Julián Sánchez García facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julián Sánchez
Engraving of Sánchez as a brigadier, by Mariano Brandi, Biblioteca Nacional
Born	3 June 1774 Muñoz, Salamanca
Died	19 October 1832(1832-10-19) (aged 58) Etreros, Segovia
Allegiance	Spain
Battles/wars	Peninsular War

Julián Sánchez García (1774–1832) was a brave Spanish military leader. He was known by his nicknames El Charro or Don Julián. He became famous for leading small groups of fighters, called guerrillas, during a big war.

Early Military Career

Julián Sánchez started his military journey in 1793. He joined the Mallorca Infantry Regiment. He fought in the War of the Pyrenees, where he was wounded seven times. Later, he was captured and became a prisoner of war. He was held for 18 months until a peace treaty was signed in 1795.

Fighting in the Peninsular War

In August 1808, Julián Sánchez joined a cavalry unit. He led a small group of lancers, who were soldiers with long spears. They often had small fights with the French forces in the Salamanca region.

1809: Rise of a Leader

In February 1809, Sánchez was promoted to cavalry alférez (a junior officer rank). Leading just 12 lancers, he captured a French supply convoy. He took five prisoners near Vitigudino. The next day, his group captured 15 more French soldiers. This happened near the Huebra river at Yecla de Yeltes. A few days later, at Ledesma, his men surprised and defeated a French advance party.

In April, he organized many successful small attacks. These attacks aimed to make the French troops leave the area around Ciudad Rodrigo. His men also attacked a large convoy of 75 wagons. They killed 28 guards and took some prisoners. In May, he forced the French troops to leave Ledesma.

In June 1809, near Zamora, he attacked another convoy. This one was guarded by 40 dragoons (cavalry soldiers). He managed to take 120 oxen and 120 horses. That same month, at Almeida de Sayago, he led 50 lancers. They attacked a column of 186 dragoons, killing 43 and capturing their horses. Sánchez was asked to recruit soldiers from the Zamora province. By then, he had gathered 1,200 men for the army.

In mid-July, he led 22 lancers and captured 34 French hussars (another type of cavalry). This included their captain. Two days later, he was promoted to captain. He was allowed to form his own squadron, which was officially called the Lancers of Castille. However, everyone knew them as Don Julián's Lancers. By the end of July, leading 100 horsemen, he attacked a French column. He killed 94 hussars and captured 43.

In October, Sánchez's horsemen fought in the Battle of Tamames. They were part of the Duke del Parque's army. Later that year, Sánchez, now a lieutenant colonel, provided 240 horsemen. These men helped General Pérez de Herrasti defend Ciudad Rodrigo. Sánchez's horsemen also fought in the Battle of Alba de Tormes in November 1809.

1810: Defending Ciudad Rodrigo

In February 1810, Sánchez was promoted to lieutenant colonel. That month, the French Marshal Ney demanded that Ciudad Rodrigo surrender. General Pérez de Herrasti refused. Sánchez's horsemen made many surprise attacks, called sorties. These attacks forced the French commander to retreat. In one sortie, Sánchez led 60 horsemen. They attacked 500 dragoons and killed about 200 of them.

When Ney returned on April 25 to lay siege to Ciudad Rodrigo, the Spanish defense force had grown. It included 400 artillerymen and Sánchez's 340 horsemen. In another sortie, Sánchez led 200 horsemen through three enemy lines. They killed about 240 men and destroyed a French camp. For this brave action, Sánchez was recommended for a medal. He had also taken over 800 prisoners during the siege.

In early June, he was promoted to colonel. Towards the end of June, his men attacked 200 dragoons near El Bodón. They killed 66 and took 54 horses. On the night of June 21–22, Sánchez was given permission to leave the town. He crossed the Agueda river and broke through French lines. He escaped to a British outpost at Almeida.

In early July, Sánchez became colonel of the Regiment of Castille Lancers. By late 1810, his group had 300 to 500 lancers. They caused many problems for the French. Sánchez also regularly communicated with the British commander, Wellington. He sent captured messages and important information.

