The Battle of Almansa began at around 3 p.m. on a cool and overcast afternoon. The Bourbon guns on Berwick's right opened fire as the Allied left moved forward, and the roar of the artillery was taken up all along the line. Richards and Macarenas replied, though the Portuguese, short of ammunition, fired very little. Galway must have been advancing quite slowly, to allow the infantry to keep up, because the Bourbon artillery was able to fire about 20 shots as he approached, suggesting that the Allied horse had to spend a good 15 to 20 minutes under fire. That from the battery on the inner flank was especially galling, and eventually Galway sent Colonel Dormer ahead with the single squadron of Essex's Dragoons against it; on his approach, the guns were hastily limbered up and withdrawn.

Now, Galway's wing was approaching Berwick's right. The Allied cavalry crossed the hollow way, in the lead on the extreme left was Carpentees Brigade, hoping to get round and overlap the Bourbon flank. The cavalry were now picking up speed, leaving the infantry behind. As they came within 100 paces of the Spanish line, Popoli moved out to meet Carpenter, though at the careful walk favoured by the Bourbon cavalry. The more experienced redcoats, trained to use shock action, picked up speed to a brisk trot and drove in amongst the Spaniards, where the 'charge' came to a halt in a Burry of sword-chopping and pistol-popping. Ile fight was; as a participant later described it, "very obstinate and bloody on both sides". Galway himself was in the thick of it, a tired, one-armed old man trying hard to wield a sword with his left hand; he suffered two sword cuts to the head which temporarily blinded him, and had to be helped from the field.

Weight of numbers soon told as the Spaniards drove the English back. Then, Wade's infantry brigade appeared amidst the retreating horse, and musketry blasted out from Southwell's and Wade's Foot. Berwick described how they "fired so briskly upon our people, that they were obliged to give way". Now Killigrew brought up his dragoon brigade, Carpenter rallied his men under cover of Wade's infantry, the Spaniards also reformed, and the two sides went at it again. Once more, the English were forced back, but the Spanish cavalry was again broken by infantry fire; and now the Allies had more success, driving the Spanish away with considerable losses, so that all the guns in the area had to be drawn off to prevent their capture.

Berwick ordered the Maine infantry brigade from his second line to march over and give assistance - but as it was moving off, the battle spread to the centre.

Infantry Centres

The infantry centres had remained stationary and watched the cavalry contest up to this point, but now it was their turn. The Bourbons blew up a barrel of powder in front of their centre, which, especially since their artillery bad fallen silent, at first seemed to be an accident, but, it was soon apparent to the Allies, was actually Berwick's signal to begin the main attack. Bourbon guns in the centre resumed firing, and their infantry began to move forward. Seeing this, Erle set his own men in motion: the English, Dutch and Hugenot regiments advanced, but the movement was not picked up by the Portuguese foot, who remained behind. Friesheim with the second line was found to be too far to the rear, and Hawley had to be sent back twice to bring them up -- possibly, they were less well-drilled troops, unable to march fast in formation. Ahead of Erle, a battalion on the Bourbon flank (possibly out of the Walloon Guards), having drifted to far to its right, adjusted its position by facing to the left by files and marching across the front of the Guards at only 60 yards; the bluecoats continued until they came opposite Macartney's Foot, without taking their muskets from their shoulders, and calling out "toute a l'heure, messieurs, toute a l'heure", watched by the English who were under strict orders not to fire first. Then, the battalion faced to its front again and commenced the fight with a disorderly battalion volley.

The Guards and Macartney's were briefly thrown into confusion, but the second line approached to support them, officers and sergeants restored the careful order necessary for the controlled platoon fire they used, and a hot firefight developed. Gradually, as clouds of dense white smoke built up between the two sides, the superior platoon fire of the English and Dutch began to tell over the ragged volleys of the less well trained Spanish; after about half an hour, the latter began to cave in, from the flank - the Spanish and Walloon Guards - inwards.

The first line was pushed back on the second (Hessy's command), and the whole lot driven in some confusion back towards the town. One or two Dutch units even drove their opponents up to or beyond its walls, so that the observers gained the impression that they had completely broken through Berwick's line.

Erle had achieved considerable success; but his force was isolated, without cavalry support, and the Portuguese had not conformed to the general movement - whether through nervousness or lack of apropriate orders, we do not know - though for the moment they were at least pinning down the French infantry to their front. Erle now had no idea what to do. He had not been told of Gailway's departure, so was not aware he should attempt to co-ordinate operations between the cavalry wing and his command, though it is unlikely his foul mood and lack of assertiveness would have allowed him to do so anyway. 11cre was little sign of any awareness of the common good, though the Dutch cavalry colonel Drimborn later claimed to have gone to help the undefended infantry.

