Battle of Burgos

The Battle of Burgos, also known as Battle of Gamonal, was fought on November 10, 1808, during the Peninsular War in the village of Gamonal, near Burgos, Spain. A powerful French army under Marshal Bessières overwhelmed and destroyed the outnumbered Spanish troops under General Belveder, opening central Spain to invasion.[1]

Battle of Burgos
Part of the Peninsular War
Battle of Burgos or Gamonal (National Library of Spain)
Date 10 November 1808 Location Gamonal ,near Burgos, Spain Result French victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Jean-Baptiste Bessières	Conde de Belveder Vicente Genaro de Quesada  Fernando María de Alós
Strength
20,000 infantry 4,000 cavalry	9,000 infantry
Casualties and losses
50 killed 150 wounded	2,000 killed, wounded, or captured

Spanish history remembers this battle for the vain gallantry of the Guard and Walloon regiments under Vicente Genaro de Quesada. Forming a rearguard for the shattered Spanish lines, these troops repelled repeated charges by General Lasalle's. The cost was high for the Spaniards, with only 74 of the 307 men in the rearguard surviving.

It is said that Bessières personally returned Quesada's sword and had his wounds treated in the French field hospital. These acts of chivalry became increasingly rare as the Peninsular War dragged on.