First Battle of Boudouaou

{{About|Boudouaou||Boudouaou (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = First Battle of Boudouaou | width = | partof = the French conquest of Algeria | image = Battle of Boudouaou in 1837 (A. Raffet, 1839).png | image_size = | alt = | caption = First battle of Boudouaou in 1837 (engraving by Auguste Raffet, 1839) | date = 25–26 May 1837 | place = Boudouaou, Kabylia, {{flagcountry|Algeria}} | coordinates = {{coord|36.7244001|N|3.4113804|E|source:wikidata|display=inline}} | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_marksize = | map_caption = | map_label = | result = | status = | combatants_header = | combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Emirate of Mascara.svg}} Emirate of Mascara *{{flagicon|LBY|1977}} Islamic Zawiyas *{{flagicon image|Fujimori flag.svg}} Rahmaniyya | combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Second French Empire|name=French Empire}} | commander1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Emirate of Mascara.svg}} Emir Abdelkader {{flagicon|LBY|1977}} Cheikh Ali Boushaki {{flagicon|LBY|1977}} Cheikh Ben Zamoum | commander2 = {{flagicon|FRA|1794}} Damrémont {{flagicon|FRA|1794}} Schauenburg {{flagicon|FRA|1794}} Perrégaux {{flagicon|FRA|1794}} La Torré {{flagicon|FRA|1794}} Lixières | units1 = | units2 = | strength1 = Kabyles: * 5,500 warriors * 500 riders | strength2 = Troupes coloniales: * 950 infantrymen * 45 riders | casualties1 = * 100 warriors killed | casualties2 = * 8 soldiers killed * 65 soldiers injured | notes = | campaignbox = }}

The '''First Battle of Boudouaou''' in 25–26 May 1837, during the French conquest of Algeria, pitted the troupes coloniales under Colonel Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg against the troops of Kabylia of the ''Igawawen''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iW9yWvc5FUYC&pg=PA625|title = L'Algérie ancienne et moderne, etc. Vignettes par Raffet et Rouargue frères|year = 1844}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ToJE7ca-c5MC&pg=PA60|title = Le maréchal Bugeaud: d'Après sa correspondance intime et des documents inédits|last1 = Ideville|first1 = Henry d'|year = 1882}}</ref>

==Background== [[File:Colonel Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg 4 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg]] {{Main|First Raid on Reghaïa}} {{See also|Expedition of the Col des Beni Aïcha|First Battle of the Issers}} When Emir Abdelkader was preparing to negotiate a truce with the French invaders in 1837 in order to devote himself to building his ''Emirate'' which would then encircle the Casbah of Algiers, he then stepped up his attacks against agricultural farms and French military posts in Mitidja to balance the balance of power to its advantage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UbYTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA600-IA6|title=Histoire de l'Algérie ancienne et moderne depuis les premiers établissements des Carthaginois jusques et y compris les dernières campagnes du général Bugeaud: Avec une introduction sur les divers systèmes de colonisation qui ont précédé la conquête française|last1=Galibert|first1=Léon|year=1843}}</ref>

He then set up his command center in Titteri mountain range and, from 8 May 1837, caused an insurrection of the Kabyles of the Khachna mountain range, the Beni Aïcha region and the Issers plain to the east of the rich plain of ''Mitidja''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hQNBAAAAcAAJ&pg=RA1-PA26|title = Les Turcs et les Russes : Histoire de la guerre d'Orient|last1 = Lamarche|first1 = Hippolyte Dumas de|year = 1855}}</ref>

This is how the attack on the ''Mercier farm'' in Réghaïa by the rebels commanded by Emir Mustapha, brother of ''Emir Abdelkader'', was going to create an already fragile military shift between the ''French soldiers'' and the ''Kabyle rebels'' who had imposed themselves and content to reign east of the {{interlanguage link|Oued Boudouaou|ar|وادي بودواو}} since the fall of power in Algiers during 1830.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5YdaqJVU55YC&pg=PA26|title = Abd-El-Kader, nos soldats, nos généraux et la guerre d'Afrique, illustrés par Janet-Lange|last1 = Plée|first1 = Léon|year = 1874}}</ref>

This attack was followed by looting and sacking of this agricultural farm overlooking the Kabyle country, and this upheaval at the gates of ''Algiers'' forced Governor General Charles-Marie Denys de Damrémont and his lieutenant General Alexandre Charles Perrégaux to undertake a military expedition on 17 May 1837. on the ''Beni Aïcha'' and the Issers to counter the allies of ''Emir Abdelkader'' and push them back towards the eastern shore of Oued Isser.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ruw7-IcbkJYC&pg=PA173|title = Annales algériennes|last1 = Pellissier De Reynaud|first1 = E.|year = 1854}}</ref>

