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.