During the autumn of 1793 the war had turned in favour of the French. Reinforcements began to arrive as royalist and federalist uprisings were crushed across the Midi. Dugommier was given control of the Army of Pyrénées-Orientales in December, ending a year of botched appointments and inept military leadership. The Spanish army was systematically driven south and eventually back over the frontier after defeat at Le Boulou in April 1794. As the Spanish retreated many French Catalans chose to cross the frontier to escape retribution, only to return later when events allowed. The experience of invasion, occupation and liberation left communities deeply scarred; scores were settled often violently and civil authorities were overwhelmed with denunciations and accusations. With no tradition of national military service, fighting aged men of French Catalonia resisted conscription into the national army. Rather than fight on a foreign battlefield most men enlisted in paramilitary units or miquelets formed to defend communities. During the war miquelets fought alongside the French or Spanish armies depending on the loyalty of local communities. Miquelets were most effective in guerrilla warfare but were unreliable, motivated by the booty of war and indistinguishable from groups of bandits, deserters or smugglers.