Chambers's Papers for the People, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Excerpt from Chambers's Papers for the People, Vol. 1

Toulon alone, of all the revolted cities, still held out against the victo rious banner of the Republic. The energies of the government were di rected against it with greater virulence, that the flag of England, the most hated of the fees of France, floated on its traitorous ramparts. General Carteaux was despatched to undertake the siege, at the head of a large force, amounting to men of all arms; but, carrying on the operations with less vigour than suited the impatience of the sovereign Committee, he was displaced, and succeeded by Dugommier, who had been provided by the celebrated Carnot with a detailed plan for his guidance in the reduction of the place. But during the' temporary absence of the senior oflicer in command, and in a happy moment of inspiration, Dugommier confided the charge of the artillery to the young engineer of Aj accio, who had been recently promoted to a colonelcy of brigade, and who recommended a plan of Operations so much more feasible than the one dictated by the Com mittee, that it was at once adopted, with the preliminary sanction, never theless, of the Representatives on mission with the army. This plan con sisted in carrying the more distant forts which commanded the harbour of Toulon, instead Of pursuing the attack against the main body of the place, and which promised the advantage Of either insuring the destruction of the hostile fleet, or of compelling it hastily to remove out of range of the guns. In either case, the reduction of Toulon was certain and immediate, without much waste Of blood, since it would be no longer tenable by the foreign garrison, which constituted the chief means of its defence. Being finally determined upon, Napoleon applied himself to its execution with all the ardour which the hope Of success could kindle in a spirit fired with genius and ambition; and such was his exercise Of scientific skill, combined with a personal heroism remarkable even in those days of matchless daring, that on the eighteenth day from unmasking his batteries, he was enabled to carry by assault the fort called Little Gibraltar, the possession of which gave the republican arms that decisive predominance he had contemplated. Lord Hood immediately evacuated the harbour with his ships; the garrison prepared for a gradual abandonment of the defensive posts; the wretched inhabitants flocked to the quays, imploring protection from their fugitive allies; the galley-slaves burst from their chains, and commenced a general plunder; the arsenal was set on fire, and the huge vessels of war roared with the flames of devastation; the raging conquerors rushed into the de voted city, and then was consummated this scene Of horror which all de scription must ever fail to portray.

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