 After the afternoon 's initial skirmishing with the French , Kutuzov held a council of war on the evening of 10 November at Melk , at the great abbey there . He knew several things . First , he knew the positions of the French from prisoners his Cossacks had captured . He also knew that Gazan had crossed at Linz and was well ahead of any French reinforcements : Dupont had crossed at Passau and , by 10 November , stood at Marbach , 50 kilometers ( 31 mi ) upstream , and Dumonceau was another 7 kilometers ( 4 mi ) further behind him . Kutuzov knew the size of the French force--its division strength--and its positions , and he knew that most of the dragoons were not covering the French flank but had turned north . He also knew , or had made a good supposition , about Napoleon 's orders , so he knew what to offer Mortier and Gazan as bait . 
 After the afternoon <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>initial skirmishing with the French , Kutuzov held a council of war on the evening of 10 November at Melk , at the great abbey there . He knew several things . First , he knew the positions of the French from prisoners his Cossacks <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> captured . He also knew that Gazan <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> crossed at Linz and was well ahead of any French reinforcements : Dupont <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> crossed at Passau and , by 10 November , stood at Marbach , 50 kilometers ( 31 mi ) upstream , and Dumonceau was another 7 kilometers ( 4 mi ) further behind him . Kutuzov knew the size of the French force--its division strength--and its positions , and he knew that most of the dragoons <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> not covering the French flank but <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> turned north . He also knew , or <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>had</mark></a> made a good supposition , about Napoleon <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>orders , so he knew what to offer Mortier and Gazan as bait . 
After the afternoon  initial skirmishing wid da French , Kutuzov held a council of war on tdaevening of 10 November at Melk , at thdareat abbey there . He knew several things . First , he knew the positions of the French from prisoners his Cossacks done captured . He also knew dat Gazan done crossed at Linz and was well ahead of any French reinforcements : Dupont done crossed at Passau and , by 10 November , stood at Marbach , 50 kilometers ( 31 mi ) upstream , and Dumonceau was another 7 kilometers ( 4 mi ) further behind him . Kutuzov knew the size of thedaench force--its division strength--and its positions , and he knew tdatmost of the dagoons was not covering the French flank but done turned north . He also knew , or done made a good supposition , about Napoleon  orders , so he knew what to offer Mortier and Gazan as bait .