Despite their apparent collapse, things were very different with the French and Spaniards. Quartermaster of the Cavalry Don Joseph Amezaga got together two squadrons of the red-coated Ordenes Viejo cavalry regiment and led them in a spirited countcr-attack, apparently against the intrepid Dutch battalion (which suggests that he had to bring the horse behind much of the wrecked infantry, though both sides were in such confusion by now, it is difficult to be certain). However, Hill's and Keres Foot came up and drove these off. Other Bourbon commanders were rallying their infantry, and these, with the uncngaged brigades of the Franco-Spanish left-centre, gave Eric second thoughts about pushing on. But before any action could be taken, both wings collapsed and Eric suddenly had to consider how to get his force out of disaster.

The Wings

What had been happening on the wings? On the right, where Das Minas commanded, the traditional account has it that the Bourbon horse had only to advance for the Portuguese cavalry to turn and flee, carrying away both their second line and the second line of their infantry.

However, Berwick's account of the battle was quite explicit: "Our left, commanded by M. d'Avaray, had made several charges; but though it had gained some ground, and was even supported by the brigade of La Sparre, it had not been able to break the cncmy's line". We should not imagine, however, that these were wild charges at the gallop; the French and Spanish cavalry would have advanced at little more than a trot, possibly with much exchange of pistol-fire at a few yards' range rather than closc-quarters backing with cold steel. However, Berwick then sent some squadrons to outflank the Portuguese on their right while the main wing advanced again, more slowly. The blue-coats broke and ran at the first charge by the flanking force; two batallions of originally interlined infantry, now posted at some distance to the rear, thought that they were enemy - or else simply panicked - and gave them a volley before they were bowled over. A few squadrons around old Das Minas held firm for a while, but the flight of the rest of the cavalry, driven inwards by the flank attack, carried off the battalions of the Portuguese second line infantry.

Almost all the Portuguese cannon fell into the hands of the Bourbons. According to Berwick, the remaining Portuguese infantry were attacked on their left by forces from his right wing, if so, they must have been brought across after the defeat of Erle and Galway. Anyway, after a creditable resistance, they tried to retire, but were pressed so close that discipline collapsed, the units broke up, and they were cut to pieces.

On the Allied left, with the departure Of Galway, command of the wing had technically devolved on Tyrawley, though he seems to have made no effort to exercise it. Supported by Wade's brigade of foot and the 'borrowed' Portuguese cavalry of the second line, the English and Dutch dragoons had continued to engage the Spaniards, who were so often repulsed, they could not be brought to attack again. Around 15 or 16 squadrons had been ruined by the Allied infantry and cavalry working together, driven into a disordered crowd and fallen back to rising ground in rear of the Bourbon line whence no efforts of their officers could bring them to reform and attack again.

Berwick was organising help, however. The Maine brigade, already drawn off to support the right wing, was joined by other units from Ifessy's command that had escaped the chaos in the centrc or else had been rallied from the confusion - some may have been sent across from those facing the inactive Portuguese. These, a total of nine battalions, were placed partly in front of the cavalry, opposite Wade's brigade, with the agressive d'Asfeld in command. At the same time, newly rallied squadrons from regiments less badly hit in the previous clashes were being drawn up to oppose the Allied cavalry. The Allies themselves were battered and exhausted. Losses had been heavy, especially in officers: Brigadier General Killigrew, already wounded had been killed leading a charge, and Donner, Lawrence and Green, commanders of Essex's, Carpentees and Peterborough's Dragoons, Were also dead. Of the senior officers, only Carpenter remained unwounded. 11hey were in much the same state as the Spaniards, so they had hardly been in a position to take advantage of the situation. Now, d'Asfeld's battalions and the freshly-reformed cavalry advanced. The Allied horse was simply bowled over and routed; though reinforced by Stewart's Foot, Wade's men, taken in front and flank, were also Put to flight.

Erle, as he became aware amidst the clouds of smoke that the enemy was closing in from both sides, realised be had no option but to retreat. He sent Hawley to the Dutch Major-General Donha, who was still to the right of the English foot with his grey-clad Dutch infantry intact and in pretty good order, to tell him to make a speedy withdrawl as best he could. Donha replied that he saw nothing for it but to "beat the French march", and by this device of using French drumbeats, as well as having his men take from their hats the greenery that served as Allied insignia, he managed to pull them out without much disruption to their formation. The Dutch passed close to some of Richards' artillery, back at their starting-point where it became safer to drop their masquerade. Here, however, their further retreat seemed cut off, and Erle, who had accompanied them for the later part of this move, left them to ride towards the left.

