Leaving part of his forces to hold off Defending Schwarzenberg , Napoleon massed Motion 30,000 troops to deal with Blücher , who allowed Giving his 57,000-man army to become badly spread Dispersal out .

The defenders were able to hold off Defending the numerically superior besieging force through exploiting Gibraltar 's geography and the small town 's fortifications , though they were frequently short of manpower and ammunition .

at mansilla de las mulas on the esla river , the spanish commander posted Placing martinengo 's division to hold off Defending soult 's pursuing french corps .