Battle of El Bruc

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Battles of El Bruc

Date	June 6 and June 14, 1808
Location	El Bruc, near Barcelona, Spain
Result	Spanish victory

Combatants

Image:Flag of France.svg First French Empire

Image:Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg Kingdom of Spain

Commanders

General Schwartz

General Franch

Strength

3,800 regulars

2,000 regulars and militia

Casualties

360 dead,
60 captured

Unknown

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

The two Battles of El Bruc (English: 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–Lérida. 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.

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