The bitter failure that Colonel Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg suffered during the expedition to the ''Col des Beni Aïcha'' during the day of 18 May 1837 because of the bad weather which had fallen on his military column in this spring season and because of its ignorance of the marshy and bushy terrain of the ''Beni Aïcha'' region around Meraldene River, dealt a terrible blow to the morale of the troupes coloniales engaged in the expedition, but also to the soldiers who had remained stationed in a military camp in the joint ownership of Boudouaou.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NxlPDL_T1ToC&pg=PA212|title = Histoire de la conquête et de la colonisation de l'Algérie (1830-1860)|last1 = Fillias|first1 = Achille|year = 1860}}</ref>

The ''Kabyles'' of ''Beni Aïcha'' under the direction of the marabout Cheikh Ali Boushaki had been reinforced and backed up by the reinforcements arrived from Laazib Zamoum under the direction of Cheikh Ben Zamoum, and who all together thwarted the expedition of Colonel ''Schauenburg'' who is then withdrawn in the haste and the rout towards the camp of ''Boudouaou'' to spare its troops of a programmed and imminent decimation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jsIRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA273|title = Campagnes de l'armée d'Afrique, 1835-1839|year = 1870 | last1=Orléans | first1=Ferdinand-Philippe d' }}</ref>

==Boudouaou Camp== [[File:Photo boudouaou marine 08102014.jpg|thumb|left|River mouth of ''Oued Boudouaou'']]

When Colonel ''Schauenburg'' brought back from the ''Col des Beni Aïcha'' on 19 May 1837 his three thousand soldiers to the ''Boudouaou camp'' by a very strong sustained march to flee the ''Kabyles'' who were defending their land, they then found a supply convoy there to meet their food needs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G6NDAAAAcAAJ&pg=272|title=Campagnes de l'armée d'Afrique: 1835-1839|year=1870|last1=Orléans|first1=Ferdinand-Philippe d'}}</ref>

Indeed, the failure of the first expedition to Kabylia was also due to the non-arrival of General ''Perrégaux'' who had been prevented from landing on the shore of Zemmouri El Bahri near the mouth of Oued Merdja with his thousand soldiers and provisions of food, and this because of the storm which had hit the ''{{interlanguage link|Bay of Algiers|fr|Baie d'Alger}}'' and which prevented his ship from reaching the shores of ''Kabylia''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BhAqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA540|title = Le livre d'or de l'Algérie: Histoire politique, militaire, administrative; événements et faits principaux; biographie des hommes ayant marqué dans l'armée, les sciences, les lettres, etc., de 1830 à 1889|last1 = Faucon|first1 = Narcisse|year = 1890}}</ref>

The ''Boudouaou camp'' allowed these French soldiers to withdraw safely after having consumed all their food which was only enough for three days of expedition, and this supply convoy found in ''Boudouaou'' fell at the peak to fill the bags of the soldiers who had emptied in those cold and harsh days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x741AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA117|title = Généraux et soldats d'Afrique|last1 = Blanc|first1 = Alphonse Michel|year = 1885}}</ref>

Colonel ''Schauenburg'' took on his return from the valley of ''Oued Meraldene'' to ''Boudouaou'' a winding path along the Mediterranean sea near the mouth of {{interlanguage link|Oued Corso|ar|وادي قورصو}} in order to guard and protect the rear and flanks of his military troop.

But when the French column was going to dodge the harassment of the rebels which had lasted since the morning, and was going to arrive at a natural fountain to quench their thirst before reaching ''Boudouaou'', the kabyles of ''Cheikh Ali Boushaki'' and of ''Cheikh Ben Zamoum'' attempted a double attack on ''Schauenburg'''s troops.

Indeed, the ''Amraoua'' cavalry undertook a lateral attack on the beach of the sea of Boudouaou El Bahri, while the ''Kabyle'' infantry of the ''Beni Aïcha'' was stationed on the heights to surround and attack the French invaders.

Colonel ''Schauenburg'' had guessed this movement of the ''Kabyles'', and he ordered fire shells to be fired from two pieces of mountain, and to launch scuffles of the infantry which was ambushed.

This ''French'' response then stopped the ''Kabyle'' riders, while an offensive return of the soldiers was carried out trying to outflank the ''Kabyles'', and this gave the column time to cross the parade which preceded the haven of peace of ''Boudouaou''.

