14. A Daring Ruse
The French forces that halted in front of the Tabor Bridge were led by two of Napoleon’s more daring generals, Joachim Murat and Jean Lannes. The duo wanted to cross the Danube, but knew that the bridge was rigged was explosive and would be destroyed if they tried to storm and seize it by force. So they decided to seize it with a ruse of war. The French generals casually ambled to the bridge and behaved in a carefree manner.
As confused Austrian guards aimed their muskets at their breasts, Murat and Lannes laughed and expressed their pleasure at the “just concluded” armistice and peace treaty. Once they reached the bridge’s far side, still seemingly without a care in the world, they asked to see Count Auersperg and wondered if he had already gone to attend the peace signing ceremony. As a messenger was sent to fetch Count Auersperg, Lannes and Murat chatted with the guards to divert their attention from the French soldiers casually crossing the bridge.
