Battle of Corunna
In early October 1808, Sir John Moore took command of a British force numbering 30,000 men in Portugal. The political landscape had shifted dramatically following the Convention of Sintra scandal. Generals Dalrymple, Burrard, and Wellesley were recalled from their posts. This administrative chaos left the army immobilized while Napoleon prepared his response. By November, Moore advanced into Spain to assist Spanish armies against French invaders. However, the Spanish social fabric was crumbling under internal tensions. Local juntas interfered with central government efforts and undermined the war effort. Napoleon responded with an offensive described as an avalanche of fire and steel. He led 278,670 men drawn up on the Ebro river. The British forces found themselves dangerously dispersed across the region. Baird's contingent sat at Astorga to the north while Moore held Salamanca. Hope positioned himself near Madrid with all cavalry and artillery units. On the 15th of December, Moore seized an opportunity to attack Soult's scattered corps near Carrión. He hoped this diversion might divert Napoleon's main forces. The movement answered completely as a diversion but offered no strategic advantage. Moore halted for two days allowing Soult to concentrate his troops. When Napoleon realized he could not bring Moore to battle, he left the pursuit to Soult. The Emperor took 45,000 men back to Madrid to address Austrian threats. Napoleon decided to leave Spain entirely to attend to other pressing matters.
The retreat covered more than one hundred miles over good roads while Napoleon marched a hundred and sixty-four miles on bad roads. British troops suffered from dreadful conditions of cold and snow during their march. Exhausting marches marked every step of their withdrawal through mountainous terrain. Privation and suffering plagued both armies throughout the campaign. Discipline broke down repeatedly among Moore's soldiers. British troops looted Benavente on the 28th of December. Hundreds of drunken soldiers were abandoned on the 2nd of January at Bembibre. These stragglers were captured or killed by pursuing French dragoons. Paget attempted to hang three British soldiers for looting in a Spanish town. He was forced to abandon the executions after French troops neared. Rain storms caused confusion that made the British main body partially lose order. Thousands of men straggled away from their units. Some 500 British were captured by pursuing French dragoons. Several hundred more stragglers were captured by Franceschi's cavalry on the 10th. Oman records losses exceeding 1,000 men between Lugo and Betanzos. The loss of troops during this phase exceeded all preceding retreat casualties. The French also suffered severe fatigue and deprivation during their pursuit. They had to travel over ground already crossed by the British army. Soult's infantry struggled to keep up with the cavalry divisions. Most infantrymen remained well behind the cavalry which included divisions under La Houssaye, Lorge, and Franceschi-Delonne. Napoleon led his army over 10 days by forced marches despite winter blizzard conditions. He reached Astorga on the 1st of January with 80,000 men.
On the 16th of January 1809, day broke with French forces positioned on heights overlooking the valley. Moore planned to continue embarkation if Soult did not attack. By afternoon he considered an attack unlikely and ordered first divisions toward the port. At 2:00 pm he learned that the French were attacking. Soult deployed 11 heavy guns upon a rocky outcrop to fire upon the British right flank. Delaborde's division took position on the right while Merle held the center. Mermet positioned himself on the left side of the line. Light field guns distributed across the front faced limitations from broken ground and sunken roads. The French cavalry deployed further west near open country leading to Corunna. Baird's division formed on the right while Hope's division took the left. Paget served as reserve at the village Airis. Mermet's infantry advanced quickly pushing British picquets back. They carried the town of Elviña and attacked heights beyond it. The first French column divided into two brigades under Gaulois and Jardon. These units attacked Baird's front and flank simultaneously. A third brigade pushed up the valley attempting to turn the British flank. Lahoussaye's dragoons moved with difficulty over broken ground and walls. The terrain proved unsuitable for cavalry operations despite their presence. The fiercest fighting occurred in and around Elviña where possession changed hands several times. Stone walls and hollow roads broke up the ground around the village. Moore remained in this area directing the battle personally.
