Battle of Barrosa

The Battle of Barrosa saw General Victor's French troops attempt to intercept an Anglo-Spanish sortie from Cádiz. Although the Spanish hesitated, Graham's British mounted an energetic attack on the heights of Barrosa. After fierce fighting the French were repulsed but retained their strategic positions. The battle is considered indecisive, or even tactically favorable to the Allies.

Since 1810 Cádiz had been besieged by the French. Allied forces planned an operation to break the siege. Lapeña's Spanish army and the British expeditionary corps attempted a coordinated landing, but lack of cooperation compromised their overall success.

Victor attempted to cut the allied army in two on a ridge. Graham, without waiting for Lapeña, launched a powerful counterattack through woods and hills, surprising Ruffin's and Leval's divisions. The fighting became chaotic but the British retained the advantage of terrain.

The siege of Cádiz continued despite the British breakthrough. The battle exposed the weakness of coordination between Spaniards and British. Victor's reputation was tarnished, but the French lines held. Cádiz never fell, but the operation was not exploited.