Reincarnated as Napoleon

Chapter 53 Siege Of Toulon Part 3

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November 30th, 1793.

"I want to go home..." Napoleon muttered, his voice filled with weariness and frustration, as he slouched inside the cramped military tent. His gaze drifted absentmindedly upwards, fixating on the ceiling as if seeking solace or answers. Since his arrival in Toulon, the situation had stagnated, leaving him disheartened. The construction of forts was progressing steadily, but beyond that, there seemed to be little significant advancement. The British forces responded with their own fortifications, resulting in a frustrating deadlock.

In essence, it had become a protracted stalemate—a siege in every sense of the word. Napoleon couldn't help but feel a growing unease with the passage of time. A true siege could not be contained within mere days; it required persistence and endurance. However, this prolonged impasse was beginning to pose a problem for Napoleon. The prevailing hygiene practices of the era, or rather the lack thereof, were becoming increasingly troublesome.

The unsanitary conditions within the encampment were starting to take a toll on the morale and health of his troops. Disease and discomfort lingered in the air, brought on by cramped quarters, inadequate waste disposal, and insufficient access to clean water. The stench of decay and filth permeated the surroundings, adding another layer of discomfort to the already trying circumstances.

He was lucky if he could take a bath once a week, but even then, the water was scarce and hardly sufficient to cleanse away the grime of battle.

However, this is not only exclusive to the battlefield; even the bustling cities of France were experiencing unsanitary and overcrowded conditions. The absence of indoor plumbing and sewers created a breeding ground for disease and filth. The streets were teeming with waste, and the lack of proper waste management systems only added to the misery of the populace.

Napoleon's frustrations with the state of hygiene grew, fueled by his own experiences in the military and his deep concern for the welfare of the people. He realized that if he wanted to bring about significant change, he needed to address these issues at their core.

So he decided, once he took the position of power, one of the things he would prioritize was a comprehensive reform of public hygiene and sanitation. Napoleon knew that to truly transform the living conditions of the people, he needed to tackle the problem from a systemic level.

"Major!" one of his men called, interrupting Napoleon's contemplation.

Napoleon straightened up, his weariness momentarily replaced by a focused determination.

"Yes, soldier," he replied.

The young soldier, his face smudged with dirt and fatigue etched in his eyes, approached Napoleon with a sense of urgency.

"The Allied forces are attacking from the North! General Dugommier is requesting your assistance," the soldier urgently informed Napoleon.

Napoleon was not surprised by the attack, in fact, he had been expecting and waiting for it. British General O'Hara was the commander of the Allied Forces stationed at Toulon who led an assault on the French batteries facing Fort Malbousquet.

This event in the siege of Toulon would be one of the most important to the French victory in Toulon, he just had to act on it.

Without wasting a moment, Napoleon sprang into action, swiftly donning his uniform and tricorn hat.

As he emerged from the tent, his presence commanded attention, and the soldiers under his command who were waiting outside formed a disciplined line.

"Attention!" Napoleon's voice boomed, and the soldiers responded with a resounding stamp of their foot that reverberated through the air, shaking the ground beneath them. Their eyes locked onto their leader, their unwavering gaze reflecting their unwavering commitment, ready to follow his every command.

"General Dugommier is requesting aid. This battle will be as important as taking over Mont Caire. If we defeat O'Hara, we defeat the Allied forces that are occupying Toulon. We shall not falter in the face of this assault! We have fought bravely thus far, and we will continue to fight until victory is ours. Today, we shall crush the enemy and reclaim Toulon for France!"

The soldiers' spirits soared at Napoleon's rallying cry. Their hearts burned with a fervor fueled by the unwavering confidence of their leader. With synchronized precision, they tightened their grip on their muskets, ready to unleash a storm of fire upon the enemy.

Napoleon hopped onto his horse and quickly made his way towards the battlefield. His men trailed behind him, their boots pounding against the earth in unison.

