About 500 participants came to commemorate the capitulation of Baylen, and many French groups had made the journey. Four of us came, even though the 5th Hussars were not at the battle. It was our second event in Spain, this time as dismounted cavalry.
Saturday was the day of the skirmishes. We split our army into three to protect the Paseo de las Palmeras: the fighting raged through the streets, barricade after barricade. We held out for a long time before regrouping in the square, surrounded: it was a defeat.
The next day was the day of the great battle, outside the town. The firing went on for several hours; our 5th Hussars, dismounted and somewhat reduced in number, skirmished on the flanks in support of our troops, in front of nearly 20,000 people according to the organisers.
We lost the battle, but won the hearts of the Spanish.
