The march of the French on Vienna, and thence northwards to Bruenn, led to only one incident of general interest, namely, the filching away from the Austrians of the bridge over the Danube to the north of Vienna.

As it nears the city, that great river spreads out into several channels, the largest being on the north.

The wooden bridge further up the river having been burnt by the Russian rearguard, there remained only the bridge or bridges, opposite the city, on the possession of which Napoleon set much store.
He therefore charged Murat and Lannes to secure them if possible.
Murat was smarting under the Emperor's displeasure for a rash advance on Vienna which had wellnigh cost the existence of Mortier's corps on the other bank.

Indeed, only by the most resolute bravery did the remnant of that corps hew its way through overwhelming numbers.

Murat, who should have kept closely in touch with Mortier by a flotilla of boats, was eager to retrieve his fault, and, with Lannes, Bertrand, and an officer of engineers, he now approached the first part of the bridge as if for a parley during an informal armistice which had just been discussed but not concluded.