the french army was greatly demoralized and ill-equipped. much of the french ammunition had been soaked in the rain giving the prussians a major advantage against the obsolete french gunnery. but chanzy still ordered his forces into trenches prepared before le mans. the germans hit the french left flank guarded by the huisne river. the flank was turned and nearly routed until artillery and a counterattack halted the german attack. a bold german attack was launched and overwhelmed the french right flank. jauréguiberry attempted to rally the broken troops to mount a counterattack but failed to do so. the french defense dissolved, the stragglers falling back into le mans.