Battles of El Bruch explained

Conflict:Battles of El Bruch
Partof:the Peninsular War
Date:6 June and 14 June 1808
Place:El Bruc, near Barcelona, Catalonia
Result:Spanish victory
Combatant2: Spain
Commander1: François de Schwarz
Joseph Chabran
Commander2: Antoni Franch i Estalella
Joan Baiget
Strength1:3,800–5,000 regulars
Strength2:2,000 regulars and militia
Casualties1:6 June:
360 dead
800 wounded
60 captured
1 gun captured
Total: 1,220
14 June:
83 dead
274 wounded
Total: 357
Grand total: 1,577
Casualties2:6 June:
20 dead
80 wounded
Total: 100
14 June:
15 dead
50 wounded
Total: 65
Grand total: 165

The two battles of the Bruch (Spanish: Batallas del Bruch; Catalan: Batalles del Bruc) were engagements fought successively, at El Bruc, near Barcelona, Catalonia, on 6 and 14 June 1808, during the Peninsular War, by French troops commanded by Brigadier General François de Schwarz and General of Division Joseph Chabran against Spanish volunteers and mercenaries led by General Antoni Franch i Estalella and Joan Baget.

The result of these battles and actions was a Spanish victory.

Background

The previous month's uprising in Madrid had put Iberia in revolt against French rule.

June 6

The French detachment of 3,800 soldiers under General of Brigade François Xavier de Schwarz left Barcelona on June 4, advancing in the direction of Lleida - Saragossa. A rainstorm that day slowed their march considerably, giving time for local Spanish forces, composed of militia from the neighboring villages, volunteers (sometent), and Swiss and Walloon soldiers from the Barcelona garrison (2,000 men), to mobilize for action. The Spaniards were led by General Antoni Franch i Estalella and deployed along the Bruc Pass.

The resulting stand was a success, and the French under General Schwarz were turned back to Barcelona with the loss of 360 dead, 800 wounded, 60 prisoners, and one gun captured. The Spanish also captured a French Imperial Eagle.

French army

Spanish forces

June 14

A second French sortie on June 14, led by General of Division Joseph Chabran, succeeded only in putting to the torch several buildings in El Bruc after having been defeated and repelled by the Spanish forces led by Joan Baget. The following day, the Spanish attacked the French in their withdrawal to Barcelona, inflicting more than 500 dead and wounded on Chabran's troops.

French army

Aftermath

The Spanish conventional warfare proceeded with the Battle of Girona.

See also

References

Further reading

External links