Jan-Feb 1836. Arlaban Winter Offensive. Cristinos forces including the British Auxillary Legion in an attempt to capture key Carlist supply bases are stalemated at Arlaban.

Jan 16-17 1836. ARLABAN PASS. Cristino forces in the Center + the British Legion (1800) on the right + French Foreign Legion on the left, all under Cordoba are forced to retreat after failing to gain control of the heights around the Arlaban Pass. The Cristinos advance against strong Carlist resistance. The British Legion captured the village of Mendijur and then occupied part of the Barundia valley near the Maturana mountains. The following day (17 Jan) the Carlist General Villareal counterattacks and drives the Cristino forces back to Vitoria.

Jan 1836. Carlists ambush and destroy a Cristino regiment and a company of National Militia that are escorting mail from Barcelona to Madrid.

March 1836. ORDUNA. Cristinos forces under Espartero defeated an equal, though reported as larger, Carlist force on the plains of Orduña.

March 6 1836. LERANOZ. A excellent skirmish battle. A French Foreign Legion company attempts to garrison the village of Leranoz but find it occupied by Carlist troops. The FFL drives out the Carlist who are reinforced to give them a strength of four companies. An elite FFL company from nearby Zubiri battle its way into the town. The FFL remains besieged for several days before the Carlist withdraw.

Spring ? 1836. Well equiped Carlist cavalry (260) under Batanero raid from Vizcaya across the Ebro into Old Castile..

March 24 1836. ZUBIRI HEIGHTS. The heights control the road between Zubiri and several other villages. The French Foreign Legion 4th Bn is assigned to capture it. The Carlist defense is strong and the FFL reinforce their attack with the 5th Bn. Snow is falling and limits visibility.

April 25 1836. LARRASOANA. French Foreign Legion Company is patrolling the Pine Forrests near Larrasoana. They encounter Carlist snipers which are actually the scouts for a major Carlist force. The Legion withdraws from the forest to the village. A good skirmish scenario.

April 26 1836. TIRAPEGUI HEIGHTS. A Carlist force (3500) occupy the heights located near Larrasoana. A French Foreign Legion screen of three companies become hotly engaged with Carlist troops. The FFL commander reinforces with a battalion (500) and 4 guns. The reinforcements hit the Carlist flank with some units routing and other withdrawing in order

May 5 1836: Attack on San Bartolomeo heights Cristino troops (5000 British + 1500 Spanish) under Evans attacks the Carlist positions outside San Sebastián; his goal was to break the siege, followed by offensive operations against Hernani. Carlists (4,000) under General Segastibelsa were entrenched in three lines of fortifications around San Sebastián. The first line of fortifications was about 800 m from the city and the other two were on the San Bartolomeo heights above. The Carlists positions linked natural defences with barricades, breastworks, and several fortified buildings.

Evans assaulted in three columns, before daybreak in wet and muddy conditions. Shaw and his Irish Brigade (7th, 9th, and 10th) attacked the Carlist centre. The Light Brigade under General Reid (Rifles, 3rd, 6th and Chapelgorris) was on the left, attacking toward the Urumea River. General Chichester's Brigade (1st, two companies of the 8th, + 800 Spanish) was on the right. The Carlist first line were overrun by the Light and Irish Brigades, but the attack stalled in the face of sustained musketry and artillery fire from the over lines.

Several frontal attacks failed. Chichester's Brigade was twice thrown back from the fort at Lugariz before it was reinforced by the Phoenix and Salamander landed the 4th English and 6 companies of the 8th Scotch. These reinforcement along with aupporting fire from the ships alloed them to take the fort. By noon the Carlist fortifications were cleared, and five pieces of heavy artillery captured.

May 20 1836: Second battle of ARLABAN. The Cristinos under General Córdova, drives the Carlists out of their lines at Arlabán. Having incurred a loss of 600 men, Córdova decides not to push on to Don Carlos's headquarters at Oñate, but retreats back to Vitoria to regroup.

May 28 1836: Capture of Passajes. A series of small independent battles near San Sebastian. A combined Spanish and British force under De Lacy Evan, including a battalion of Royal Marines and 30 cannon. Evan's moves his troops across the Urumea River during the early hours, and attacks the Carlist positions. A combined force of Spanish infantry, irregular troops, British Legion (Chichester's Bde), and the Royal Marines sweep over the enemy positions. The Legions 1st Lancer's and some Royal Marines capture Ametza Hill and sweep into Passajes. Carlist troops in a dominant Castle withdraw due to fire from the British ships , Phoenix and Salamander. Musketry from the Marines was regarded as very effective. The Cristinos victory captures a vital port and a 15 km foothold on the coast

31 May 1836. Carlist forces counterattck the British Legion positions in Passajes with heavy losses to both sides.

6 Jun 1836. Carlist forces counterattck the British Legion positions at San Sebastian (Passajes) with heavy losses to both sides. The Carlists make a determined, but unsuccessful, attempt to retake their old entrenchments outside San Sebastián. They briefly succeed against the British Legion (3 Cos) before being forced to retreat by the Royal Marines (3 Cos).