Meanwhile, the English units were not doing so well. They were in less good order, since some men had broken ranks to plunder as they passed over the original Bourbon position while others were still trying to loot the dead; and they had been harder hit in the fire fight anyway as they had faced the better Spanish and Walloon Guards regiments.

Incoherence

Now, any semblance of a coherent line was gone, and as firing began to build upagain all around from the rallied Bourbon infantry, several units that had at least pulled themselves together were, as Hawley put it, "presently broke and demoloished". All was in chaos. Some Bourbon squadrons were already to the rear of the Allies, while their battalions, with little overal direction, individualy sought out Allied units through the confusion and smoke. The fighting was bloody and very fierce, often at close quarters. Gradually, the net closed in. Cavailer's infantry regiment of Hugenot refugees had formed square and, its men aware they were unlikely to receive any quarter, held out to the last, until it was almost annihilated. Cavalier himself was badly wounded, but loyal friends got him off the field; however, of the rest, the lieutenant-colonel, five captains, six lieutenants and five ensigns were killed, probably most of the officers present.

We left Erle drifting across from Donha's brigade to the wreck of the left wing. He managed to find a group formed from part of Portmore's Foot and various other men who had rallied together near where Richards' guns were still keeping some of the Bourbon squadrons at bay.

However, two intact French or Spanish battalions came up; musketry blazed away - its moral effect probably greater than its actual, since Bourbon accuracy was even lower than normal for the period - and the little remnant dissolved again. Erle rode on further to the left, beyond the artillery. Here, he was rejoined by Hawley, who, after a narrow escape when he nearly ran into Berwick and his staff, had only managed to evade capture with Bourbon squadrons milling all around because of his grey-faced-red uniform. easily mistaken for French.

Erle probably still expected to find Galway on this wing, but neither he nor Tyrawley were to be seen. However, he found the Dutch cavalry regiment of Drimborn, in grey-white coats with red cuffs, then the scarlet of Hill's and Kerr's Foot with their front covered by a pond and the ground less open around them, and, some way beyond them, on their left-rear, the smart crimson coats and buff facings of Harvey's Horse. All these units were virtually intact, Harvey's having only just managed to negotiate a "hollow mill dam" which had seriously delayed their advance or so we are led to believe; it is suspicious that this obstacle is never mentioned otherwise. The presence of this little force not only covered the artillery, but also inhibited further advance by the Bourbon right wing, itself in considerable confusion again, until infantry could be brought up for a combined attack: Hawley described the second line and reserve of Spanish horse merely standing "as spectators" until the foot came up, obviously still shaken by their rough handling carlier in the battle.

Renewed Attack

The respite did not last long. Two or four battalions advanced against the English infantry's front while Berwick's own extra-large regiment in its distinctive red unifoms with white facings, deep green colours flying overhead, threatened the left flank. Bourbon cavalry was coming up from all directions, and French horse followed the main infantry attack up the slope. Kerr's Foot as Hawley wryly described it, "went off and a little too fast to last", leaving only Hill's, under Lieutenant-Colonel Clayton, to face the Bourbons from behind the pond.

Erle went to Drimborn's and twice ordered them to attack the Bourbon infantry, each time, the cavalry moved forward sword in hand, but at fifty yards wheeled to the left and regained their original position where they reformed - all without being fired upon, although presumably they at least brought the Bourbon advance to a temporary haft. On the second failure to press home, Erle swore at Drimborn and rode off to Harvey's, at which the Dutch horse promptly wheeled and made off. Berwick's Regiment was now beginning to outflank the English battalion on its left, so Erle placed himself at the head of Harvey's Horse with Colonel Roper and, sending Hawley to the infantry requesting them to hold their position as long as possible but to reserve their fire in case they hit Harvey's, he began an attack.

Bourbon cavalry was coming up rapidly, however, and caught one squadron of Harvey's on the wheel two squadrons faced it from the front, and two more, which had broken ranks and ridden round "like hussars", hit it from the flank, it crumpled. Harvey's second squadron carried on. As it approached Berwick's, the Irish held their fire for a long time, calling out that the troopers were mad and would be granted quarter if they gave in; only when the English cavalry's continuing approach, building up speed to a trot, made their answer clear, did the muskets crash out. Against a lone squadron, such a volley might be expected to smash the charge; in fact, it only made the cavalry wheel to the left. Roper fell dead from his horse. The troopers rode down a couple of platoons at the end of one battalion, but their impetus could take them no further.

