de of the stream. The casualties in the day's fighting amounted to 652 French and 259 British and Portuguese.
After spending the 4th reconnoitring the Allied positions, Masséna recognized the possibility of turning Wellington's right by striking south of Fuentes de Oñoro; 17,000 infantry and 3,500 cavalry were allocated to the flank attack while 14,000 infantry were concentrated in front of Fuentes de Oñoro ready to make a co-ordinated, renewed attack across the Dos Casas. Given that Wellington saw the threat, it is surprising that he chose to defend the flank with his weakest division - the 4,000-strong 7th (Houston) - alongside the whole of his cavalry.
At daybreak on the 5th, French cavalry under the command of Montbrun drove Sanchez's guerrillas from the battlefield and forced the British cavalry (Cotton) to regroup in front of the 7th Division west of Poço Velho. Shortly after, two infantry divisions under Marchand and Mermet drove the Allied battalions out of Poço Velho, threatening both the right flank of the Allied position at Fuentes de Oñoro and to cut off the isolated 7th Division. Wellington now reacted quickly and decisively, redeploying the the 1st (Spencer) and 3rd (Picton) Divisions and the Portuguese Brigade to form a new defensive line facing south, and sending Crauford's Light Division to the rescue of the 7th. As the 7th Division pulled back, 1,400 British cavalry4 fought to stave off furious attacks from twice their number in four of Montbrun's cavalry brigades. As the exhausted British cavalry drew up behind the 7th Division, Montbrun made one unsuccessful attempt to break the infantry before pausing to reorganize. During the lull in the fighting, the Light Division took the place of the 7th with orders to hold the ground until the 7th had safely withdrawn, and then to pull back to the rear of the 1st Division. Constantly harried by Montbrun's cavalry, Crauford brought his division back to safety in a line of battalion squares protected by the cavalry and a battery of horse artillery. In the whole engagement, the Light Division suffered just 43 casualties.
Masséna's intention was for Marchand's, Mermet's, and Solignac's divisions to attack from the south only after a successful assault had been made on Fuentes de Oñoro from the east. Some two hours after daybreak, Ferey's and Drouet's divisions stormed the village, reaching the higher ground around the church before being stopped. At around midday, Conroux's and Claparéde's divisions were thrown into the attack, a move that was countered on the Allied side by the 1/45th, 1/74th and 1/88th5 joining the battle. Grattan of the 1/88th, quoted in Oman, gave a vivid description of the scenes in the village:
After sharp fighting, the French columns broke under the ferocity of the counter-attack by the 1/74th and 1/88th, and were driven back across the Dos Casas. By about 2pm, the fighting for Fuentes de Oñoro was all but over. Allied casualties on 5th May totalled 1,545, while the French losses amounted to 2,192.
Overnight, Wellington's troops dug in along the south-facing line. During the night of 7th/8th May, Masséna began to withdraw from the battlefield.
Travelling on the N620 from Ciudad Rodrigo, 500m after the 348km post (and immediately after the service station), turn left at a minor road junction onto a rough road (not signposted). Follow the road down to the edge of the village and park by the Dos Casas stream. The part of the village uphill and to the left retains much of the character of 200 years ago and is worth exploring by foot. Pass through the village to find the church and memorial to the battle near the top of the ridge.
(An alternative approach to the village over a better road surface can be made by following the N620 as far as the modern development of Fuentes de Oñoro. Turn left at the roundabout following signs to the railway station and Centro de Salud. Shortly before reaching the railway station, turn left onto the Calle Salas Pombo. Pass the Centro de Salud and drive through open countryside before reaching the village.)
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