After taking up his positions, the commander in chief had reorganised his troops and incorporated the recruits who had arrived from all sides.

This inaction displeased the National Convention and the two generals were strongly ordered by the Committee of Public Safety to reassume the offensive and march to the aid of the army blockaded in Mainz by all the efforts of the Coalition forces.

The French forces were led by General of Division Amable Henri Delaage and counted 8,500 infantry and 1,000 cavalry from the Army of the Moselle.

The Republican columns advanced at the charge in good order, shouting "Vive la République!"

The right was more exposed than the rest and was charged by the Austrian cavalry, but the columns in the centre and the artillery came to the right's aid and repulsed the enemy.

During the fight near Arlon the future general Claude François Duprès, then only a lieutenant, distinguished himself by capturing a whole Austrian company.

During this time, Pierre Raphaël Paillot de Beauregard was marching on Arlon from the right and took the heights overlooking the town.

Several volleys of grapeshot, fired at only 50 footsteps from the front of the square, threw it into disorder and the carabiniers finished routing it.