Meanwhile, even as Hawley was delivering Erle's orders to Hill's Foot, a French battalion came up on the opposite end of the pond and opened a punishing fire on the infantry, putting both Clayton and his second-in-command Major Collingwood out of action. Nevertheless, the regiment held its ground until Harvey's Horse had been repulsed; then this, apparently the last serious resistance, collapsed and, to use Hawley's words, "everybody shifted for themselves as well they could, happy those who were best mounted".

Confusion

Confusion filled the battlefield. Galway, despite his wound, made an appearance to help rally some of the fragments, but was only saved from being killed by enemy horsemen through the intervention of James O'Hara, Tyrawley's son. The old man had to be forced to leave the field, escorted by a small party of Carpenter's Dragoons. Carpenter, whose brigade had opened the action, made a final charge with La Fabreque and the Hugenots of Guiscard's Dragoons, under cover of which, various officers managed to asemble about 3,000 men, mostly cavalry, and begin a retreat towards Ontoniente, twenty-five miles away. These included Galway, Tyrawley, Dag Minas, Erle, Friesheim and Wade; they successfully got off the baggage, stores and ambulances, together with the baggage guards and the sick - who were almost the only infantry to be brought off safely.

According to some accounts, even Richards' six field guns were brought off, though this is flatly contradicted by others. The unfortunate Allied infantry found things much more difficult. Once the Centre collapsed, they dispersed all over the plain, "all straggling and slaughtering by the Enemys horse", as Brigadier-General Macartney put it with that period's typical disregard for spelling. Major-General Shrimpton, Macartney, and Colonels Hill and Breton, 211 unwounded, met up and by a combination of bullying and encouragement assembled the remnants of the Foot Guards, Portmore's, Hill's, Mountjoy's, Gorge's, Breton's and Macartney's regiments into a body to retreat. There is some disagreement on the list of units; I follow Macartney, who was in the best position to know). They met Donha's Dutch force, which we left apparently trapped near the Allied start line and which had somehow managed to fight its way out: three Hugenot battalions in Dutch service (Belcastel, Lislemarais and Vicouse), the genuine Dutch regiment of Keppelfox, and Torsay's unit of French refugees and deserters. Three Portuguese battalions pulled together by Don Juan Emanuel also joined them.

All these units now only totalled about 1,500 men. For about eight miles, they held on, constantly harassed by Bourbon cavalry who tried to get in on their flanks and rear but were held off by occasional platoon fire. French and Spanish horse were in possession of the whole plain, however, rounding up other groups, searching, or watching the wretched band, cutting it off from the relative safety of the hills by which the senior officers had hoped to retreat towards Fuente de la Higuera and Ontoniente. There were still hopes that they could escape in the night, so they kept as close to the hills as they could, pushing on to the pass by which they had entered the plain earlier that day.

By now, the men were exhausted: a twelve-mile approach march in the morning, a long advance over terrain difficult to maintain formation on, a couple of hours of hard fighting, the cohesion of discipline shattered by the disaster, and more miles back under the constant tension of Bourbon harassment - all this, with the little or no water all day had taken its toll of men already unfit and undernourished, for they would not now move any further, even if it had been possible to push on past the Bourbon cavalry. They cannot have been far from safety, as they spent the night on a wooded hill (Berwick called it a mountain), but without fires or water or bread, with no ammunition left and so frightened that they could have been beaten by half their number.

Darkness

During the hours of darkness, stragglers from other parts of the wreck slipped in, singly or in small groups, past the waiting Bourbons, to seek at least the comfort of companionship. But in the chill grey light of approaching day they found that Berwick had brought up his infantry during the night. There was no hope of escape. A council of war held by the senior officers concluded - not without some argument - that they had no option but to surrender, to save the lives of their men. Shrimpton, who as the senior officer present was nominally in command, had not the temperament to try anything heroic and stupid anyway, he needed little persuading.

They sent out a parley to d'Asfeld, and Berwick, with a fine sense of irony, agreed to grant them the same terms as the massed French battalions had received at Blenheim. They marched out into captivity. The Battle of Almansa was over.

More Battle of Almansa 25th April 1707

Part One
Part Two

Part Three

Casualties and Aftermath
Commander: Berwick (1670-1734)
Commander: Galway (1648-1720)
The Armies: Allied and Bourbon
Uniforms and Bibliography
Allied Order of Battle
Bourbon Order of Battle