167 Usagre 25th May 1811 - WDS Bonaparte's Peninsular War

Usagre 25th May 1811 - After the battle of Albuera, Soult's French fell back to Llerena. However, determined to ascertain the strength of the enemy force pursuing his troops and whether this included any infantry, Soult instructed Latour-Maubourg to turn round and confront the enemy. After driving Villemur's Spanish vedettes out of Villa Garcia, the advancing French cavalry encountered a larger body of allied cavalry at Usagre. Unable to see the strength of the enemy due to the rising ground, Latour-Maubourg decided to send a flanking force under Briche across the stream to outflank the position. Finding the nearest ford guarded, Briche sought another crossing point without informing Latour-Maubourg of the delay. Meanwhile, assuming - mistakenly - that after an hour Briche's chasseurs would be in position, Latour-Maubourg ordered his dragoons to cross the bridge at Usagre. Waiting until two French regiments had crossed over, the British commander, Lumley, launched a charge, inflicting heavy losses on the French before they could retreat back across the bridge.