The Austrian soldiers within the city were shocked, but their vision was obstructed by their own comrades; some even had their heads trampled by fleeing troops jumping down from the walls. For a moment, they were unable to fire effectively.
In the midst of this brief chaos, several French Army columns had already charged close to the city walls.
An Austrian officer shouted frantically, "Idiots, get out of the way! Fire, fire! Drive them back!"
Under his command, gunfire finally erupted from behind the battlements, and a dozen French soldiers fell to the ground in response.
However, within seconds, those soldiers rubbed the places where they'd been hit, got back on their feet, picked up their guns, and continued shouting as they strode quickly towards the walls.
