 The Nationalists, as was the fashion of the Army of Africa, advanced in mobile brigade-sized columns and overwhelmed the unprepared Republicans.Colonel García Escámez commanded their right flank (to the south), Colonel Ricardo Rada commanded the left, or northern wing, while in the centre there were three brigades under Colonels Jose Asensio, Saenz de Buruaga and Fernando Barron.Escámez attacked on February 6 at Ciempozuelos and overran the Republican forces from 18 Brigade which lost 1,300 men.