Russian forces have now reached Åbo, where they meet the main force of the Swedish army in Finland, under command of Colonel Carl Johan Adlercreutz. Adlercreutz is the senior Colonel and in command of 2:a Brigaden (2nd Brigade). Döbelns Brigad (Döbeln's Brigade) is under command of Colonel Georg Carl von Döbeln. Döbelns Brigad was earlier Gripenbergs Brigad (Gripenberg's Brigade), but for obvious reasons, the brigade was renamed. All in all, Adlercreutz has 7 000 men and 18 guns. The Russian forces have about 8 000 men. The Swedes are superior in artillery, but have no cavalry at all, while the Russians have a detachment of 500 Cossacks.The Russians have about 8 000 men besieging Sveaborg and more forces are marching from Svartholm and about 6 000 are trying to force Savolaxbrigaden (the Savolax Brigade) into a pitted battle.The winter and the long march have taken its toll on the Russian forces, despite reinfocements arriving continuously. Sizable reinforcements are on their way from the motherland, but it will take time for them to arrive.Adlercreutz wants to hold Åbo, but he also wants to keep a possible route of retreat open northwards and chooses to meet the Russians east of Åbo. In order to lengthen his lines to meet the numerically superior Russians, Adlercreutz is forced to hold only one small reserve and keep a rather thin line in the centre. He hopes that his superior artillery will make up for the lack of infantry firepower in the centre.Major General Nikolaj Nikolajevitj Rajevskij is in command of the Russian forces. He believes he has caught the Swedish forces as they were retreating and that they are only delivering battle because they are afraid of his cavalry going after their rear if they continue to retreat. He is not out for a decisive battle or destroying the Swedish force, as he belives his tired men could come short in such a battle, especially as the Swedes might retreat into Åbo and cause him to be locked down in a time-consuming siege. Rajevskij is a cavalry general that prefers room to manouvre to set-piece battles. Also, capturing Åbo, which is the capitol of Finland would be a nice achievement to have under his belt.Both armies line up in a north-south line, with the Russians to the east. The Swedes keep a small reserve bahind their centre and concentrate their artillery there as well. The Russians line up with their cavalry in the north and their reserve in the south. What few guns they have are also deployed in the south.Rajevskij's plan is thus to feign a cavalry attack around the Swedish left flank, in the north, hopefully causing the Swedes to commit their reserves to keep the line of retreat open. His main force will then hit the Swedish right flank in the south, avoiding the artillery in the centre and hopefully force the Swedes from their position and into a headlong retreat north.However, Rajevskij is unaware that during the night two companies of Västerbottens Regemente (the Västerbotten Regiment) have arrived after skiing from Wasa, They are currently resting slightly north of the Swedish left flank.The battle is joined as a strong morning sun from the east is glittering in the still thick layer of snow on the ground. The temperature is a few degrees over freezing though, and the snow is wet and heavy.Rajevskij's plan comes undone rather quickly. His Cossacks advance slowly in the thick and wet snow. However, the strong light makes it impossible for Adlercreutz and his staff to see the cavalry advancing, and indeed most of the Russian army, so the Swedish reserve remains uncommited as the Swedish right flank and the Russian left flank starts to exchange volleys of musket fire.The men from Västerbotten, however, are much closer to the Russian cavalry and benefit from their position further north - they need not to stare straight into the sun. They start firing at the Russian cavalry, aiming for the horses, knowing that the thick snow makes the cavalrymen almost useless without their horses. The Russians try to charge the Swedish infantry but are unable to pick up enough speed, as in the snow, the men from Västerbotten are faster on their skis than the Cossacks. Soon the Russian cavalry is engaged in a slow and losing musket duel against the skiing Swedes. By now, Adlercreutz has been made aware of the Russian cavalry, but also that the men from Västerbotten is holding them.About at the same time, the Russians commit their reserves in an attempt to force the Swedish right flank. The Russians try to charge with bayonets, but strong fire from the Swedish ranks drive them back several times with hight casualties. As their reserves engage, they drive the Swedes of 2:a Brigaden back. However, the reserve under personal command of von Döbeln engage and drive the Russians back.After this, the Russians are spent and Rajevskij realises that he has lost the battle. He disengages and retreats. The Swedes are exhausted as well and with no cavalry, they opt to not pursue. The Russian force is beaten and ragged, but still in the field.The Swedes have lost about 600 men, while the Russians have lost roughly 1 000. Among the wounded are von Döbeln, a musket bullet has grazed his head, causing him to wear a black ribbon to protect the wound.The reserve is lead into combat by von Döbeln at Åbo.