Mar 10-16 1837. ORIAMENDI OFFENSIVE. A three prong Offensive. Two of the prongs, Espartero from Bilbao, and Saarsfield, whose forces included the French Foreign Legion, from Vitoria, failed to reach the target. However the third group ( British Legion + Cristino troops) unaware of the others delay elected to attack the main target. The Cristinos are defeated. Actions from the Oriamendi Campaign

Mar 10 1837. Skirmishes near Bilbao. Cristinos (28 Bns + Lanceros and Cazadores of the Royal Guard + 1st & 2nd Line Cavalry Rgts). under Espartero left Bilbao with They encountered Carlists in field fortifications outside Bilbao, but Cavalry charges routed the Carlists.

Mar 10 1837. Battle on the AMETZAGANA Hills. Evans column crossed onto the right bank of the Urumea River by a bridge of boats, and assaulted the Carlist (under Guiladalde) trenches on the hills of Ametzagaña near San Sebastián and on the nearby position of Alza. Other elements of the attacking force were transported by sea to Passajes to attack the Carlist right flank. The Cristinos stormed the positions three times and were repulsed each time before the heights were successfully stormed and then held against Carlist counterattacks. Toward the end of the day the Cristinos Spanish Bde under General Jáuregui captured San Marco, and by evening the Carlists had retreated. . The Carlists artillery quickly ran out of ammunition and retreated to avoid capture. The Royal Marine Artillery fired spherical case shot, which was the best ammunition to affect the Carlists in their trenches.

Mar 11 1837. Cristinos (10,300 inf + 400 Cav + 8 Mtn guns + 2 Cos of Sappers) including the french Foreign Legion under Saarsfield leaves Pamplona. The Carlists (4 Bns + 100 Cav) conduct a slow withdrawal and screening operation.

Mar 12 1837 Espartero captures of Durango and proceeds to fortify the town. After a terrible snowstorm the previous night Saarsfield retreats back to Pamplona. Evans ferries three battalions across the Urumea to capture te village of Loyola.

Mar 13 1837. British Legion engineers build a second boat bridge across the Urumea. Evans ferries his forces across, A battery and 1 1/2 Bns of infantry are posted to hold the Ametzagaña Hills and Passajes. Heavy rain prevents further operations over the next two days.

Mar 15 1837: Attack on Oriamendi Ridge. The Cristinos under Evans attack from the north across rough terrain and during a wet and snowy day. The Cristino left (Godrey's and Jáuregui's Brigades) attacked the Carlist at Aguerre. The Cristinos centre consisting of Chichester's (with 4 Mtn giuns + rockets) and Fitzgerald's Brigades; assaulted the Carlist on Oriamendi Hill. Rendón was on the right (Rendón's Vanguard Division, the 1st Lancers of the Legion, the Royal Marines, and the remainder of the artillery).

The battle lasted from 1 pm to about 6 pm and although fiercely contested, the Cristinos succeeded. The Carlist battalions fought three deep from fortified positions on the heights, but were forced to retreat after the forts on La Venta and Oriamendi fell to the 9th and 10th regiments of the Legion and the Princesa Line Regiment. Congreve rockets proved effective against the fort on La Venta. The rough ground prevented the redeployment of guns or the effective use of cavalry.

Mar 16 1837. Battle of Oriamendi Heights (AKA Battle of Hernani ) The final battle of Oriamendi assault was fought on the hill and ridge overlooking the town of Hernani. During the morning the British cleared the last of the entrenchments on Oriamendi ridge, and began a bombardment of Hernani. The British force was still disrupted and dispersed after the previous day's battle. Regardles success looked certain against the numerically inferior Carlists, but Don Sebastián arrived with (11 Bns + artillery + cavalry) reinforcements. Don Sebastián counterattacked on both flanks. Three Carlist battalions crossed the Astigarrage bridge behind the Cristino left (Legion 1st Rgt + Castilla Bn), routing that flank. The Cristino right was also under severe pressure but held the Royal Marines and concentrated artillery fire. Being severely outnumbered, and hearing of Saarsfield's withdrawal, Evans retreated.

Mar 20 - 21 1837: Retreat from Durango After hearing of Evans's defeat, Espartero retreats from Durango, back to Bilbao. Carlists (~10 bns) harass the Cristino formations and there is heavy fighting on both days. About 1000 men were lost on either side.

Spring ? 1837 Cabrera wins a notable victory over the Cristinos near Valencia.

Spring ? 1837 Cabrera recaptures his old citadel of Cantavieja.

May 16 - Oct 1837. ROYAL EXPEDITION. The major Carlist offensive against Madrid. The Army of the North (16 Inf Bns + 10 Cav Sqdns + 2 guns) actually merged with the Army of the Centre near Madrid. Carlos V accompanied the expedition. The Carlists squadrons included nine Navarrese Sqdns with the Basques and Castillians + two Aragonese Sqdns + the Escuadron de la Legitimidad + Mtd Guardias de Honor.

The expedition fought the battles of Huesca (win), Barbastro (win), and Orá (loss), then passed through Carlist controlled parts of Catalonia, and headed south to join the Army of the Centre in Aragon. The Battle of Chiva (loss) prevented the Carlists from securing the fertile area around Valencia. The combined Carlist forces (16,000 foot + 2,000 horse) advanced within only a few miles of Madrid but withdrew without attacking. Subsequently the Carlist forces split and retreated to their respective bases. In the final battle of the Royal Expedition, the Carlist Army of the North was defeated by Espartero at Retuerta.

May 3 1837. Taking advantage of the Carlist move south in the Royal Expedition, De Lacy Evans once again crossed the Urumea, reoccupying Loyola and Aquirre. The Carlist retained only 14,000 men, including militia in the northern provinces for defensive actions only..

