The Battle
After just a few kilometres the Swedish vanguard under command of Ascheberg encountered a small Danish unit that was beaten and effectively routed back north. After a short chase Ascheberg suddenly found himself face to face with Duncan and his forces.
The Danish army was just about to cross the bridge over the creek Fylleån. Duncan, who thought that the enemy troops he could see was the entire Swedish force, continued to let his men cross the bridge in a leisurely rate. Unaware of the danger he let his troops assume battle formations on the south bank with their backs against the creek.
Meanwhile the Swedes had plenty of time to bring forward both the rest of their cavalry and the infantry, which had been lagging behind. The battle started with a salvo from the few Swedish guns, whereoupon Charles XI and his Household cavalry charged down the hills to attack the Danish left wing. Soon the Swedes also charged on the left wing and in the center. After only 15 minutes the Danish left wing was scattered. In the center the Danish infantry put up a determined fight, with a powerful counter-attack from a cavalry unit that tried to break through the Swedish lines, but only one squadron made it through.
At this point Duncan had realized his mistake and tried to repair it by making a new one when he ordered the remaining troops to retreat back across the bridge. But when the Swedish cavalry on the right wing found a ford and started moving fresh cavalry squadrons across the creek Duncan understood that the battle was lost and surrendered. The action had lasted for little more than an hour.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Halmstad
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