Vedel’s Division: Poinsot’s { 5th Legion of Reserve (three batts.) 2,695 Brigade { 3rd Swiss Regiment 1,174 Cassagnes’ { 1st Legion of Reserve (one batt.) [two batts. Brigade { detached under Liger-Belair] 1,003 From Gobert’s Division: 6th Provisional Regiment (four batts.) 1,851 Cavalry--Frésia’s Division: Privé’s { 1st Provisional Dragoons 778 Brigade { 2nd ditto 681 Dupré’s { 1st Provisional _Chasseurs à Cheval_ 556 Brigade { 2nd ditto 623 Boussard’s { 6th Provisional Dragoons 620 Brigade { From Rigaud’s Brigade: Half the 2nd Provisional Cuirassiers 341 Artillery, &c. (36 guns) 900 ------ 21,058 Allowing a deduction of 3,000 men for sick and previous losses, there remain 15,000 bayonets and 3,000 sabres. But, in a moment of evil inspiration, Dupont chose to deprive himself of the advantage of having practically his whole army concentrated on one spot, and determined to copy the error of the Spaniards by splitting his force into two equal halves. He resolved to retain his defensive position in front of Andujar, and to keep there his original force--Barbou’s infantry and Frésia’s horse. But Vedel with his own men, the four battalions from Gobert’s division which were at Andujar, and 600 cavalry, was sent off to Baylen, where he was directed to rally the beaten troops of Dufour and Liger-Belair, and then to fall upon Reding and chase him back beyond the Guadalquivir[146]. [146] ‘Je vous prie, mon cher général, de vous porter le plus rapidement possible, sur Baylen, pour y faire votre jonction avec le corps qui a combattu aujourd’hui à Mengibar, et qui s’est replié sur cette ville.... J’espère que demain l’ennemi sera rejeté sur Mengibar, au delà du fleuve, et que les postes de Guarroman et de la Caroline resteront en sûreté; ils sont d’une grande importance’ (Dupont to Vedel, night of July 16). In these orders lies the foundation of the disaster.