Jun 9 1836. Carlist forces counterattck the British Legion positions in Passajes with heavy losses to both sides. Total losses from these attacks are reported as 500+ for the british Legion and over 12,000 for the Carlist forces.

June 17 1836. FRIGINALS. Carlist vs Cristionos. Noted for Carlist Cavlary charge against two Line Bns of Saboya Rgt and a miltia 4 company Bn.

June 3 - Dec 20 1836. The Gomez-Damas Expedition. Carlist strategic planners decided to attempt to weaken the strong Cristinos field army by forcing the Cristinos generals to increase their local garrisons in various parts of Spain. In an attempt to increase popular support thoughout Spain, several wide ranging expeditions were deployed. The Gomez force (5 Bns, 4000 + 2 Sqdns, 180 + 2 guns) marched the 2,800 miles across Spain and fought several small battles with various Cristinos garrisons and pursuit forces.

In the greatest of the Carlist expeditions, Gómez's force crosses northern Spain to Santiago de Compostella (mid Jul), then through Leon (Aug) and Castile to Algeciras, Andalusia on the southern coast, then he returned to Aragon, and moved to join the main Carlist army at the second siege of Bilbao. During his epic journey he managed to avoid the large Cristino army under Espartero, fought the battles of Bujalero and Villarrobledo, and captured Córdoba city. He briefly co-operated with Army of the Centre. Due to local recruiting, Gomez added 2 Aragonese and 2 Valencian battalions.

June 1836. The Garcia Expedition. A Carllist expedition under Garcia crossed the Ebro and advanced into Old Castile where they defeated several local militia Cristino garrisons. Near Burgos he routed a Cristino General, taking 200 prisoners and 60 horses. He advances to within striking distance of La Granja and of the Queen Regent at the royal palace of San Ildefonso. But Garcia fails to attack and retires back to Navarre with its loot.

June 1836. The Carlist under Villareal, launches an attack on the Cristino lines between Vitoria and the Ebro. In one sector his advance is checked by Portuguese Legion regiments; in another by a mixed force of Cristinos and French Foreign Legion.

July 11 1836. Battle of Fuenterrabia. The British Legion (5000 including Royal marine Bn) under Evans attempts to cut the Carlist supply route into France by attacking Fuenterrabia to the east of San Sebastián. Lack of coordinated artillery support doomed the attack. Several battalions captured the bridge over the Bidassoa, but were left unsupported. The attack made no further progress as they faced 10 m walls that could not be breached by attached small guns.

July-August 1836. Several skirmishes between Carlist troops and the Portugese Legion.

August 30 1836. BUJALERO. Cristinos Guard units (Coraceros Gde Cuirassiers Sqdn 100 men + 2 Provincial Guard Bns) vs Carlist Gomez expedition (2 Provisional Sqdns of 90 men each + ) . The Carlist cavalry defeats the Cristinos cavalry and the Cristinos infantry surrenders.

August 1836. 10,000 Carlists launched a determined assault against the fortified positions of the British Auxiliary Legion and Spanish raw recruits near San Sebastián. The attack began at daybreak with shelling from heavy artillery brought up from Hernani and Irun. The Carlists attacked along the whole line, and made a particular attempt on the village of Alza on the Legion's left, near Passages. The Legion held firm despite bitter fighting and by noon the Carlists had withdrawn. Carlist losses were over 1,000 compared to Cristino losses of 500. Evan's declined to counterattack largely because his Spanish troops were recent recruits

Sept 1836. VILLARROBLEDO. Cristinos forces defeat Gomez's Carlist forces. Oct 1 1836. CORDOBA. Carlist forces under Gomez capture Cordoba. The Carlist garrison left to hold the city was weak resulting in it being recaptured by the Cristinos.

Oct 22- Nov 1836. Carlist troops attempt to storm Bilbao. The Cristino garrison (4,300 men including militia + several large fortress guns) repulses the attack. The Carlists tried to drive a mine, but National Guards countermined successfully, smoked the Carlists out, fought them with pistols and blunderbusses and blocked the mine. After his expedition, Gómez joined the Carlist army here on 20 December. General Esparetero relieved the city on Christmas day with 22,000 men, forcing the Carlists to abandon 22 of their precious guns. A Royal Naval Brigade including artillery and sailors arrived with Esparetero.

November 1836: Siege of Plencia. The Carlist artillery disabled most of the 13 guns that defended the fort, forcing it to surrender. .

Dec 24 1836. LUCHENA BRIDGE. The Cristino releif force (20,000 Cristinos + 10 British Naval guns + Naval Landing Bn from British warships) moving on Bilbao must secure the bridge in order to reach the city.

Selected Battles of the First Carlist War

1833-1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839-1840