Battle of Girona (1808)
| Battle of Girona (1808) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Peninsular War | |||||||
 Independence Square in Girona commemorates the struggle against the French from 1808 to 1814. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 First French Empire Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples |
Kingdom of Spain | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Guillaume Duhesme Andrea Milossevich François Schwarz |
 Lt. Col. O'Donovan Lt. Col. O'Daly | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 5,900, 8 guns | 2,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 700 | light | ||||||
The Battle of Girona on 20 and 21 June 1808 saw an
As part of his plan to overthrow the Spanish ruling family, Emperor Napoleon ordered his soldiers to seize Barcelona in February 1808. The city's fortress was successfully occupied, but a few weeks later the Spanish people rebelled against Imperial French rule. Duhesme and his soldiers soon found themselves in difficulties. Hemmed in by Catalan militia and regular Spanish troops, the French general attempted to capture Girona in order to open up a secure supply line from France to Barcelona. The Franco-Italian force attempted to storm the city but they were repulsed by the city militia and two small battalions of Irish regular infantry in Spanish service. Duhesme fell back to Barcelona, but he returned to mount the Second siege of Girona five weeks later.
Background
The Spanish conventional warfare started with the Battles of El Bruch.
Months before, as part of his plan to seize his ally the
By the summer of 1808, a 12,710-man French corps commanded by
This modest-sized force was tasked with putting down the insurrection in
Battle
Alarmed at being isolated, Duhesme decided to clear his line of communications back to France. As he headed northeast toward Girona with a division-sized force, he encountered a large force of miquelets at Mataró.[5] There were an estimated 10,000 Catalans with three or four cannons. On 17 June, the miquelets were easily defeated by the 5,963 Imperial soldiers and their eight artillery pieces. The Imperial troops celebrated their triumph by sacking Mataró for an entire day.[7] As the Franco-Italian force continued on its way to Girona, the miquelets reoccupied the countryside and blocked all communication between Duhesme and Barcelona.[5]
In the expedition, Duhesme's force included General of Brigade Andrea Milossevich's 2,133-man brigade, Schwarz's 2,163-strong brigade, and 1,517 cavalry. Milossevich commanded the 2nd Battalions of the 2nd and 5th Italian Line Infantry Regiments and the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Italian Line Infantry. Schwarz directed the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 1st Neapolitan Line Infantry Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the Italian Velites. There were 409 troopers in the 3rd Provisional
Girona was divided by the
The Franco-Italians arrived in front of Girona on 20 June. After his demand for surrender was declined, Duhesme decided to attack the city's defenses.
Duhesme directed his main attack at the Carmen gate on the east bank. The weakest part of the defenses, this gate was located on the south side. One battalion was sent against the Capuchins fort while other troops attacked two bastions on the west bank. The main attack started while Duhesme's aide-de-camp was still negotiating with the defenders. The French guns were quickly suppressed by Girona's artillery and the assault failed.[8]
The French commander tried again that night, ordering Schwarz's brigade against the Santa Clara bastion on the west bank. The attack was a surprise and the Italians gained a foothold atop the walls. In the darkness, some of the scaling ladders went astray, so the attackers were unable to reinforce the successful party quickly enough. A savage counterattack by the Ultonia Regiment erased the Italians' lodgement. In the morning, Duhesme directed his third assault against one of the bastions. But this charge melted away in the face of intense fire from the alert defenders.[8] Altogether, the Franco-Italians suffered 700 killed, wounded, and missing. Spanish losses were described as light.[7]
Result
Duhesme retreated to Barcelona, leaving Chabran and a brigade to hold Mataró. Soon after, Duhesme attacked a force of miquelets along the Llobregat River and drove them away. Chabran tried to entice the Catalan militia into battle but was unsuccessful. Finally becoming aware of Duhesme's troubles, Napoleon earmarked a newly formed division under General of Division Honoré Charles Reille to reinforce him. Reille moved out with an advanced guard and soon relieved the garrison of Sant Ferran Castle at Figueras. After assembling his whole division, Reille moved against the port of Roses, but was rebuffed by its defenders[9] and the British battleship HMS Montagu, which landed its marines to help.[10] Hearing about the division of reinforcements, Duhesme prepared for a new attempt on Girona. The next action was the Second siege of Girona.[9]
Aftermath
The Spanish conventional warfare proceeded with the Battle of Valencia.
See also
- Timeline of the Peninsular War
- Second siege of Gerona(1808)
- Third siege of Gerona(1809)
Notes
- ^ Gates 2002, pp. 10–11.
- ^ Rickard 2008b.
- ^ Gates 2002, p. 12.
- ^ Gates 2002, p. 482.
- ^ a b c Gates 2002, p. 59.
- ^ Smith 1998, p. 260.
- ^ a b c d Smith 1998, pp. 260–261.
- ^ a b c d Rickard 2008g.
- ^ a b c Gates 2002, p. 61.
- ^ Smith 1998, p. 262.
References
- Gates, David (2002). The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. London: Pimlico. ISBN 0-7126-9730-6.
- Rickard, J. (2008g). "First Siege of Gerona 20–21 June 1808". historyofwar.com.
- Rickard, J. (2008b). "French Capture of Barcelona, 29 February 1808". historyofwar.com.
- ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
External links
Media related to Battle of Girona (1808) at Wikimedia Commons
