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The defense of Vienna was no longer to be thought of. Instead of

an offensive, the plan of which, carefully prepared in accord

with the modern science of strategics, had been handed to Kutuzov

when he was in Vienna by the Austrian Hofkriegsrath, the sole and

almost unattainable aim remaining for him was to effect a

junction with the forces that were advancing from Russia, without

losing his army as Mack had done at Ulm.

On the twenty-eighth of October Kutuzov with his army crossed to

the left bank of the Danube and took up a position for the first

time with the river between himself and the main body of the

French. On the thirtieth he attacked Mortier's division, which

was on the left bank, and broke it up. In this action for the

first time trophies were taken: banners, cannon, and two enemy

generals. For the first time, after a fortnight's retreat, the

Russian troops had halted and after a fight had not only held the

field but had repulsed the French.