Upon hearing of the failure of Capitán Manuel U'snavy U'farte and their "French" allies to take the bridge over the Klinkerhoffen River at Todendorf, senior Spanish officer, Capitán Jose Fernando de Sagras y San Miguel, was more concerned by the news of the arrival of Russian forces to the battlefield than the failure to secure the bridgehead.
Never one to pass up an opportunity to get in "le merde," Sagras y San Miguel rapidly pulled together an understrength company to reconnoitre the Russian forces. Before crossing into enemy territory, however, they stumbled upon a Prussian company, led by Major (rtd) Luchs , returning from their own scouting mission. Could Sagras y San Miguel break up the Prussian forces before they could escape to their own lines?
The terrain heavily favoured Sagras y San Miguel. The treeline close on either side of the road was making it difficult for Luchs to maintain reasonable progress, while a clearing towards the end of the road allowed the Spanish line infantry to move into position to cover the road ahead of the Prussians.
Spotting the danger, Luchs sent one of his light cavalry units racing forward to draw the first fire of the Spanish. At first this appeared to work as the Spanish infantry struggled to hit the fast moving cavalry. The setback caused the Spanish commander to have a bit of a brown trousers moment (-1 Honour) as he feared the risk of being outflanked.
Luchs, meanwhile was having problems of his own. His second unit of cavalry failed to carry out his order to advance, throwing his marching order into disarray while a unit of skirmishers became confused and fired upon Luch's own unit, killing two men.
The luck continued to ebb and flow. Spanish reinforcements arrived, threatening the Prussian flank, but, despite being within firing range, would not move or fire. The Prussian lead cavalry finally succumbed under weight of fire, soon followed by the remaining cavalrymen, leading Luchs to change tack. Advancing along the road would allow the Spanish to pick them off, so Luchs moved his forces into the trees to force back the Spanish skirmishers until his shock infantry could get into range of the Spanish line infantry. If successful, one good charge could turn the battle.
The engagement turned into a game of cat and mouse, the Prussians advancing inexorably while the Spanish skirmished away. Then, with no more forest to fall back to the Spanish turned and fought, with skirmishers on both sides being destroyed, a further two units of Spanish skirmishers broken and the last chased out of the woods by the advancing Luchs and his shock infantry.
Sensing a chance to engage the Spanish "Hero" Luch's pressed his advantage, moving to the edge of the woods... and right in front of the Spanish infantry formed up in close order.
Sagras y San Miguel gave the order to fire and a murderous volley was unleashed. In the smoke and confusion, to the shock of his loyal soldiers, Major (rtd) Luchs had turned, abandoned his men, and was shot in the back. It is rumoured that his last words were, "I told them I was unlucky!"
It remains unclear whether the killing shot came from Spanish or Prussian fire but, for the Prussians, seeing their leader shot in the back and dying a coward broke their morale and they dispersed into the woods, each man trying to make his own way to safety.
Sagras y San Miguel emerges from the battle with his reputation further enhanced (Honour +5) but, for the soldiers present, they have for the first time seen that even he can be shaken.
Meanwhile the Prussians are, once again, leaderless. Will this prompt a rescue attempt for Lt Luchs or will another member of Luchs dynasty step to the fore?