 The new VIII Corps , under the overall command of Édouard Mortier , included three infantry divisions and a division of cavalry ( see Order of Battle below ) . Corps Mortier , as it was known , crossed the Danube at Linz and Passau in early November 1805 and marched east , on the north bank of the Danube . Operating independently , the corp 's cavalry conducted reconnaissance ahead of them and on the flanks . Gen. Gazan 's division ( about 6 @,@ 000 men ) took the lead ; Mortier was with them . They were followed by Gen. Dupont 's division ( another 4 @,@ 000 ) about one day 's march behind . Jean @-@ Baptiste Dumonceau 's division ( another 4 @,@ 000 ) , marching another day behind Dupont , brought up the rear . A flotilla of 50 boats acquired at Passau provided communications across the Danube . Before sending Mortier on his mission , Napoleon instructed him to protect his north flank at all times against possible Russian reinforcements , advice he reiterated in subsequent written orders . Napoleon also advised Mortier to secure all crossings of the Danube between Linz and Vienna . 
 The new VIII Corps , under the overall command of Édouard Mortier , included three infantry divisions and a division of cavalry ( see Order of Battle below ) . Corps Mortier , as it was known , crossed the Danube at Linz and Passau in early November 1805 and<a href='been_done' title='1'><mark></mark></a> marched east , on the north bank of the Danube . Operating independently , the corp <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>cavalry<a href='been_done' title='3'><mark></mark></a> conducted reconnaissance ahead of them and on the flanks . Gen. Gazan <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>division ( about 6 @,@ 000 men ) took the lead ; Mortier was with them . They <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> followed by Gen. Dupont <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>division ( another 4 @,@ 000 ) about one day <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>march behind . Jean @-@ Baptiste Dumonceau <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>division ( another 4 @,@ 000 ) , marching another day behind Dupont , brought up the rear . A flotilla of 50 boats acquired at Passau provided communications across the Danube . Before sending Mortier on his mission , Napoleon<a href='been_done' title='9'><mark></mark></a> instructed him to protect his north flank at all times against possible Russian reinforcements , advice he reiterated in subsequent written orders . Napoleon also advised Mortier to secure all crossings of the Danube between Linz and Vienna . 
The new VIII Corps , under da overall command of Édouard Mortier , included three infantry divisions and a division of cavalry ( see Order of Battle below ) . Corps Mortier , as it was known , crossed the Danube at Linz and Passau in early November 1805 and been marched east , on the north bank of tdaDanube . Operating independently , thdaorp  cavalry done conducted reconnaissance ahead of them and on thedaanks . Gen. Gazan  division ( about 6 @,@ 000 men ) took the lead ; Mortier was wit em . They was followed by Gen. Dupont  division ( another 4 @,@ 000 ) about one day  march behind . Jean @-@ Baptiste Dumonceau  division ( another 4 @,@ 000 ) , marching anotha day behind Dupont , brought up the rear . A flotilla of 50 boats acquired at Passau provided communications across the daube . Before sending Mortier on his mission , Napoleon done instructed him to protect his north flank at alll times against possible Russian reinforcements , advice he reiterated in subsequent written orders . Napoleon also advised Mortier to secureallll crossings of the Ddabe between Linz and Vienna .