The ''Kabyles'' temporarily contented themselves with tracking down the French to ''Boudouaou'' and did not continue their pursuit to the military camp.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5r88AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA458|title = L'Ami de la religion|year = 1837}}</ref>

General ''Damrémont'' took advantage of this escapade and this withdrawal, hoping that the ''Kabyle'' uprising was going to abort, and believed to be able to have military troops to promote an expedition to the West of Algeria to reinforce General Thomas Robert Bugeaud (1784–1849).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShhIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA402|title = Le Maréchal Canrobert: Souvenirs d' un siècle|author1 = Bapst|year = 1899}}</ref>

But ''Damrémont'' did not order to leave the valley of Boudouaou, and he wanted to perpetuate the French presence at the entrance of Kabylia by permanently threatening the ''Beni Aïcha'' and the ''Issers'', and this by the establishment of a fortified and entrenched camp at ''Boudouaou'', which is a strategic position equidistant from the various valleys of Sebaou, Issers and Meraldene on the one hand and the Mitidja plain on the other.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ymI1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA115|title = Séances et travaux de l'Académie des sciences morales et politiques, compte rendu|year = 1865}}</ref>

==Garrison==

From 8 May to 25 May 1837, the ''Emir Abdelkader'' forced General ''Damrémont'' to mobilize a garrison and a body of troops stationed in the ''Boudouaou camp'' in a stronghold at the entrance to ''Kabylia'' in order to defend ''Algiers'' against a possible attack by rebels and ''Kabyle'' dissidents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SmIPAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA177|title = Annales algériennes|year = 1854}}</ref>

These hundreds of French soldiers posted and exposed in the Boudouaou ravine were already a sign of success for ''Emir Abdelkader'' to have forced the French to build one more isolated military post, with all the embarrassments and all the dangers to the soldiers involved in each new sedentary establishment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PzYjghDK8y4C&pg=PA115|title = Séances et Travaux de l'Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques|year = 1865}}</ref>

The garrison that was maintained at Boudouaou was made up of only one battalion, which was a latent and indirect victory for the Kabyle who hoped for a more striking and immediate triumph by attacking this reduced number of French soldiers who had been left behind on the spot to raise the redoubt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DnULAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA117|title = L'Armée d'Afrique depuis la conquête d'Alger|last1 = Quesnoy|first1 = Ferdinand|year = 1888}}</ref>

==Battle== The leaders of the Kabyle coalition, ''Cheikh Ali Boushaki'' and ''Cheikh Ben Zamoum'', did not miss such a great opportunity to attack with superior Algerian forces this weak detachment of French soldiers, before their work of building the camp of Boudouaou protected and sheltered them from rebel attacks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zHcoAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA5-PA64|title = Nouvel aperçu sur l'Algérie: Trois nécessités en Afrique: Conserver, pacifier, coloniser|last1 = Blondel|first1 = Léon|year = 1838}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3h5_FoC3YRUC&pg=PA49|title = La légion étrangère de 1831 à 1887: Avec un plan|last1 = Grisot|first1 = Paul Adolphe|year = 1888}}</ref>

The construction and the shoulder of the camp had still very little to be completed, when at sunrise of 25 May 1837, about 5,500 Kabyles on foot and 500 horsemen on horseback appeared on the east bank of the ''Oued Boudouaou'', in front of the French bivouac.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G6NDAAAAcAAJ&pg=274|title=Campagnes de l'armée d'Afrique: 1835-1839|last1=Orléans|first1=Ferdinand-Philippe d'|year=1870}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YPEHAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA94|title = La revue des deux mondes|year = 1887}}</ref>

The French soldiers surprised in the camp by the Kabyle attack were then commanded by the battalion chief the Commandant ''Antoine de La Torré'' (1787–1851), of the 2nd light regiment, and they were then only 900 infantrymen, of the 2nd light regiment and 48th line regiment, and 45 riders on horse, of the 1st hunter regiment, with two mountain howitzers supplied with four shots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p6mD0oLMWXcC&pg=RA1-PA602|title=L Algérie ancienne et moderne: Depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'à nos jours comprenant le bombardement de Tanger, la prise de Mogador, la bataille d'Isly et le glorieux combat de Djemma-Gazouat|last1=Galibert|first1=Léon|year=1846}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=umBKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA220|title = Les commencements d'une conquète: l'Algérie de 1830 à 1840|last1 = Rousset|first1 = Camille|year = 1887}}</ref>

