Reincarnated as Napoleon-Chapter 51 Siege Of Toulon Part 1

"I see…well you are just in time, Captain Bonaparte," General Carteaux greeted, beckoning him to come forward.

Napoleon walked forward and looked around. Inside the tent were officers under Carteaux's demand doing clerical work. While doing that, he came across a staff worker, working on a new device.

"Familiar, Captain?" General Carteaux called, snapping Napoleon out of his stupor.

"Well, yes, it seems that the French Army is adopting my invention," Napoleon said, smiling.

"That invention of yours sure is fascinating. The fact that it can transmit messages from here to Paris in a blink of an eye is truly remarkable," General Carteaux commented, his eyes fixed on the device. "Imagine the advantage it would give us in coordinating our troops and relaying crucial information during battles."

"Well, we can try it out here in this siege. If I may ask, General Carteaux, do you have a plan on how we should proceed?"

"To be honest, I don't have one yet."

"In that case, General, can I see the map so that I can come up with one?"

General Carteaux laughed. "There must be a misunderstanding, Captain. You are just assigned to lead the artillery, you leave the planning to me."

"But General," Napoleon chuckled, hiding his irritation behind a smile. To think that he would really say that to his face despite being put into command because of his affiliation and no military training is ridiculous. "You haven't come up with a plan yet. Do you think it's prudent that we come up with one of our objectives to retake Toulon at the soonest time possible?"

General Carteaux contemplated for a moment. In the letter sent to him by the National Convention. It was stated that the young Captain standing in front of him was not just an average officer. He graduated top of the class at the Brienne-le-Chateau and Ecole Militaire. Invented the telegraph and advanced the knowledge of thermodynamics.

He admits he has no military training and got into the position because of his political affiliation. If he wanted this siege to be successful, he would need all the hands he could get.

"Fine, you may have a look."

Napoleon scanned the map of Toulon with scrutinizing eyes. His mind raced, analyzing the terrain, studying the fortifications, and considering the strengths and weaknesses of both sides. As he absorbed the details, a plan began to take shape in his mind.

"What was the latest intel about the enemy forces?" Napoleon asked, though he already knew how many of them were in his system, an open communication with General Carteaux would help establish mutuality.

"The city of Toulon is currently under the control of a formidable enemy force," the General began, his voice resonating with authority. "Reports indicate that we are facing a combined presence of 2,000 British soldiers and sailors, along with 6,000 Spanish troops, 6,000 Neapolitans, and 800 Sardinians. It is crucial to note that there may be additional forces concealed within the city, potentially including the support of its citizens. Furthermore, Toulon boasts a robust system of fortifications, with outlying forts and redouts effectively enveloping the city. Our own forces mustered for this campaign consist of approximately 30,000 soldiers…"

"30,000 soldiers may sound more, General but it would be useless in this siege. Before I seek an audience with you, I took my time to look around and I noticed that we only have a few cannons manned by crews who aren't seemingly trained, and we are also short on gunpowder and shot. The only way to break through this siege is to get more artillery," Napoleon explained. 𝒃𝙚𝒅𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒆𝒍．𝙘𝒐𝙢

"And where do you plan on getting that?" General Carteaux asked.

"That's easy, we will acquire it through Marseilles and Avignon. We can also request more from the Army of Italy. We will also need men to man them. Not just any man, but a competent one. Lastly, I want you to send a telegraph to the National Convention and request for more officers."

General Carteaux stood there, staring at Napoleon. Did he just give him orders? That was unprecedented, but the young captain's confidence and the logic behind his suggestions were compelling. The General knew that he needed to put his ego aside for the sake of the mission's success.

"Fine."

***

In the following weeks, the outskirts of Toulon witnessed a remarkable transformation under Napoleon's command. As the young captain assumed control of the French forces, a wave of activity swept through the ranks. With unwavering determination, Napoleon set out to rectify the deficiencies that plagued the army's artillery and fortifications.

His keen eye for potential resources led him to requisition unused guns, which had long been left neglected and forgotten. With unwavering patience, he trained the infantrymen, imparting upon them the necessary skills and knowledge to operate the cannons with precision and efficiency. The rhythmic clatter of artillery drills echoed through the encampment, marking the birth of a new force, poised and ready for the impending siege.

