battle battle took place march war grand alliance fought column french regular infantry brigadier governor nearby french occupied companies armed peasants orders town force expedition burn village inhabitants refused pay war contributions french army attacked militia nearly destroyed separate engagements bloody fight took place wood bridge french lost men killed wounded defeated remaining troops fled entrenched convent forced french surrender setting building fire slight cost men killed wounded peasants killed french soldiers took prisoners french defeat followed month later blockade spanish troops armed peasants french garrisons french command decided demolish evacuate july keeping positions background main fronts years war lack means poor relations revolt marked duke early stage conflict admiral said best relief outer capabilities flanders milan french army duke short resources attrition warfare prevailed years war committed resources army managed break spanish defenses defeating spanish army battle banks river seizing ports important city french command found inhabitants areas occupied french army reluctant pay war contributions started oppose organized successful resistance winter inhabitants repelled punishment force french soldiers garrison killed french troops harassed militia forces laid forces woods heights effective leaders captain achieved victories french winter late december overran convoy way killing french soldiers taking prisoners february defeated company french killing taking prisoners horses villages refused pay french despite french party looted place punishment villagers refused obey force soldiers dispatched december arrest found village abandoned sacked taking priests hostages march locals rebellious french governor ordered commander garrison punish village time command chosen men garrison troops taken german regiment regiments french royal artillery regiment famous french labeled best troops country battle french force left march evening passed distance spent night ford river dawn peasants discovered sent warning women children sought shelter surrounding mountains men prepared fight french column called help nearby village captains recruiting men raise new companies meantime reached valley leaving rearguard took positions hill dispatched force burn french troops burned buildings ahead companies leading arrived village forced flee position hill harassed armed peasants local type militia arrival convinced withdraw tried cross found way blocked decided attempting escape wood bridge anticipated divided groups men leading pursued attacked french troops wood blocked bridge ahead second group running fight trees force lost men abandoned french column despite harassment managed control bridge started cross opposite bank armed peasants fired south killed french soldiers according contemporary french artillery general military historian reign corps able retreat good order hand local 19th century historian claimed french troops fled disarray leaving prisoners carried heavy escort arriving force took positions inside convent swiss soldiers rear entrenched inside hospital village swiss troops promptly surrendered bulk french column held hours peasants encircled building managed open gap walls repelled hand hand fight losing men killed wounded men breached wall chapel stormed convent french assault repelled ordered set fire gates building french walled gap stones bricks managed enter building setting fire large amounts pitch opened fire smoke blinded french soldiers retreated convent seriously wounded fight requested terms surrendered aftermath french column promise officers stripped remained prisoners war surrendered weapons money wounded soldiers german captain remained receive medical treatment died shortly french losses amounted men killed officers prisoners opposed men killed wounded figures known french wrote letter asking number rank prisoners exchange possible letter noted lucky dead defeat probably cost unscathed french prisoners brought later barcelona arrived march entrance seen large crowd weeks followed battle spanish troops local militia increased pressure garrison april supported companies peasants defeated party french troops killing soldiers taking prisoners ill ordered lieutenant general assemble supply convoy relieve escort infantry cavalry corps spanish peasants led attacked defeated convoy april french garrisons fell effective blockade assembled army infantry cavalry relieved remained blockaded second command good terms advocated abandoning willing ground late june replaced duke charged incompetence high officers looting country benefit arms french army july led troops having expelled population eaten horses french garrison diminished position came evacuate demolish fortress french army took way demolished defenses returning july
Battle of Sant Esteve d'en Bas