Between 6 and 7 o'clock, the head of Reding's long column reached the bridge of Goy and encountered Souharn's vedettes. The sharp cracks of musketry alerted both commanders that a combat was at hand and Souham hurriedly marched his two brigades out onto the plain north of the town, and deployed astride the line of Reding's march.

Reding's plan of attack was simple, plough straight through and on to Tarragona. The advance guard and part of the centre of his column crossed the river and deployed on the left bank and attacked Souham. Despite the ever increaing numbers of Spanish battalions seeping over the bridge, Souham was able to hold his ground for some hours before weight of numbers began to tell. The Spaniards were fighting well and between 10 and 11am Souham's diviosn was forced back into Valls. Reding was able now to get all his baggae train over the Francoli, the way to Tarragona was clear. He could head straight for the city or could continue and completely rout the battered French Division.

Unfortuantely, Reding decided on a third course. Do nothing and have a rest. To be fair he probably needed to give his rear guard time to cross and his men must have been exhausted as they had been either narching or fighting with out a break since the 24th February.

Saint-Cyr to the Rescue

Word had obviously been sent to Pla to warn of Reding's arrival, however, this message had been delayed. Realising that all might be lost Saint-Cyr galloped off to Valls with Pino's Divsional cavalry - the Dragoons of Napoleon and the Royal Chasseurs - and ordered the rest of Pino's Italians to follow at full speed. Saint-Cyr expected Pino's infantry to arrive at Valls at around midday, however, one of Pino's brigades, Mazzuchelli's, did not arrive at Pla until gone noon and Pino would not move his division until it arrived. As a result Pino was not going to arrive at Valls until mid-aftemoon.

On arrival Saint-Cyr decided to put a brave face on the situation and deployed his cavalry across his front and rallied Souham's line.

This was enough for Reding to believe that the newly arrived cavalry were just the tip of an iceberg of heavy reinforcements, so he formed a new plan, assaulting Souham (which was still viable), marching to Tarragona (still a possibility) or having a rest (still happening) were cast aside, and he dicided to march back over the Francoli and depoloy on the nearby heights. There he would fight a defensive battle. Reding drew his forces up in two lines with his batteries deployed to sweep the bridge of Goy and the fords. His right wing was covered by a ravine, his left astride the road to Montblanch was not so well favoured, only covered by high ground.

Saint-Cyr, initially frustrated at the Spanish withdrawal could not now believe his luck, he knew he could not prevent Reding marching on and into Tarragona, but here is opponent was sitting up and begging for a knock out punch.

Saint-Cyr busied himself with resting and feeding Souham's troops and then deploying them ready for battle opposite the southern half of Reding's line held by Castro's Division, he made sure to leave a space for Pino's Italians to slot into on their arrival. And so he waited.

Reding waited too, for three hours he watched Saint-Cyr inactive in the valley below and finally realised that he had made a serious error of judgement in retiring from a beaten foe and that it was now to late to resume the offensive. At around 3pm he decided to withdraw and march to Tarragona via Costanti. He sent General Marti back to Tarragona to collect fresh troops to join him at Costanti and issued orders to the army that it would retreat at dusk.

This was to be his undoing, if he bad withdrawn at once he may have suffered some bickering from Souham's troops, but Reding could have expected to have extracted his army intact. Reding however, was not a coward and didn't fear the prospect of a battle with Saint-Cyr and believed he could win a defensive action if attacked, also he judged that his troops desperately needed to rest.

3pm Pino Arrives

As Reding made his fate decision Pino arrived with Fontane's brigade and then at 4.30pm, Mazzuchelli strolled onto the field. With the light fading, Saint-Cyr gave the Italians just enough time to form in order of battle. His artillery fired three rounds and were then ordered to cease fire by Saint-Cyr in case it frightened off the Spanish troops before he could get to grips with his infantry and obtain a decisive victory.

Saint-Cyr led his little army forwards, the two infantry divisions formed 4 massive columns of a brigade each, the 24th Dragoons advanced on his right, the Italian Dragoons of Napoleon advanced in between the two centre columns, the Royal Chasseurs covered the left flank. The columns rolled over the Francoli and advanced up the hill forcing back the Spanish skirmishers.

The Spanish first line stood firm and opened up with effective, if long range, musketry. All thought that bayonets would be crossed along the entire line, but the columns advanced ignoring their mounting casualties. Saint-Cyr was vindicated in his low opinion of the Spanish infantry when at 100 yards range they let forth a tremendous volley and when despite this the four columns emerged through the smoke the line broke in a dozen different places and ran to the rear sweeping the second line away which should have stood for them to rally on.

Dragoon Bourzon introduces himself to Reding

Captain-General Teodore Reding, although not in the same league as Saint-Cyr was nonetheless as brave as the General. In a desperate attempt to salvage the situation, he placed himself at the head of his cavalry and charged down to the bridge of Goy. The 24th Dragoon charged to meet them. This melee was as one sided as the afternoon battle, the Spanish cavalry were defeated, and Reding was surrounded by cursing, sabre slashing French troopers. Three of his aides-de-camp were wounded and taken prisoner, including an English officer named Reid, but Reding hacked his way clear despite receiving three sabre wounds, reportedly from Dragoon Bouzon, on his head and shoulders and galloped after his routing army.

The pursuit was not as effective as Saint-Cyr may have wished the steep slopes and ravines behind the Spanish position assisted the pursued rather than the pursuer. The majority got away and straggled into Tarragona, where after a few weeks Reding was to die of his wounds.

Losses

Reding's army lost some 3,000 men of whom almost 50% were taken prisoners, they lost all of their guns, all of their baggage and several stands of colours. The prisoners included Colonel Dumont, commander of the Walloon Guards, Colonel Autunez, commander of the Spanish Guards, the Marquies of Castel d'Osrius commanding the cavalry brigade, the three aides-de-camp previously mentioned and 80 other officers.

Total casualties for the French were about 1,000, most of whom fell upon Souham's Division in the earlier part of the engagement.

More Valls

The Battle of Valls: Introduction
The Battle of Valls: 25 Feb 1809
The Battle of Valls: Order of Battle
The Battle of Valls: Large Map 1 (slow: 143K)
The Battle of Valls: Jumbo Map 1 (very slow: 288K)
The Battle of Valls: Large Map 2 (slow: 137K)
The Battle of Valls: Jumbo Map 2 (very slow: 259K)