As for the Austrian army, it does not exist....

If your armies advance, the whole position will alter at once."[38] A few days later, however, when 27,000 more Russians were at hand, including his Imperial Guard, the Czar passed from the depths of depression to the heights of confidence.

The caution of his wary commander, Kutusoff, who urged a Fabian policy of delay and retreat, now began to weary him.

To retire into northern Hungary seemed ignominious.

And though Frederick William held to his resolve of not drawing the sword before December 15th, and by that time the Archduke Charles with a large army was expected below Vienna, yet the susceptible young autocrat spurned the behests of irksome prudence.