Background
The Battle of García Hernández took place on 23rd July, 1812 the day after the victory of Wellington at Salamanca.
The defeated French army left the battlefield covered by General Maximillien Foy’s 1st Infantry Division, a fresh French force as it did not have an active role in the main battle. Foy`s forces comprised two brigades with two regiments each and artillery.
Foy’s also got a light cavalry force reinforcement commanded b y General Jean-Baptiste Curto, with 2 squadrons of the 3rd Regiment d´Hussards, two squadrons of the 26thRegiment de Chasseurs and one squadron the 28th Regiment de Chasseurs.
According to French sources (but not mentioned in the British reports) the cavalry rearguard also comprised elements of the Division de Dragons commanded by General Pierre Boyér, in charge of protecting the artillery train retreating ahead in the north.
In the British side, Wellesley took personal command of pursuers, forming a group with the 1st Infantry Division, the Light Division, the light cavalry brigade of General Anson and the heavy cavalry brigade of General Von Bock (1st and 2nd KGL Dragoons Regiments), the latter being part of the reserve division the previous day.
At dawn of July 23rd, both Anson and Von Bock initiated the persecution.
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