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.
The previous month's uprising in Madrid had put Iberia in revolt against French rule.
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.
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.
The Spanish conventional warfare proceeded with the Battle of Girona.