15,000 men, detached as the
Armée de Mayence from the
Armée du Rhin after the fall of
Mainz, were sent to reinforce Kléber's force. On 18 September,
Charette and the
Armée catholique et royale gathered again at
Torfou, on the northern borders of
Tiffauges. Kléber led an advanced guard of 2,000 veterans against the 20,000-strong Royalist force. The following day, at 9 am, fire was exchanged for the first time. Kléber launched one battalion to the right of Torfou and one to its left, attempting to
encircle the town. The Vendéens under Charette coming towards them were discovered, fired on and forced into retreat. However, the women in the rear blocked the fleeing troops and convinced them to regroup and fight on the plateau where the Republicans were advancing. François Henri d'Elbée de La Sablonière entered the line and
Bonchamps tried to outflank the Republican left. Engulfed in Royalist troops, Kléber advanced four cannons but was shot in the shoulder before realising his centre had collapsed. Kléber expected significant reinforcement but received only 4,000 additional men and was forced to withdraw. The republicans lost 200 killed and 800 wounded, the Royalists at least 200 killed. == Consequences ==