The town of Le Boulou is on the Tech River 22 kilometres (14 mi) south of the department capital at Perpignan and north of the France–Spain border.

[1] The spring of 1794 found the Spanish army holding a slice of French territory south of the Tech River and north of the Pyrenees.

The year 1793 was a difficult time for the poorly trained French forces defending Roussillon against the Spanish army of Captain General Antonio Ricardos.

The French army revived again under GD Eustache Charles d'Aoust to deal their enemies a sharp reverse at the Battle of Peyrestortes on 17 September.

[2] In the First Battle of Boulou (or Pla del Rey) from 13 to 15 October, Ricardos bloodily repulsed the attacks of GD Louis Marie Turreau.

There was a 2,500-strong cavalry division led by GD André de La Barre and a reserve headed by General of Brigade (GB) Claude Perrin Victor.

[11] Ricardos' designated successor, Captain General Alejandro O'Reilly died on 23 March of an intestinal illness before he could reach the front.

The 8,300-man centre division of LG de las Amarillas held strongpoints at Le Boulou, Montesquieu-des-Albères and the Camp of Trompettes.

Pérignon's centre division represented the main French striking force with 8,500 infantry and 1,300 cavalry, backed by three reserve brigades totalling 7,000 men.

To make this task easier, he directed Augereau to demonstrate in front of Céret and lure the Spanish into drawing more troops to their left flank.

Dugommier wanted to force the Army of Catalonia into a retreat over the much more difficult Col du Porteille at 800 metres (2,625 ft) altitude, which was 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the southwest of Le Perthus.

On 29 April, de la Unión launched 3,000 troops, including cavalry led by General Pedro Mendinueta y Múzquiz, to attack Augereau on the north bank.

[13] In the early hours of 30 April, Pérignon's division crossed the Tech at the Brouilla ford, planning to climb the mountains behind the Spanish camps in order to take the defences in the rear.

La Barre supported Point's troops, while Victor with a reserve brigade occupied Saint-Génis to keep Navarro's division sending help to the Spanish center.

While these battles were being fought in the centre, Augereau retook Oms from Mendinueta on the French right flank and Sauret captured Argelès-sur-Mer from Navarro on the left.

In order to give an impression of French superiority, Dugommier arrayed a large body of poorly trained volunteers near his headquarters at Banyuls-dels-Aspres.

On the western flank, Augereau sent troops under brigade commanders Guieu and Mirabel to push Mendinueta's cavalry back to Céret.

After covering the withdrawal at Céret, de Vives pulled out of the town and Augereau crossed the bridge to harass the Spanish retreat.