Dragalina was wounded the next day during a reconnaissance mission, being succeeded by General Nicolae Petala, leader of the 1st Army Corps [ro].

On 27 October, Schmettow's cavalry was ordered forward to exploit what appeared to be an imminent breakthrough into Wallachia, but Kneußl's leading elements had overreached themselves.

With little overall supervision, the local Romanian commanders launched a series of energetic counterattacks, which first halted the Germans and then drove them back in increasing disarray.

Romanian troops made several breakthroughs into the German lines, capturing two guns and pushing the infantry back into the mountains.

[2][3] On 27 October, the Romanians counterattacked at the village of Arsuri, where they captured two 4-inch howitzer batteries which were subsequently used against the Germans, rendering excellent service.

[4] Among the German officers involved in the battle was Erwin Rommel, at that time serving as an Oberleutnant in command of a company within the Württemberg Mountain Battalion.

Rommel and his troops faced rain and freezing weather during their first night in the mountains, but were forbidden to fall back to a sheltered position.

The second night in the mountains had drained Rommel's men of their last strength, but despite numerous cases of fever, the sector commander continued to refuse a withdrawal.

They were repulsed by troops aided by the local population, and during this engagement the would-be Second Lieutenant Ecaterina Teodoroiu would make her first contribution to the Romanian Campaign.

[6][7] On 27 October, a German unit had succeeded in breaking through the center of the Romanian lines and reached the bridge which approached Târgu Jiu from the west.

A battalion of militia from Gorj was taken by surprise, but - supported by a scratch force from Târgu Jiu itself - managed to hold out until 4:30 pm, when Romanian reinforcements enabled the defenders to prevail.

[8] During the initial stages of the German advance (23-26 October), the Central Powers occupied a front along the Northern outskirts of Frâncești, Turcinești, Sâmbotin and Bumbești.

Almost the entire Western half of the salient created by the offensive of the Central Powers was pushed back towards the Romanian border, save for Arcanului Hill.

On the Eastern half of the salient, the Central Powers managed to hold on to the mountain passes (Surduc and Vulcan), Mare Hill and the settlements of Lainici and Buliga, this sector of the front running just north of Muncelu and Moldavisu.