To fortify their positions and secure their foothold, Napoleon orchestrated the establishment of a dedicated workshop. Here, skilled craftsmen toiled diligently, fashioning the tools and equipment required for the forthcoming battle. The air reverberated with the symphony of hammers striking metal, as the workshop hummed with ceaseless activity, forging new cannons and muskets.

Aware of the importance of fortifications in the face of an adversary as formidable as Toulon, Napoleon made arrangements for the transportation of a vast quantity of sandbags from the nearby city of Marseilles. A convoy of carts laden with 100,000 sandbags traversed the winding roads, making its way towards Toulon. These humble sacks of the earth would serve as the building blocks of new forts,

Through hard work, he was able to build up his force to 64 officers, fifteen hundred men, manning 100 cannons, howitzers, and mortars.

However, in spite of this effort, Bonaparte was not as confident about this operation as was later his custom. The officers serving with him in the siege were incompetent, and he was becoming concerned about the needless delays due to these officers' mistakes. Such as the mishandling of ammunition, misfires, and a lack of tactical acumen. As the days stretched on, frustration gnawed at Napoleon's patience, threatening to boil over.

Yet, amidst the chaos and shortcomings, he remained resolute. He immersed himself in the details of the siege, personally overseeing the training of the officers and soldiers under his command. With a firm hand, he instilled discipline and demanded excellence, pushing them to their limits. Those who proved incapable or failed to meet the standards were promptly dismissed from their positions, their incompetence deemed unfit for the critical task at hand.

The expulsion of inept officers became a common occurrence. Napoleon's insistence on competence and his unwavering commitment to success drove him to build a team of capable and skilled individuals. The officers who remained were handpicked by Napoleon himself, chosen for their talent, expertise, and unwavering dedication to the cause.

***

September 19th, 1793.

Napoleon stood on the hill that overlooked the harbor of Toulon. He peered through his spyglass and saw British and Spanish ships anchored on it.

"Captain!" One of his men called. "The construction for the two batteries, La Montagne and Sans-Culottes are completed."

Napoleon removed his spyglass and nodded in satisfaction. "Good."

Ever since he arrived in Toulon, Napoleon followed the real Napoleon's playbook. His plan on taking over Toulon is the perfect plan there is, by positioning their artillery in range and good vantage point, the British ships would be vulnerable, forcing the coalition forces to leave the harbor and surrender the city.

As he stood there, gazing at the ship, he noticed movements. He peered through his spyglass again and saw that the crew of the ships was hastily preparing for sailing.

"So the British have already noticed it huh? As expected," Napoleon muttered under his breath.

Satisfied that he knew their position, Napoleon returned to the military tent where General Carteaux was having a conversation with the officers.

"Oh…the Captain has returned. So, what did you see?"

"The British got scared as soon as they saw the newly built forts. They feared that we would blow their ships to bits, which is what we intended to do. So, General, this is the plan."

General Carteaux, Captain Napoleon, and other officers huddled around the table, looking at the map.

"We are to capture these two forts. l'Eguillette and Balaguier located in the Mont Caire. If we capture those forts, it would give us a good vantage point on the harbor. For this plan to succeed, General, I want you to give me 3,000 men."

"3,000?" General Carteaux's eyes widened with surprise at Napoleon's request for 3,000 men. The number seemed excessive, considering the limited resources and the scale of the operation. However, as he observed the unwavering determination in Napoleon's eyes, he understood that the young captain had a calculated strategy in mind.

"Captain Bonaparte, that's a significant portion of our forces. Are you certain we can spare such a large contingent?" General Carteaux inquired, his voice laced with skepticism.

"General, we have almost thirty thousand men. Three thousand men is all I'm asking for."

Of course, Napoleon knew that General Carteaux wouldn't send that many troops to him, which would lead to the failure of the operation and the British fortifying the position, thus prolonging the siege. He wanted to end this siege as soon as possible and move out to another city where he would fight another battle.

"Fine…" General Carteaux reluctantly agreed to Napoleon's request.

"General, I'm expecting that number to be present before the siege. I am counting on you."

"I already said fine, Captain," Carteaux reiterated.

"When are we going to launch an attack?" One of the officers asked.

"Once all the British ships are huddled to the Port," Napoleon answered. "In three days."