Battle of Dürenstein order of battle The Battle of Dürenstein order of battle included a Coalition force of Russian and Austrian troops , under the overall command of Mikhail Kutuzov , and a single division of the " Corps Mortier " commanded by Édouard Mortier . In pursuing the Austrian retreat from Bavaria , Mortier had over - extended the three divisions of his newly formed VIII . Corps , spreading them along the north bank of the Danube . Kutuzov enticed Mortier to send Théodore Maxime Gazan ' s 2nd Division into a trap ; French troops were caught in a valley between two Russian columns , and were only rescued by the timely arrival of the 1st Division , under command of Pierre Dupont de l ' Étang . The battle extended well into the night . Both sides claimed a victory . The French lost more than a third of the Corps , and Gazan ' s division experienced over 40 percent losses . The Austrians and Russians also had heavy losses — close to 16 percent — but arguably the most significant was the death in action of Johann Heinrich von Schmitt , one of Austria ' s most capable chiefs of staff . Battle . Early in the morning on 11 November , three coalition columns departed from the vicinity of Krems an der Donau and Melk , circled around the promontory on which Dürnstein is located , to prepare to attack the French column that had encamped overnight at the village . In the morning , responding to rumors of a Russian rear guard , attacked the Russian encampment at nearby Stein ; the two forces engaged head - on until afternoon when one of the Russian columns finally made its way through the mountain defiles and attacked the French rear . The French were trapped in the Danube canyon , attacked from the front and the rear by the Russians . A second French division , under command of Dupont , arrived and attacked the Russian column . Following this attack , another Coalition column arrived and attacked the French . The battle extended well into the night before both sides stopped . The French lost more than a third of the VIII . Corps , and Gazan ' s division experienced over 40 percent losses . Mortier had failed to protect his northern flank , despite specific instructions from Napoleon . The " Corps Mortier " was disbanded and distributed to other Corps , but Gazan received the Officers Cross of the Legion of Honor . The Austrians and Russians also had heavy losses — close to 16 percent — but arguably the most significant was the death in action of Johann Heinrich von Schmitt , one of Austria ' s most capable chiefs of staff . French Order of Battle . The French division was part of the newly created VIII . Corps , the Corps " Mortier " , under command of Édouard Mortier . The role of this Corps was to pursue and defeat the retreating remnants of the Austrian army on the north bank of the Danube river , and to prevent the Russian army , under command of Mikhail Kutuzov , from crossing the river and uniting his force with either the Austrians or with an approaching Russian army . On 6 November Édouard Adolphe Mortier commanded the following forces : Flotilla . Total : 15 battalions , six squadrons , six guns , approximately 12 , 000 men , not all of which were involved in the fighting . Allied Order of Battle . The Russian General Mikhail Kutuzov commanded the Allied Army of approximately 24 , 000 . The Sixth Column did not take part in the fighting . Austrian Cavalry . Total : 58 battalions , 62 squadrons , 14 artillery batteries , approximately 24 , 000 men and 168 artillery pieces .