After the afternoon's initial skirmishing with the French, Kutuzov holds a council of war on the evening of November 10 at Melk, at the great abbey here.

He knows several things.

First, he knows the positions of the French from prisoners his Cossacks have captured.

He also knows that Gazan had crossed at Linz and is well ahead of any French reinforcements: Dupont had crossed at Passau and, by November 20, stands at Marbach, fifty kilometers (thirty-one miles) upstream, and Dumonceau is another seven kilometers (four miles) further behind Dupont.

Kutuzov knows the size of the French force—its division strength—and its positions, and he knows that most of the dragoons are not covering the French flank but have turned north.

He also knows, or has made a good supposition, about Napoleon's orders, so he knows what to offer Mortier and Gazan as bait.