Carnicer, leader of the Aragonese Carlists since February,[4] was leading a small division towards Tarragona in order to protect insurrectionists there when Carratalá, commander general of the Royal forces in the city mobilized to meet him, joined by Manuel Breton's column from Tortosa and urban militias from Reus and other nearby towns.

Carnicer's objective was to establish strategic control in the area to create a connection between insurrectionists in Catalonia and the Maestrazgo which would allow those two forces to cooperate.

[1] Carnicer set up his forces at the peak of the hills immediately adjacent to the town: Cabrera leading the vanguard, Miralles the left flank supported by cavalry, and Quílez on the right.

[1] The Liberal troops opened fire, led by the urban militias of Porrera, Falcet, and Flix as well as the snipers from Tortosa.

Carnicer himself attempted to fight off the Liberal cavalry with his rifle butt to no avail as the collapse of his forces' right flank had already sealed his defeat.