The Montenegrin defeat at Celebic caused the left (southern) wing of the Sanjak Detachment o retreat as well. The Austrians pursued here as well, seeking to drive the enemy back over their border. These Montenegrins were independent battalions from “Old Montenegro,” raised at the start of the war from veterans of the just-concluded war with Turkey.

The Montenegrins halted their retreat at a deep ravine, digging in to await the Austrian advance. The Austrians had trouble bringing up their mountain guns over the broken ground, but the Montenegrins had no artillery at all and eventually had to give way. But they had bought enough time for the Plehvje Division to retreat back into Montenegrin territory and regroup.