Moore had just rallied the 42nd Regiment that had fallen back from Elviña. He ordered the Guards to advance on the village when a cannonball struck him. The projectile hit his left shoulder carrying it away with part of the collar-bone. His arm hung only by flesh and muscles above the armpit. He remained conscious and composed throughout several hours of dying. The second French advance drove them back through Elviña once more. Mermet threw in his last reserves while one of Merle's brigades attacked the east side. Manningham's brigade countered this move creating a long fire-fight between regiments. The 81st Regiment was forced out of the fight and relieved by the 2/59th. Fighting petered out late in the day as both sides finally retired. For a time the British were without a leader until General John Hope took command. Baird was also seriously wounded earlier in the battle and had to retire from the field. This hampered attempts at counterattack in the crucial sector of Elviña. Moore survived long enough to learn that his men had successfully repelled French attacks. Before being wounded he managed to give important orders strengthening the defensive line around Elviña. The enemy continued maintaining their position throughout the line despite two fatal events. General Baird was shot in the arm with a bullet while Moore was mortally wounded.
At around 9:00 pm on the 16th of January, the British began silent withdrawal from their lines. They left behind strong picquets who maintained watch fires throughout the night. At daybreak on the 17th of January picquets withdrew behind the rearguard and went aboard ship. By morning most of the army had embarked onto waiting vessels. When Soult perceived the British had left the ridge he posted six guns on heights above southern bay end. By midday French forces could fire upon outlying ships causing panic among some transports. Four transports ran aground and were burned to prevent capture. Fire from warships silenced the battery before it could cause further damage. On the 18th of January the British rearguard embarked as Spanish garrison under General Alcedo held the citadel. The fleet remained well out to sea before surrendering occurred. The city of Corunna was taken by the French along with two Spanish regiments. Five hundred horses and considerable military stores including numerous cannon fell into French hands. A week later Soult's forces captured Ferrol an even greater arsenal across the bay. They took eight ships of the line plus three frigates and numerous corvettes. Over 1,000 cannon and 20,000 new muskets were captured at this location. The last transports left in the morning under active French cannon fire. Nearly 2,000 cavalry horses and up to 4,000 artillery horses were slaughtered to prevent their capture.
The British army faced humiliation through retreat in terrible winter conditions that wrought havoc with health and morale. Christopher Hibbert stated that 35,000 men had crossed the Spanish frontier while only 8,000 returned. The Times declared the event a shameful disaster despite claims of courage and endurance. Charles Oman contended that Marshal Soult's attack provided Moore opportunity to redeem honor through defensive victory. The Count of Toreno echoed this view as contemporary author of classic Spanish history. Moore was buried wrapped in a military cloak within ramparts of the town. His funeral is commemorated in poem by Charles Wolfe titled The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna. Charles Esdaile wrote that Moore's decision to retreat was sensible but resulted in immense damage to Anglo-Spanish relations. De la Romana openly accused Moore of betrayal and bad faith regarding the campaign outcome. Madrid and Northern half of Spain remained under occupation by French troops. Canning privately condemned Moore's failed campaign in increasingly stronger terms. Publicly he insisted that although Moore's army had been pushed out of Spain his triumph left fresh laurels blooming upon brows. Back in England reaction to news created storm of criticism over Moore handling. In Corunna Marshal Soult took care of Moore's grave ordering monument raised in memory.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the Battle of Corunna take place?
The Battle of Corunna took place on the 16th of January 1809. British forces began their silent withdrawal from lines at around 9:00 pm that evening.
Who commanded the British army during the Battle of Corunna?
Sir John Moore commanded the British force numbering 30,000 men in Portugal before the battle. He died after being struck by a cannonball while rallying the 42nd Regiment near Elviña.
How many French soldiers participated in the Battle of Corunna under Marshal Soult?
Marshal Soult deployed 11 heavy guns and led infantry divisions including Delaborde, Merle, and Mermet against the British. Napoleon had previously led 278,670 men drawn up on the Ebro river to respond to the campaign.
What happened to Sir John Moore during the fighting at Elviña?
A cannonball struck Moore in the left shoulder carrying it away with part of the collar-bone. He remained conscious and composed throughout several hours of dying before succumbing to his wounds.
Why did the British retreat to Corunna instead of engaging Napoleon directly?
Napoleon decided to leave Spain entirely to attend to other pressing matters regarding Austrian threats. The British forces found themselves dangerously dispersed across the region while facing an avalanche of fire and steel from French invaders.