After such hard fighting both commanders agreed that a twenty-four hours’ halt was absolutely necessary.  The day could not be termed one of rest, for there were thousands of wounded to be collected and cared for, arms to be cleaned, for they had been rendered useless by the rain, and provisions to be brought up from the rear.  Merci made the most of the time thus given him.  The bottom of the mountain towards the plain was fortified by several rows of felled trees, and a portion of his infantry was posted between this point and the town of Freiburg, which was but half a mile away.  The intrenchments that had been formed during the siege of the town were occupied by them; and as their front was covered by the fire of the guns from the fortress, as well as by that of the infantry on the hill, he considered the position to be impregnable, and therefore placed the main body of his army at the edge of the flat top of the hill, a strong body behind a wood about halfway up the slope, and his cavalry extended from that point to the walls of the city.

After reconnoitering the position, Enghien determined to make two attacks, one on the trenches between the foot of the hill and the town, and the other on the rows of felled trees at the foot of the mountain.  A false attack was to be made between the two points.  Turenne’s force advanced nearly to the foot of the hill, the prince’s army followed him, and also took up its position.  But just as the attack was about to be made a great tumult was heard on the hill, and Enghien and Turenne rode to a neighbouring height in order to ascertain what was going on, leaving strict orders that no movement was to be made until their return.  Count d’Espenan, who commanded the two advanced regiments of Enghien’s army, however, ordered a detachment to attack a redoubt which stood within the line of attack, and Merci sent supports to its defenders.

D’Espenan sent more troops on his side and the engagement became serious.  Suddenly the Imperialist artillery opened fire along the whole of their line, and Enghien’s troops, apparently taking this for the signal of the beginning of the battle, moved forward for the assault without order or leader.  As they were broken and confused by endeavouring to pass through the abattis of felled trees, the Bavarians rushed out and drove them back with great slaughter.  Enghien and Turenne, galloping up in all haste, in vain attempted to rally them.  Officers and men alike were panic stricken.  The two generals then rode to Turenne’s army and advanced against the defence of trees.  For a long time the battle raged without any marked success on either side.  Several times the French made their way in to the intrenchments and were as often repulsed.  Merci ordered his cavalry to dismount, and led them into the fray, but, darkness falling suddenly, the assailants ceased to attack, and occupied for the night the ground on which the struggle had taken place.  The