Editing Battle of Uclés (1809) (section)

==Battle==
===Prelude===
Victor marched forth on 12 January with 12,000 infantry and 3,500 cavalry in the divisions of Ruffin, Villatte, Latour-Maubourg, and the I Corps light cavalry. Learning of the enemy's approach, Venegas withdrew from Tarancón to Uclés where he was joined by Antonio Senra's brigade. He requested further instructions from the commander of the ''Army of the Center'', but none were forthcoming. Instead, Infantado sent three or four battalions of reinforcements and advised his lieutenant that he was on the way. However, he did not give any date for his appearance. Venegas had reservations about offering battle to Victor. But, perhaps swayed by the favorable defensive position at Uclés, he decided to stand his ground with approximately 9,500 foot soldiers,{{sfn|Oman|1995|pp=8–9}} 1,800 horsemen, and five cannons, one of which was broken down. Though some of the regiments were veterans of Bailén, many of the units had shaky morale.{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=10}} 

===Forces===
{{main|Battle of Uclés (1809) order of battle}}
On 11 January 1809, Infantado's 21,216-strong army consisted of the 3,929-man Vanguard under [[Major General]] [[José María de la Cueva, 14th Duke of Alburquerque]], the 4,295-strong Reserve led by [[Lieutenant General]] [[Manuel la Peña]], the 5,121-man 1st Division commanded by Lieutenant General [[Antonio Malet, Marqués de Coupigny]], the 5,288-strong 2nd Division under Major General Conde de Orgaz, approximately 2,800 cavalry, 383 sappers, and 386 artillerists. Venegas' force was a collection of units drawn piecemeal from all five major units of the ''Army of the Center''. The Vanguard contributed 2,848 men, the Reserve 1,634, the 1st Division 2,804, the 2nd Division 1,917, and the cavalry 1,814. There were also 383 sappers and about 100 artillerists.{{sfn|Oman|1995|pp=621–622}} Gaston Bodart stated that the Spanish took 11,300 men into battle.{{sfn|Bodart|1908|p=393}} Historian David Gates wrote that there were 11,980 Spanish troops, including 9,500 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and 480 gunners with 4 guns.{{sfn|Gates|2002|p=117}}

According to [[Charles Oman]] and [[Digby Smith]], the French had 12,000 infantry and 3,500 cavalry.{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=9}}{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=278}} Oman also asserted that the I Corps artillery had 48 field pieces manned by 1,523 gunners.{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=624}} Smith stated that there were four foot artillery batteries, two per infantry division, plus two additional horse artillery batteries at Uclés.{{sfn|Smith|1998|p=277}} The three dragoon brigades were commanded by Generals of Brigade Perreimond, Ignace Laurent d'Oullenbourg, and [[Alexandre, vicomte Digeon]].{{sfn|Smith|1998|pp=277–278}} Gates stated that Victor commanded 16,300 men at Uclés. Of these, Ruffin led 5,000 troops, Villatte 7,000, Latour-Maubourg 2,500, General of Brigade [[Louis-Chrétien Carrière, Baron de Beaumont]] 1,300, and the artillery 500 with 32 guns.{{sfn|Gates|2002|p=117}} Bodart wrote that the French engaged 15,500 men in the battle.{{sfn|Bodart|1908|p=393}} General of Division [[Pierre Belon Lapisse]]'s 2nd Division was on detached duty.{{sfn|Oman|1995|pp=1–2}}

===Action===
Venegas strung out his soldiers along a northeast to southwest ridge. Three infantry battalions and four cavalry regiments formed an advance guard to watch the approach of the French from Tribaldos village. Four battalions defended the town of Uclés in the center with remaining cavalry and the four guns in front. Eight battalions held the right flank, while six battalions deployed on the left flank. Venegas held only a single battalion in reserve; the rest of his units formed a single overextended line. On 13 January, Victor marched from Tarancón at dawn in two columns. Victor with Villatte's and most of Latour-Maubourg's divisions took the right-hand road, which was more direct. Ruffin's division and some cavalry took the left-hand road. Villatte quickly drove the advance guard out of Tribaldos; it fell back to the main Spanish position. After getting a good look at the Spanish line, Victor ordered Ruffin to sweep wide to the left and take Venegas in right flank and rear.{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=10}}

[[File:Général Eugène Casimir Villatte.png|thumb|left|upright=0.7|alt=Black and white print of a man in a dark coat with a white shirt. He has a strong chin and wavy hair and looks to the right.|Eugène Villatte]]
Victor deployed Villatte's division and the cavalry, a total of about 7,000 foot soldiers and 2,500 horsemen. In the center, a battery unlimbered and began bombarding the Spanish cavalry and Uclés. The dragoons were posted behind the artillery. Meanwhile, the 94th and 95th Line{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=11}} under General of Brigade [[Jacques-Pierre-Louis Puthod]]{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=54}} made a wide sweep to the right. Ascending the end of the ridge where the slope was less steep, Puthod's six battalions attacked the Spanish left flank and began driving it back. From his vantage point at the monastery in Uclés, Venegas ordered some units from the right flank to go to the assistance of his imperiled left. However, the French attack proceeded swiftly and crumpled up the Spanish left flank before the reinforcements could give any help. Puthod's troops soon reached the walls of Uclés.{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=11}}

When Victor saw the success of his right wing, he ordered Villatte's left wing brigade{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=11}} under General of Brigade [[Michel-Marie Pacthod]]{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=54}} to attack the Spanish right flank. Since many of the defending units had been sent to the left, Pacthod's assault easily reached the top of the ridge. Shaken by the obvious reverse on the left flank, the right flank troops offered little resistance. Soon, Venegas's entire force was retreating from the field. The cavalry seems to have fought hardly at all leaving only two or three battalions under General [[Pedro Agustín Girón]] to act as the [[rear guard]]. Meanwhile, Ruffin's division lost its way and made a wider march than intended. Though Ruffin was late to the field, he and his troops fortuitously arrived squarely in the Spanish rear.{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=11}} Latour-Maubourg's pursuing dragoons drove Venegas' hapless soldiers right into the arms of Ruffin's nine battalions. The nimble Spanish cavalry largely escaped along with some left flank infantry, while Girón's men broke out between two French regiments. But the majority of the Spanish foot soldiers were trapped and forced to surrender.{{sfn|Oman|1995|p=12}}