==External links== * {{YouTube|AFl6d6lFtUo|(fr) Information on the capture of Algiers in 1830}} * {{YouTube|00QiSziElDo|(fr) The conquest of Algeria: Interview with Ahmed Djebbar}} * {{YouTube|jIRQIsRnAqo|1- (fr) The conquest of Algeria (1830-1847)}} * {{YouTube|txTj_wbH1EY|2- (fr) The conquest of Algeria (1830-1847)}} * {{YouTube|3Hbx7NydQUk|(fr) The conquest of Algeria: Interview with Jacques Frémeaux}} * {{YouTube|vcxv61UDufI|(fr) Conquest of Algeria - Marshal Bugeaud}}

==Bibliography== * {{cite book |last=Léon Blondel |date=1838 |title=Nouvel aperçu sur l'Algérie: Trois nécessités en Afrique: conserver, pacifier, coloniser |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zHcoAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA5-PA64 |location=Paris |publisher=Delaunay, Éditeur |pages= 64–65 }}

* {{cite book |last=Léon Galibert |date=1844 |title=L'Algérie ancienne et moderne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iW9yWvc5FUYC&pg=PA625 |location=Paris |publisher=Furne et Cie, Libraires-Éditeurs |pages= 625–626 }}

* {{cite book |last=Léon Galibert |date=1846 |title=L'Algérie ancienne et moderne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p6mD0oLMWXcC&pg=RA1-PA602 |location=Paris |publisher=Furne et Cie, Libraires-Éditeurs |page= 602 }}

* {{cite book |last=Edmond Pellissier de Reynaud |date=1854 |title=Annales algériennes, Volume 2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SmIPAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA177 |location=Paris |publisher=Librairie Militaire |pages= 177–180 }}

* {{cite book |last=Hippolyte Dumas de Lamarche |date=1855 |title=Les Turcs et les Russes : histoire de la guerre d'Orient |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hQNBAAAAcAAJ&pg=RA1-PA26 |location=Paris |publisher=Gustave Barba, Libraire-Éditeur |page= 26 }}

* {{cite book |last=Achille Fillias |date=1860 |title=Histoire de la conquête et de la colonisation de l'Algérie (1830-1860) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NxlPDL_T1ToC&pg=PA212 |location=Paris |publisher=Arnauld de Vresse, Libraire-Éditeur |page= 212 }}

* {{cite book |last=Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques |date=1865 |title=Séances et Travaux de l'Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, Volume 72 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PzYjghDK8y4C&pg=PA115 |location=Paris |publisher=Auguste Durand, Libraire |page= 115 }}

* {{cite book |last=Ferdinand-Philippe d'Orléans |date=1870 |title=Campagnes de l'armée d'Afrique, 1835-1839 |url=https://archive.org/stream/campagnesdelarme00orla#page/272/mode/2up |location=Paris |publisher=Michel Lévy Frères |pages= 270–274 }}

* {{cite book |last=Léon Plée |date=1874 |title=Abd-El-Kader, nos soldats, nos généraux et la guerre d'Afrique |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5YdaqJVU55YC&pg=PA26 |location=Paris |publisher=Gustave Barba, Libraire-Éditeur |page= 26 }}

* {{cite book |last=Henri d'Ideville |date=1882 |title=Le maréchal Bugeaud: d'après sa correspondance intime et des documents inédits, Volume 2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ToJE7ca-c5MC&pg=PA60 |location=Paris |publisher=Firmin Didotet Cie, Libraire |page= 60 }}

* {{cite book |last= Alphonse Michel Blanc |date=1885 |title=Généraux et soldats d'Afrique |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x741AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA117 |location=Paris |publisher=Librairie Plon |pages= 117–120 }}

* {{cite book |last= Ferdinand-Désiré Quesnoy |date=1888 |title=L'armée d'Afrique depuis la conquête d'Alger |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DnULAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA117 |location=Paris |publisher=Jouvet et Cie, Éditeurs |pages= 117–118 }}

* {{cite book |last= Narcisse Faucon |date=1890 |title=Le livre d'or de l'Algérie: histoire politique, militaire, administrative |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BhAqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA540 |location=Paris |publisher=Augustin Challamel, Éditeur |pages= 540–542 }}

* {{cite book |last= Germain Bapst |date=1899 |title=Le Maréchal Canrobert: souvenirs d' un siècle, Volume 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShhIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA402 |location=Paris |publisher=Librairie Plon |page= 402 }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boudouaou, 1st}} Category:Battles of the French conquest of Algeria Category:Conflicts in 1837 Category:1837 in Algeria Category:May 1837 Category:19th century in Boumerdès Province Category:History of Kabylia Category:Battles involving the Emirate of Abdelkader

First Battle of Boudouaou

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