Gregorio García de la Cuesta 1
Gregorio García de la Cuesta
Gregorio García de la Cuesta y Fernández de Celis (1741–1811)
was a prominent Spanish general of the Peninsular War known for his
participation in disastrous military and political episodes.
Early career
Born in Santander to a family of petty nobles, Cuesta entered military
service in 1758 as a member of the Spanish Royal Guards Regiment.
He saw several successes as a Lieutenant General during the War of
the Pyrenees in the years 1793 to 1795. On 20 December 1795, he led
8,000 Spanish and Portuguese in a successful attack on the French port
of Collioure. Cuesta's force killed or captured 4,000 of the 5,000
defenders.[1] He led a division under José Urrutia y de las Casas at the General Gregorio García de la Cuesta.
successful battle of Bàscara on 14 June 1795.[2] His corps of 7,000 to
9,000 troops captured 1,500 Frenchmen at Puigcerdà on 26 July. The following day, he fell upon and seized the town
of Bellver with its 1,000-man French garrison.[3] Unknown to Cuesta, both actions occurred after the Peace of Basel
had been signed on 22 July 1795. Political intrigues prevented further advancement until the turmoil of 1805
produced his appointment to Commander in Chief of the Army of Old Castile.
Peninsular War
When war with France broke out in 1808, Cuesta's army was virtually nonexistent. His hastily-recruited force of
5,000 militia stood no chance against the Grande Armée and was defeated at Cabezón, forcing Cuesta's withdrawal
from his seat of command at Valladolid.
Cuesta managed to combine what was left of his army with Lieutenant General Blake's Army of Galicia but,
insisting on a foolhardy march on Valladolid, left his new force vulnerable to a French counterattack. Paralyzed by
disunity of command, the pair were defeated on 14 July at the Battle of Medina de Rioseco when Cuesta, for reasons
not quite clear, failed to close the gap between his troops and Blake's.
Negotiations with the Central Junta led to Cuesta's brief promotion to Commander-in-Chief of the Spanish Army. In
the absence of a military and political command structure, strategy and coordination with other Spanish forces
proved impossible. He was soon sacked and arrested due to political machinating by his opponents.
Following the loss of Madrid to Napoleon at the Battle of Somosierra the situation in Spain became more desperate
and Cuesta was allowed to reconstitute the Army of Extremadura in order to defend the southern frontier. In defiance
of the military wisdom of the time Cuesta pursued an offensive as soon as he had constructed a fighting force. This
met with success. In January and February 1809, all of Badajoz was reclaimed from the French.
Cuesta was refused supplies and reinforcements until local authorities could review the appointments he had made to
the army. As a result, a French offensive in the Spring annulled Cuesta's previous gains. On 26 March, Cuesta was
badly wounded and trampled by cavalry, and his army savagely defeated, at the Battle of Medellín. Like Blücher
after him, he continued fighting as a near-invalid.
Cuesta joined forces with the British under Wellington. Relations with his British allies were difficult, especially
after the Battle of Talavera. Though the Anglo-Spanish army won the costly battle, Wellington's army made a rapid
retreat when the British general found that Nicolas Soult and 30,000 French troops were trying to cut him off from
Portugal. Later, Wellington was furious when he heard that Cuesta abandoned injured British soldiers left in his care
to the French as prisoners. More Spanish defeats followed. Cuesta's enemies at court rejoiced and plotted.
Gregorio García de la Cuesta 2
In 1810, Cuesta suffered a serious stroke from which he died in retirement a year later. While his personal bravery
was never in question, Cuesta's reputation suffered during and after the war, at least in part due to political and
English hostility. Cuesta's reputation was that of a hopelessly proud, stubborn, xenophobic, and reactionary officer.
At the same time, he was a devoted soldier who led a severely deficient military machine through almost hopeless
campaigns.
References
• Chandler, David G. The Campaigns of Napoleon. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. ISBN 0-02-523660-1
• Gates, David. The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. Da Capo Press 2001. ISBN 0-306-81083-2
• Smith, Digby. The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill, 1998. ISBN 1-85367-276-9
External links
• A biography of Gregorio García de la Cuesta by Jose Manuel Rodriguez and Arsenio Garcia Fuentes [4]
References
[1] Smith, p 64
[2] Smith, p 103
[3] Smith, p 104
[4] http:/ / www. napoleon-series. org/ research/ biographies/ c_cuesta. html
Article Sources and Contributors 3
Article Sources and Contributors
Gregorio García de la Cuesta Source: [Link] Contributors: Albrecht, Alci12, Bobblewik, Dawkeye, Djmaschek, G.-M. Cupertino, Ilion2,
JD554, Melromero, Monegasque, Na3po4, Rebecca, Rjwilmsi, RogDel, Uhanu, 4 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
Image:García de la [Link] Source: [Link] License: Public Domain Contributors: Anne97432, Ingolll, Man vyi, 3
anonymous edits
License
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