The French have crushed all Neapolitan resistance by July 1806, except for the uprising in Calabria and a garrison at Gaeta, where André Masséna's force has become embroiled in a lengthy siege.

The British, rather than supporting the defenders or relieving the siege, decide to organize an expedition into Calabria to further the insurrection against the French, and prevent any potential invasion of Sicily.

A British force of over five thousand men commanded by Major-General John Stuart had sailed from Messina on June 27, landing in the Gulf of Sant'Eufemia three days later.

At the same time a French force under the command of General Jean Reynier, the only French force in Calabria, had moved to confront them.

The exact size of the French force is unknown.

Contemporary French sources range between five thousand and fifty and fifty-four hundred and fifty.

Some later historians have suggested a force as large as sixty-four hundred but the most recent estimates are closer to fifty-four hundred.

The British force defeats the French force on July 4 at the Battle of Maida.

Stuart's fifty-one hundred and ninety-six-man force suffers forty-five killed and two hundred and eighty-two wounded for a total of three hundred and twenty-seven casualties.

Reynier loses four hundred and ninety killed and eight hundred and seventy wounded out of a total of sixty-four hundred and forty soldiers.

In addition, the British have captured seven hundred and twenty-two French soldiers and four cannon.

Another authority asserts that the French saved their guns.

The French 1st Light Infantry has lost fifty percent of its strength between killed, wounded, and prisoner.

The action involving the 1st Light Infantry had lasted only fifteen minutes.