136 Medina de Rio Seco 14 July 1808 - WDS Bonaparte's Peninsular War

Medina de Rio Seco 14th July 1808 - The Spanish armies of Castilla under Cuesta and Galicia under Blake having joined forces at Villalpando on 10th July argued over what strategy to pursue. The inexperienced Blake was reluctant to fight the French in the open plain, especially since the enemy had more cavalry and guns. However the incompetent, but senior, Cuesta assumed overall command of the two armies and ordered an advance to Valladolid. Encountering the French at Medina de Rio Seco, Cuesta unwisely deployed half the troops, under Blake, in a forward position on a hill, while his own force was placed too far in the rear to offer assistance. This gave the outnumbered French the opportunity to defeat each Spanish force separately.