the advance of the victors, who then tried everywhere to break through this unexpected obstacle that was preventing them making the most of their victory. A large mass of [[Édouard Jean Baptiste Milhaud|Milhaud]]'s much-feared dragoons charged towards the left, and in that last period of the battle the troops of Vigodet covered themselves in glory. All fought with courage and self-sacrifice: the artillery, firing during withdrawal, covering with shrapnel the heads of the imperial columns; the cavalry, formed by riders of different Corps that went about reuniting the dispersed troops, its steadfastness impressing the very top ranks of the enemy; and the infantry remaining imperturbable amidst the intense fire and the prevailing confusion and disorder.  A squad of grenadiers of the Provincial of Ronda sent by Lieutenant Antonio Espinosa, approaching the enemy horsemen with fixed bayonets, was able to stop them and even to pull away a cannon, which was spiked by their leader. The second lieutenant of artillery, Juan Montenegro, also managed to save a gun of his battery, sacrificing himself for his comrades-in-arms.  Only the unfortunate accident of an explosion among the ammunition carts, frightening the horses, produced some disorder of which the enemy took advantage, harassing and hounding more closely on the final ascents, to stab a few soldiers and to take some of the guns.

===End of the battle===
The French had already taken 2,500 losses and did not continue active pursuit beyond [[Mora, Spain|Mora]]. The defeated Spanish army was able to take the [[Andalusia]] highway and arrive in good order at [[Manzanares, Ciudad Real|Manzanares]]. However, on arriving there, false rumours that enemy forces were in [[Valdepeñas]] (Ciudad Real) caused many of the Spanish to disperse, not stopping until they got to the [[Sierra Morena]]. Spanish losses did not exceed 4,000 men, including those who were killed, wounded and imprisoned. However, among the dead was the commander of the infantry regiment of the first division, Colonel [[Vicente Martínez (soldier)|Vicente Martínez]], and among the wounded was the colonel of the Granada dragoons, [[Diego Martín Ballesteros|Diego Ballesteros]], who remained a prisoner in France until the end of the war.<ref name=martin>{{in lang|es}}. Isabel Sánchez, José Luis. [https://dbe.rah.es/biografias/68403/diego-martin-ballesteros "Diego Martín Ballesteros". ''Diccionario Biográfico electrónico'' (''DB~e'').] [[Real Academia de la Historia]]. Retrieved 19 April 2023.</ref>