Despite winning a recent victory over the French, Ricardos fell back to the Tech River valley where he had his troops construct a fortified camp.

After a French night attack on 14–15 October against the Pla-del-Rey entrenchments also failed, d'Aoust withdrew his forces, having suffered disproportionate losses.

[1] The Spanish army of Ricardos invaded France on 17 April and quickly seized Céret in the Tech valley.

At this point, Ricardos chose to begin the Siege of Bellegarde which granted the French commander of the Army of the Eastern Pyrenees, Louis-Charles de Flers six weeks to whip his raw recruits into shape.

Nevertheless, the all-powerful representatives-on-mission deposed Flers and appointed Hilarion Paul Puget de Barbantane to replace him.

[2] Meanwhile, Ricardos established four fortified camps surrounding Perpignan, causing Barbantane to panic and abandon the army.

On 17 September 1793, d'Aoust, commanding the troops at Perpignan and Jacques Gilles Henri Goguet, leading the division at Salses-le-Château combined to win the Battle of Peyrestortes, capturing the most menacing of the Spanish camps.

Worried about the French recapture of Villefranche and his exposed left flank, Ricardos ordered a retreat to the Tech valley, where he built an entrenched camp at Le Boulou.

A simultaneous French attack was directed at the Spanish right flank held by Juan de Courten's soldiers.

Believing that the French were making their main effort against Pla-del-Rey, Ricardos only reinforced Courten with the Walloon Guards and some cavalry.

[11] On 26 October 1793, d'Aoust and three brigade-sized columns under Bertrand Clausel, Louis Pierre Delattre, and Raymond set out.

Only Delattre's column reached Espolla where he found the Spanish garrison fully alert and the French were chased back across the frontier.

[12] There Dagobert complained to the Committee of Public Safety, "Are the plans of Fabre and Gaston like the Ark of the Lord which one cannot touch with one's finger without being struck dead?

"[13] Turreau requested a transfer and on 3 November 1793 his wish was granted when the Committee nominated François Amédée Doppet to command the army.