The Battle of Talavera was a British and allies victory over the French in July 1809 during the Peninsular War. Advancing from Portugal, the Duke of Wellington had reached the Tagus and lined his forces along the hills which lie to the north and west of the town of Talavera. A Spanish army under Cuesta, about two-thirds of the allied forces, held the actual town. Early on the morning of the 27th of July the French army attacked the British forces, forcing the British line to retreat. The initial attack was followed by an artillery bombardment and a second attack which threatened to overwhelm the British until the arrival of General Hill and his forces which regained the lost ground. The French renewed the attack the next morning, but were repulsed. In the afternoon the British counter-attacked and the French withdrew to Madrid, with losses. The British losses in the counter-attack were sufficiently heavy to prevent them pursuing the French. Research Battle of Talavera