As they reached the front lines, Napoleon surveyed the scene before him. Smoke billowed in the distance, mingling with the cries of wounded soldiers and the ear-piercing noise of cannons and muskets.

"Major!" General Dugommier shouted. "It's good that you are here."

"What's the situation?" Napoleon asked.

"The British have overrun our forts. Prepare your men! We will launch a counterattack," General Dugommier declared, his voice filled with urgency and determination.

Napoleon's eyes narrowed as he listened to the general's words. While the immediate instinct might be to engage in a fierce counterattack, he hesitated for a moment, a plan forming in his mind as he watched the British troops from a distance advancing deeply into the French lines.

"General Dugommier," Napoleon spoke calmly, his voice cutting through the chaos of the battlefield. "I want you to hold that order."

The general's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"The allied forces are pushing deeper into our lines. And once they are too deep, that's where we will strike, encircling them and cutting off their retreat," Napoleon explained, his voice steady and composed.

General Dugommier's confusion turned into intrigue as he listened to Napoleon's plan. It was a deviation from the expected counterattack, but there was a method to Napoleon's strategic thinking.

"Our forces are currently scattered and disorganized. If we launch a direct counterattack now, we risk being repelled and suffering heavy casualties," Napoleon continued. "Instead, we will lure the enemy deeper into our territory, drawing them away from their strong defensive positions. This will create an opportunity for us to strike at their vulnerable flanks and rear."

The general nodded, starting to grasp the brilliance behind Napoleon's plan. It was a gamble, but one that had the potential to turn the tide of the battle in their favor.

"Very well, Major."

Napoleon acknowledged the general with a nod, his gaze fixed on the advancing enemy forces. He knew that timing was crucial in executing his plan successfully. As the British troops pushed further into French positions, Napoleon immediately gave the signal.

Dugommier and Napoleon rallied their troops and started executing the plan. General O'Hara, who was leading the troops in the front noticed the two approaching regiments converging in both directions.

"Prepare for a flanking maneuver! Protect the rear!" O'hara shouted to his troops, attempting to reposition them and fortify their vulnerable sides. But it was too late. The French soldiers, under Napoleon and Dugommier's command, struck.

Muskets were fired in a volley that ripped through the air, sending a hail of bullets toward the Allied forces.

Caught off guard by the sudden assault, the British troops faltered. They tried retreating to Fort Malbousquet but their path was swiftly blocked by a regiment of French soldiers, cutting off their escape route. Panic spread among the ranks of the Allied forces as they found themselves trapped between the advancing French troops and the formidable fortifications they had overrun.

"Form a square!" O'Hara bellowed. "Don't let them break through!"

The soldiers under his command hurriedly obeyed his orders, attempting to form a defensive square formation to protect themselves from the relentless assault of the French troops. The square formation was good against cavalry but there wasn't a cavalry present on the battlefield instead there were just infantrymen.

In Napoleon's real history, General O'Hara and his men would be pushed back to Fort Malbousquet, but in this world, he had come up with an efficient plan. That is to encircle O'hara and force him to surrender.

Minutes later, General O'Hara realized the dire situation they were in. The French troops had effectively encircled his forces, cutting off any possible retreat. With no other option, he reluctantly raised a white flag, signaling surrender.

Napoleon spurred his horse forward and approached General O'Hara.

"Lay down your weapons," Napoleon ordered in English.

The soldiers looked over at their commander who nodded somberly.

General Dugommier approached Napoleon, stopping his horse the moment he arrived at Napoleon's side.

"You have captured their General," Dugommier said.

Napoleon simply nodded. "That's correct."

"What should we do now, Major?" he asked. "Should we launch an assault on Malbousquet?"

Napoleon shook his head. "No, it would be a waste of troops. There is a surefire way of removing the entirety of the allied forces out of Toulon."

"What is it?" Dugommier inquired.

"You know it, the Mont Caire."