From prepared positions, the Prussians caught the French in a deadly crossfire, forcing them to withdraw their troops.

In 1793 Pirmasens was part of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt but today the city is in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany, 34.4 kilometres (21 mi) south of Kaiserslautern.

One wing was led by General-Leutnant Ludwig Karl von Kalckstein and consisted of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Garde zu Fuss Infantry Regiment Nr.

The other wing was under General-major Prince Charles Louis of Baden and included the 1st Battalions of the Infantry Regiments Schladen Nr.

The Left Column was under Louis Lequoy and counted six squadrons of the 9th Chasseurs à Cheval and 14th Dragoon Regiments.