When, at about ten o'clock, the reconnoitring force from Vendome reached the Azay, it came under a hot fire from the further slope of the valley. Soon after six hostile battalions attacked its flank from the south, and repeated notice was brought in that considerable forces of the enemy were marching on Vendome direct, from north of Azay by Espereuse. General von Kraatz perceived that he would have to face a planned attack made by very superior numbers, and determined to restrict himself to the local defence of Vendome. Under cover of a battalion firmly maintaining its position at Huchepie, he accomplished in perfect order the retreat of the detachment, which then took up a position on the railway embankment to the west of the city. Further to the north the hostile columns, advancing over Espereuse, had already reached Bel Air. A battalion hastening up from Vendome re-occupied the chateau, but being outflanked on the right by a superior force withdrew, and likewise took up a position behind the railway. At about two o'clock the French attacked this position in dense swarms of sharpshooters, but came under the quick-fire of six batteries in position on the heights behind Vendome, which caused their right wing to give way. A column of the enemy advanced along the left bank of the Loir from Varennes against this artillery position, but hastily retreated out of range of the fire from it. The attacks directed against the railway from Bel Air and Tuileries were more serious; but eight companies posted there repelled them. At four o'clock the French once more advanced in strength; fortune wavered for some time, and at length, as darkness fell, they retired. The 1st Cavalry Brigade, accompanied by two companies and a horse battery, marched on this day on Danze. Captain Spitz, with a handful of his Westphalian Fusiliers fell on two batteries halted there, and captured two guns and three limbers. With these and fifty prisoners General von Luederitz (commanding 1st Cavalry Brigade) returned to Freteval by about one o'clock, after pursuing the enemy as far as Epuisay. The attempt of the French on Vendome had utterly failed, and they now retreated to a greater distance. General von Kraatz, however, was ordered, in the prospect of a greater enterprise to be described later, to remain meanwhile in waiting on the Loir. THE XIVTH CORPS IN DECEMBER. In the south-eastern theatre of war the French had at last decided on some definite action.