Young bloods

'Hmm.'The general frowned.'Have you considered how much more they will be displeased, should the attack fail and we lose too many men?'

'Yes, sir. But that could happen at any time. I don't see how waiting until the weather has improved is going to better our chances.'

'No. That's true,' General Dugommier reflected, and then slapped a hand down on the table. 'Very well, we'll wait for another hour. But if there's no sign of Lapoye's signal by three o'clock, then I'm calling off the attack.'

Delaborde smiled and nodded his assent. Napoleon felt betrayed. If this was how France waged war then the conflict with the other nations of Europe was as good as lost.

'Back to your units, gentlemen. If there's no signal, I'll send word for you to order your men back to camp.'

As he made his way back to the fish market Napoleon's brow creased into a frown. The campaign to retake Toulon had been dogged by dithering commanders for long enough. If Paris was minded to make an example of those it held responsible for not pursuing the siege with enough vigour, then it was possible that Dugommier's immediate subordinates might be drawn into the net. Napoleon swore under his breath. If only he were in command. Then he'd order the attack at once, come rain, snow and ice. He stopped in his tracks, a sudden thought seizing his mind. It was very simple. The attack would go ahead. He would make it happen. Striding forwards again he hurried back to the fish market, and headed towards the church. Inside he stood at the bottom of the tower and called on Junot to descend and join him. After a quickly glance round to make sure that they would not be overheard Napoleon spoke quietly to his companion.

'Junot, the general intends to call off the attack.'

'Why? What for, sir?'

'The rain. He thinks it will bog our men down, and it means we might not see Lapoye's signal.'

'What if Lapoye has fired it already, and is waiting for our acknowledgement?'

'Yes,' Napoleon mused. 'That might be so. In which case the rain will be the ruin of us all.'

Junot smacked a fist against his thigh. 'Damn this weather! If only it would clear for a moment.'

'Let's assume it won't. Something has to be done, Junot. Someone has to make things happen.'

Juont looked at him cautiously. 'What are you suggesting, sir?'

'I want you to fire a green signal rocket.'

'What?'

'A green rocket. If Lapoye sees it, then the attack continues as planned. If he doesn't then at least our attack on Fort Mulgrave will go ahead.'

'And what if we fail, sir?'

Napoleon shrugged. 'Let's make sure we don't. Now then, Junot, are you with me on this?'

Lieutenant Junot thought for a moment and then nodded once. 'You've not let me down yet, sir. And I won't let you down.'

'Good.' Napoleon smiled, and clasped the other man's arm. 'That's good. If this goes badly for us, then you have my word that I will do everything I can to exculpate you.'

'There's no need for that, sir.'

'Thank you, Junot. Then let's waste no more time. Fire that rocket.'

Junot saluted and hurried from the church. Napoleon let him get a head start and then emerged into the market and trudged casually back towards the blacksmith. He resumed his place in front of the hearth and waited, his heart beating fast with anticipation and excitement over the terrible risk he had just taken. The minutes passed, and the rain continued to lash down. Then Napoleon heard a cry from outside the smithy.

'What's that?' One of the officers around the fire craned his neck to look outside.

A sergeant came running up. He stopped and saluted.'Colonel Buona Parte, sir.'

Napoleon twisted round. 'Yes?'

'It's the signal, sir. The green rocket.'

Even as he spoke there was a muffled rumble, like thunder, as the batteries facing Fort Mulgrave opened fire, obedient to their orders. Any moment now the advance guard of General Dugommier's assault columns would be moving out of La Seyne and crossing the rainswept ground towards the enemy. Nothing could hold the attack back now, thought Napoleon. He had committed thousands of men to it. His fate was in their hands.

Chapter 80

Apart from the distant roar of the guns no sound of battle carried across to the men of the reserve column as they remained in the fish market and shivered in the slashing rain. Napoleon was consumed with the need for some news, any news, of how the attack was progressing. He strode up and down one side of the market, hands clasped tightly behind his back and head tilted forward as his mind played out all the variables that could affect the assault on Fort Mulgrave. Junot and the other officers occasionally glanced at their mercurial young commanding officer, but no one attempted to speak with him, and they muttered quietly amongst themselves in the light-hearted manner that men preoccupied with thoughts of combat and death are inclined to affect.

Then, an hour after the rocket had been fired, a messenger arrived from General Dugommier. A young lieutenant, splattered with mud, ran into the market, looked round and saw the officers sheltering in the smithy. Napoleon had seen him arrive and marched up to join them.

'What news?'

'General's respects, sir.' The messenger was struggling for breath. 'He needs the reserve to advance… and support the attack.'

'What's happened?'

'Two of the columns lost their way. Brule and Victor's men marched right into each other.'

'How did it happen?' Napoleon said through clenched teeth, furious that his plan was being ruined. 'We marked the routes clearly enough.'

'The rain, sir. It washed away some of the pegs. The markings aren't there.'

'Shit!' Napoleon took a deep breath to calm himself. 'What then?'

'I don't really know, sir,' the messenger replied helplessly. 'There's terrible confusion. Most of the men can't find their units, or their officers. Then we came up against one of the enemy outposts.We've tried to take it three times, and been thrown back. The general needs the reserve.You're the only organised force he has left.'

'Where's Delaborde?'

'Don't know, sir. He swung left when we lost the route and no one knows where his column is.'

Napoleon shook his head. This was a disaster. Unless something was done quickly the battle was already lost. He focused his attention on the messenger. 'Tell the general we're coming. Ask him to clear the approaches to the outpost and we'll go straight into the attack.Tell him… tell him that I respectfully suggest that he orders what's left of the other two columns to follow us in. Have you got that?'

The messenger nodded.

'Go!'

Napoleon turned to his officers. 'You all heard that. It's down to us to make sure the attack is carried through. We'll march in close order. Have your NCOs positioned on the flanks of the column to keep the men in formation.There will be no pause to deploy when we reach the outpost. We'll march right over the enemy and let the other columns mop them up. All clear? Then let's get moving, gentlemen!'

They tramped through the dark streets of La Seyne and then out across the churned mud of the countryside.The sucking ooze around their boots slowed the pace as the men struggled to keep their feet in the tight formation. Soon they ran into the first scattering of injured men and malingerers heading back to La Seyne. The guns of Napoleon's batteries had fallen silent after bombarding Fort Mulgrave for the hour Napoleon had calculated the assault columns would need to get into position for their attack.The plan was already far behind schedule as the attack had stalled at the enemy's first line of defence. Napoleon marched at the head of the column, with a company of grenadiers who had orders to sweep aside anyone they encountered in the way of the reserve column. As the column approached the enemy outpost Napoleon could dimly make out the men clustered on either side. He cupped a hand to his mouth.