Sunday 30 September 2012

Regimiento de la Victoria

 1808

May
2 the people of Madrid rebells against the french attempt to take away the royal family strating thus the Peninsular War

June
11-24 the regiment is founded in El Ferrol (Galicia) with a teorical strength of 1200 men divided in 8 comenies, Manuel Miralles is appointed colonel, the soldiers come from Galicia and Madrid (the late fough in the events of the 2d May), the officiality comes majoritarily from the Navy.
27-31 The regiment marches to join the Army of Galicia in Lugo, with a real strenght of 366 men divided in 4 companies, their banner is a black flag with the motto "win or die"

July
5 men are executed after a mutiny; the regiment covers the passages to Galicia and don't fight in the battleMedina del Rioseco a Spanish Victory.

August
The regiment joins the army and continue the offensive following the french retreat

September
Battle of Dueñas where the regiment suffers great losses and is reduced to a simple detachment according to the sources; meanwhile the 2d battalion is being raised in El Ferrol, the cadre is completed with presidiaries.

October
The second battalion (358men) joins the remmants of their regiment.
8-12 Battles of Bilbao, Battle of Durango-Zangoza.

November 
5 Battle of Mengray
7 Battle of Guñes, Bilbao is freed
8 Battle of Valmaseda (spanish Defeat)
10-11 31 men prisioner in the battle of los Monteros
The regiment, within the 2d division covers the bridge over the Esla eager to colaborate with the english army of Moore, but hte arrival of Napoleon and his 200.000 veterans changes the sutuation. Moore retreats to Coruña without warning his spanish allies, the 2d division is surprised by the french and withouth cavalry and most of it surrenders, the regiment survives and scapes to Galicia.

1809

March
6 the regiment retreats to Portugal with the army of the left harassed by the 2d corps of Soult.
19 in Villafranca participates in the surrendering of the french garrison battalion
23-27 assists at the siege of Vigo, in french hands. At this moment the regiment numbers 500 men, evidence of some kind of refoundation during the winter. The french surrenders at Vigo.

April
7 siege of Tuy
9 150 men of the regiment fight at Santa Comba
Soult and Ney launch an offensive over Galicia
17 fights in the combat of feria castro
18 " Lugo
19 " Loentia and San pedro
23 Ney occupies Santiago de Compolstela (capital of Galicia)

June
7-9 The regiment participates in the decisive victory of Puente Sampiyo where colonel Pablo Morillo defeats ney and obligue him and Soult to abandon Galicia, wich wouldn't be occupied more by the french during the war. Morillo, born as a sheperd, enlisted in the marine infantry becoming after liutenant, and during the siege of vigo ascended to colonel due to sheer merit, in 1811 he'll become general and later fight against Bolívar.

October
The Galician army moves forward in an attempt to draw the attention of the French force that garrisosn Madrid and open the way for the Centre Army to reconquer the capital.
18 Victory at Tamanes
23 Victory at Medina del Campo

November
19 the centre army is croshed at Ocaña, ruining the campaign and forcing to retreat the Galician army.
28 the army is surprised at Alba del rio Tormes and agian without cavalry is decimated, the regiment manages to form in square, but lefts the battle with only 121 men.

December
18 the regiment regroups and his 263 men join the regiment of volunteers of Catalonia.


1810

March
minor fights at Hornachuelos, Constantina, Lora. The spanish command uneager to accept great battles provocates small confrontations that reduce gradually french strenght.

April
15,19,20 fights at Roca de la Sierra

May
13 within the 1st division of the army of Extremadura
14 fight at Caceres
15 " Trujillo

June 
5 fight at Jerez de los caballeros
9 joins the 5th army, vanguard division
28 " Burguillos

July
5 action between Jerez and Salvatierra
23 still in the vanguard division with an strength of 292 men

August
11 battle of Cantaelgallo

September
1 Barracks at Fuente de Santos

1811

February
5 march towards the besieged Badajoz
7,9 Victories at El Almendro
19 The regiments is anihilated by the french after the imperials cross the passage at Gevora, the new colonel Palma forms in square but the french virtually destroy the regiment.

March
refoundation with forced recruits
4 march to Albuquerque losing 230 men due to desertion

July
6 at Valencia de Alcantara, Pablo Morillo takes command
28 fights at Arroyo de la Luz 

September
2 battle of casar de los Caceres
14 Combat in Caceres and posterior retreat to Valencia de Alcantara

October 
28 Victory at Arroyo Molino

December
United with the regiment Leon forming the 1st Provisional Regiment


1812

January
Still in the 5th army

16 March- 6 april besieges with morillo Badajoz

April-December
fights at Feria, Almagro, Lasperra, Castilleja, and second Feria
28 December, renamed regiment of Victory with an strength of 700 men.

1813

January
With Pablo Morillo in the 4th army, 500 men strength and garrisoning Badajoz

April
19 march from Badajoz to Plasencia

May
26 battle of Alba de Tormes, attack over the basque country following the final retreat of the french army and their king: Joseph Bonaparte

June
21 at the battle of Vitoria, under command of Pablo Morillo, clears the hights of La Puebla from enemies assure the link between the 1st spanish brigade and Hill's column. Strength: 746-681, losses (depending on source) 196/75/63.

July
25 Battle of San Marcial: within the army of Galicia repels marshal Soult and the last attempt by the french to conquer the spanish soil.

November
10 after the invasion of France, fights at the action of the Nivelle and Ainhoa-Ascain.

1814

January
23 their grenadiers prisioner at Irún

February
14 combat at Ezpelta
15 Saint Germain

March
24 advance towards tolouse

April
10 Tolouse, last battle of the war

11 abdication of Napoleon



Sergeant, Officer and Drum







over the hills and far away

trees done with branches and scourer