Battle of Palavea

After his grueling retreat, Moore prepared to head to the ocean, as the fleet had arrived to retrieve him. He had his units stretched as far as the heights of Palavea and Peñasquedo with the intention of securing the embarkation. Soult intended to capture these positions on the 15th. Thus the engagement began.^[4]

By Soult's instructions, Merle and Mermet's infantry, supported by Lorge and La Houssaye's dragoons, moved to attack the British outposts, which were located in the mountain positions of Palavea and Peñasquedo, and drove them out. Three companies of French voltigeurs, thus enforced on the heights and later supported by horse artillery, engaged the British 5th Foot on the spot. In an attempt to seize the French artillery, the 5th was surprised by voltigeurs firing from behind a wall. The engagement cost the regiment its Colonel Mackenzie and forced a British retreat under heavy fire.^[2][1][5]

As Moore's forward units were pushed from the high ground, Merle and Mermet's divisions seized the heights of Palavea and Peñasquedo. They were joined the next afternoon by Delaborde's division. 10 heavy French cannons were placed on the Heights of Peñasquedo, ready to bombard Elviña. On the 16th, Soult surveyed the field of the upcoming battle from the Heights of Palavea and Peñasquedo.^[2][1][5]

• Fortescue, John (1910). A History of the British Army. Vol. VI. 1807–1809. MacMillan and Company. OCLC 312880647.
• Oman, Charles (1902). A History of the Peninsular War: 1807–1809. Vol. 1. Clarendon Press. OCLC 1539767.
• Gates, David (2001) [1986]. The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-7126-9730-6.

• Battle of Corunna, with a mention of battle at Palavea.
• Battle of Corunna (British Battles), with a description of battle at Palavea