The battle of Leipzig

1813

OCTOBER

1st- South America: The northern army, commanded by Manuel Belgrano, was defeated in Vilcapujio, near Potosí, by the royal army of Joaquín de la Pezuela, who launched a surprise attack. Belgrano lost almost half of his men.

2- South America: battle of Las Trincheras, in Venezuela, Monteverde suffers a new defeat before Bolívar; in the fight he is wounded and loses his lower jaw; he will be sent back to Spain.

3 -Battle of Württemberg: after the disastrous battle of Dennewitz, the survivors of the Berlin Army retreat to Torgau, while the 4th French Army Corps, some 16,000 men under Marshal Bertrand, were persecuted by General Blücher's Silesian Army, some 50,000 Prussian soldiers and militia. Near Württemberg, the French manage to organize solid defensive positions, protected behind a dam and a marshy region; the Prussians in charge of Von York try to build a bridge, but the French put up strong resistance. From dawn to dusk, the Prussians attack seven consecutive times, but the defenders always reject them, for twelve long hours. At nightfall the York soldiers manage to flank them, but they are forced to stop their manoeuvre to await reinforcements. Bertrand then takes the opportunity to order his troops to withdraw in good order under cover of darkness. The Prussians suffered 5,000 casualties and the French 500.

4- Prussia: The second siege of Torgau begins. Spain: The Marquis of Wellington intends to invade France to expel the French armies ...