Battles of the Bruch

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Battles of El Bruc
Part of the Peninsular War
Date June 6 and June 14, 1808 Location the Bruc, near Barcelona, Spain Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Spain
Commanders
François Xavier de Schwarz	Antonio Franch de Villafranca
Strength
3,800 regulars	2,000 regulars and militia
Casualties and losses
360 dead, 60 captured

v • d • e Peninsular War Invasion by Stealth, 1808 Madrid – the Bruch – Alcolea – Cabezón – 1st Gerona – 2nd Gerona – Saragossa – Rio Seco – Valencia – Bailén – Roliça – Vimeiro

The two Battles of the Bruch were engagements fought successively between a French column and a body of Spanish volunteers and mercenaries on June 4, 1808 in the Peninsular War.

The French detachment under General Schwartz emerged from Barcelona on June 4, advancing in the direction of Zaragoza–Lleida. A rainstorm that day slowed their march considerably; the delay gave time for local Spanish forces, composed of militia from the neighboring villages, Catalan volunteers (somatén), and Swiss and Walloon soldiers from the Barcelona garrison, to mobilize for action. The Spaniards were led by General Franch and deployed along Bruch Pass.

The resulting stand was a success,^[1] and the French under General Schwartz were turned back to Barcelona with the loss of 300 dead and one gun captured. The partisans made off with an Imperial eagle, adding to the French humiliation.^[2]

A second French sortie on June 14 succeeded only in putting to the torch several buildings in El Bruc.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Gates, David. The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. Da Capo Press 2001. ISBN 0-306-81083-2
• Rodríguez-Solís, Enrique. Los guerrilleros de 1808: Historia popular de la Guerra de la Independencia. Vol. I. Calle de Balmes 1895.