May 14 1937: Capture of HERNANI. A combined Cristino force under Espartero (14,000) and Evans(10,000) attacked Hernani. Espartero commanded, but allowed Evans to lead the assault. Evan's vanguard consisted of the Legion and a Division of Spanish. They easily captured the Oriamendi heights and the town of Hernani, then advanced on the village of Urrieta. Cristino forces under Guerra covered the left flank, and took Astigarraga.

May 16 1937: Assault on OYARZUN and IRUN. Espartero allows Evans (10,000 in 14 bns) with some sailors and marines under Lord John Hay to attack Oyarzun, Irun and Fuenterrabia. . Facing them were a mere three Carlist battalions. The Cristinos quickly defeated the Oyarzun (2 bns) garrison, then advanced on Irun. It took 18 hours with support of two 12 pdrs to breach the walls of the town. After the walls were breached, the Cristinos stormed the town and engaged in house-to-house fighting.

May 18 1937: Capture of Fuenterrabia. The Carlist garrison of Fuenterrabia surrenders.

May 24 1837. HUESCA. The Cavalry Flank. Crisinos (Coraceros Cuirassiers Sqdn of 120 men + French Foreign Legion Sqdn + 2 Sqdns of 5th Borbon lancer Rgt) vs Carlist Alavese Sqdn of 60 men + other sqdns (~80). After a ferocious battle, the Carlist Royal expedition drives off a Cristino attack (General Irribaren).

June 2 1837. Battle of BARBASTRO. A French Foreign Legion force (800) encounters a Carlist Foreign Legion (450) made up of mostly FFL deserters and POWs from other Foreign contingents. The battle occurs mainly in an Olive grove. A ferocious battle in which the Royal expedition defeats the Cristinos under Oráa. The FFL was eliminated as an effective force and participated in no further operations. Its commander General Conrad is killed.

June 1837 Royal Expedition engaged in series of skirmishes by Cristinos under Baron Von Meer on east bank of the river Segre, but continues on to the Ebro. The Expedition joins up with Cabrera at Cherta (end Jun). May or June 1837. Battle of ORA A battle during the Royal expedition. A Carlist defeat.

July 15 1837. Battle of CHIVA. The Carlist had a joint command of forces from their Army of the North and Army of the Center. Carlist Cavalry = 13 Sqdns; 4 Navarre + 4 Castilian + Alavese + 2 Aragonese + 2 from Army of Center ? . Cristinos Cavalry = 9 Sqdns; 2 of Rey Rgt + 2 of Reina Rgt + 3 of 3rd Lgt Cav Rgt + Gde Cazadore Sqdn + Gde Lancer Troop. Unusual because the Carlists had more cavalry than their enemy. Nonetheless, the Cristinos gained the victory due good co-operation between the Cristino cavalry and infantry. The Carlist ammunition shortage also contributed to the defeat.

July 20 - Sep 1837: Zaratiegui's Expedition . The Carlist under Zaratiegui (6 bns + 3 Cav Sqdns) leaves Alava. He has some weeks of success against the Cristinos. He merges with another Carlist raiding force (total now 4,500) and marches through Old Castile to capture Segovia, only 50 milres from Madrid. He abandons Segovia (12 Aug) and advances into the Burgos province, then west again to capture Valladolid (Sep). He then rejoins the Royal Expedition outside Madrid.

End of July 1837 Royal Expedition with the Army of Centre captures city of Valencia.

Aug 24 1837: Battle of Villar de los Navarros. A battle during the Royal expedition, as the Carlist Army of the North retreats. The Carlist March order was: The Carlist right wing with a battalion in skirmishing order, with support (other Navarrese Bde + the Granaderos del Ejército + two Aragonese Bns); The artillery (four guns)in the center; The left consisted of four Alavese battalions in the first line and Castillians in the second. The cavalry were conducting screening operations. The Cristino organization and deployment is unknown. A Carlist victory.

August 26 1837. Battle of HERRERA. Carlist defeat an outnumbered Cristino force. Near the end of the battle all that remained of the Cristinos troops were two battalions and a 5th Light Cavalry Sqdn. The Carlist horse formed in two columns in order to attack the small force. The 5th delayed the Carlist but could not defeat the much larger force. Carlist lancers continued and charged the two battalions in squares numerous times before finally breaking them.

Sep 11-16 1837: Outside Madrid. The Carlist (12,000) Royal Expedition and Army of Centre cross the Tagus near Fuentiduena (11 Sep) and reach Arganda (12 Sep) a few miles from Madrid. Cabrera's lancers skirmish and defeat a patrol of the Granaderos a Caballo. After four days, Don Carlos decides neither to assault Madrid, nor to attack Espartero's nearby army. Instead the expedition retreats toward Arganda and Guadalajara. Espartero pursues.

Sep 14 1837: Battle of Andouin. Carlist counterattacks defeat the troops of the British Legion.

Sep 19 1837: Battle of ARANZUEQUE. A battle during the Royal expedition, as the Carlist Army retreats from Madrid. Cabrera's Aragon cavalry is defeated in a rear guard action by the Cazadores de la Guardia Real and the Húsares de la Princesa.

22 September 1837. The Carlist Army of the Centre under Cabrera rear guard (8 Cos) of Tortosa cazadores were captured by squadrons of the 1st and 2nd Line and 6th Light Cavalry. Sometime Sept - Oct 1837: Battle of RETUERTA. Little data available Espartero defeats the Carlist Army of the North, as the Royal expedition retreats north.

Dec 1837 to Jan 26 1838: First Siege of Morella. Cabrera's Army of the Centre besieged Morella for two months, before 75 men took it in a surprise assault on the night of 25/26 Jan.

Selected Battles of the First Carlist War

1833-1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839-1840