The French, based at the river's mouth near the ruins of Minturnae (Traetto), enjoyed the advantage of an accessible supply-base in the nearby port of Gaeta.

With Diego de Mendoza holding the rearguard with 300 men-at-arms and 5,000-6,000 infantry,[2] Cordoba had devised a stratagem to cross the river using bridges made out of boats and barrels, which he had built in the castle of Sessa Aurunca, 23 kilometers south of the Spanish camp.

During the night between 27 and 28 December, the Spanish brought the bridging materials to a place near the castle of Suio, in a position invisible to the French, some six kilometers north of the latter's camp.

[2] The 300 Norman crossbowmen in Suio did not notice the move, so Gonzalo de Cordoba was also able to cross the river with 2,000 German pikes, including 200 horsemen led by Prospero Colonna.

French captain Alegri then decided to destroy the bridge and to order a general retreat to Gaeta, abandoning all the sick soldiers and nine cannons in the camp.