The Swedish troops were in command of Count Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt and numbered about 1,400 men when, at the end of March,O.S.

The Russian troops numbered about 4,000 to 5,000 men and were commanded by Lieutenant-General Baron Iosif Igelström.

Putting 2 battalions on sledges, the Swedes captured the village of Pardakoski (north of Kärnakoski) by an unintentional attack.

The operation under the general direction of Igelström was entrusted to the Lieutenant-General Prince Anhalt-Bernburg, who hurriedly arrived from Saint Petersburg to Savitaipale.

[1][2] The reason for the Russian failure in the battle was largely that the attacking columns, due to the extremely rugged terrain and the lack of good maps and guides, arrived at the appointed places later than scheduled and, without maintaining communication between themselves, attacked separately (not at the same time) and thus gave the opportunity to break themselves in pieces.