At the end of 1809-which was a year full of defeats for the Spanish Army- there was an important battle for the control of the bridge of Alba de Tormes. The importance of this bridge was crucial, because its control was essential to hold the line of the Tormes river and, therefore to contain the French Army.
After the defeat of Ocaña and the subsequent cancelation of the Spanish Army´s operations, General Del Parque did not want to withdraw from that region , so he ordered to camp at Alba de Tormes and its environs, where he found French general Kellerman´s troops, which were composed by a large number of calvarymen.
General Del Parque placed some of his troops- two divisions- on the left bank of the Tormes river and stationed the rest of them- Headquarters, artillery and supplies- on the right back, in the village. That was an incomprehensible decision because the only way to communicate both groups was across a narrow bridge.
Since General Kellerman lacked of infantry and was afraid that the Spaniards would withdraw to the other bank, he chose to take a chance and attack only with his cavalry forces, in an aHempt to keep the Spanish troops until the arrival of his own infantry.
The Imperial French cavalry, led by the hussars and Loret´s chasseurs, charged four times in a row against the Spanish defensive line. Del Parque´s cavalrymen were devastated and even the infantry suffered serious casualties. When those casualties, incluiding deads, wounded and prisoners, exceeded 3000 half of the Spaniards retreat across the bridge on the Tormes river and the rest formed a square and waited for the final assault.
However, this attack did not take place because the French commander created several diversions while waiting for the French infantry. Three hours laters, after many skirnishes, it was dark already and the Spanish formations retreat in a disorderly fashion. Fortunately the French infantry did not arrive on time. Nevertheless, when the first French infantry battalions arrived they pushed back Del Parque´s forces and the Spanish general ordered to withdraw.
The Spanish regiments of Price, Princess, Gerona, Saragossa and Navarre- which formed the Spanish vanguard and the 2nd division- stood out in such an unfortunate but glorious combat.
Especially, the Gerona 1st Light Infantry battalion was about to be completely devastated by the French cavalry, but it held until final assaults.