That September, he fought small battles. He killed 73 enemy soldiers and captured 32 horses. At the same time, he was forming two new units. These were the 1st Regiment of Lancers and the Battalion of Castille Cazadores. He armed, uniformed, and mounted 1,200 men using supplies captured from his attacks.

Despite French efforts to catch him, Sánchez spent the winter of 1810 attacking convoys. These convoys moved between Salamanca and Ciudad Rodrigo.

1811: Continued Harassment

In February, Sánchez's men attacked a convoy at Tamames. They killed or wounded 28 guards. He sent the convoy and 100 cattle to the needy Spanish army. Because of this, a French division was sent to capture him. But Sánchez used clever attacks and retreats to avoid them.

In April 1811, Sánchez was given command of the new Burgos Hussar Regiment. Wellington asked Sánchez to stay on the roads between Salamanca and Ciudad Rodrigo. This was to stop French troops and convoys from moving. Sánchez would alert British forces about approaching convoys. However, a plan to intercept a convoy failed in April due to slow reaction from British forces.

When the French commander Massena withdrew from Portugal, Sánchez attacked the French columns and convoys. He took a total of 700 prisoners.

In May, Sánchez's regiment fought in the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro. They were part of Wellington's cavalry. The Spanish soldiers were surprised by French dragoons and retreated. Despite this, Wellington continued to praise Sánchez's bravery. After the battle, Sánchez's troops chased the retreating French. They took 105 prisoners.

During the summer of 1811, Sánchez cut off communications between Ciudad Rodrigo and Salamanca. He defeated any group of fewer than 400 French soldiers. In June, at San Muñoz, his 200 horsemen and 300 foot soldiers attacked a convoy. This convoy was protected by 600 grenadiers. Sánchez's men killed or captured 360 of them.

On October 15, Sánchez captured the French governor of Ciudad Rodrigo, Renaud, and his guards. The next month, his troops made it difficult for the new governor to reach the fortress. Around this time, he had also raised two more units. These were the 2nd Regiment of Lancers and the 2nd Battalion of Castille Cazadores.

1812: Major Battles

Sánchez was promoted to brigadier in January 1812. In the first few months of that year, his cavalry had 1,200 men. They were divided into the 1st and 2nd Lancers of Castille.

Sánchez's brigade joined the main British and Portuguese army. They fought in the battles leading up to the Battle of Salamanca. His brigade was part of the cavalry division. After the battle, they chased the French towards Burgos. They killed or captured over 1,000 French soldiers.

In September, as Wellington marched from Madrid to Burgos, Sánchez was part of the leading group. During the siege of Burgos castle, his troops protected the attacking forces. Sánchez also formed the rearguard when Wellington retreated to Portugal. He prevented 1,500 tired British and Portuguese soldiers from being captured.

In late December, Sánchez attacked a column of 1,500 French troops at Vitigudino. He forced them to retreat back to Ledesma.

1813: Final Campaigns

In May 1813, Sánchez led the 1st Regiment of Lancers and an Artillery company. They joined the leading part of the British and Portuguese army. In June, he attacked and captured a group of dragoons at Castro Nuño. Later that month, he fought in the important Vitoria.

He then joined forces with another Spanish leader, Espoz y Mina, at Pamplona. They chased French troops towards Aragón. In early July, his troops entered Zaragoza with Espoz y Mina's hussars. In September 1813, he captured the fortress at Fraga (Huesca).

Life After the War

In 1816, Julián Sánchez was appointed governor of Santoña. He held this position until February 1823. In April, the Spanish government asked him to join an army in northern Spain. This army was meant to stop a French invasion. On April 18, he was badly wounded and taken prisoner. The French commander allowed him to return to Madrid.

After the war ended, King Fernando VII restricted Sánchez's movements. He was later arrested and imprisoned for 27 months. When he was released in early 1827, he retired to his wife's home at Etreros.

See also

In Spanish: Julián Sánchez para niños