October 1805
Balkan's Operational Area
Things have taken a turn for the worse. Last month I advanced the 2nd Army into Odenburg from the south. The intention was to delay perhaps 1/2 of the Austrian Army on its way back to Vienna, which I expected to be occupied by France by the following month. The result was a bitter defeat for Ottoman forces in Odenburg. Although not a decisive defeat-it was costly-without including loosing a horse artillery regiment.
The Egyptian Army also suffered a defeat and was driven south. This was very likely an unnecessary defeat-the Sultan neglected to allow the Egyptian Army to go on supply-even though depots had been built for that purpose-details, details.

Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.
Thomas Jefferson