Chapter 55 The Decisive Attack



In the town of Toulon.

"Admiral! Admiral!"

One of the officers banged repeatedly on the Admiral quarters. Admiral Samuel Hood fluttered his eyes open, his sleep disrupted by the urgent commotion outside. As the banging grew louder, he jolted upright, his mind racing to grasp the situation at hand. Throwing on his uniform with haste, Admiral Hood swiftly made his way to the door.

With a deep breath, he swung the door open to reveal a disheveled officer, his face filled with anxiety and urgency. The young man stood before the admiral, his chest heaving as he struggled to regain his composure.

"Report, Lieutenant," Admiral Hood demanded.

The officer gulped, gathering himself to relay the distressing information. "Admiral, the French have taken Fort l'Eguillette and Balaguier on the hill of Cairo," he exclaimed, his words punctuated by a sense of disbelief.

Hood's eyes widened with a mix of alarm and determination upon receiving the news, and with a sense of urgency, he hastened outside into the predawn darkness. The clock struck four, its chimes barely audible amidst the eerie silence that enveloped the rain-soaked streets of Toulon.

His gaze instinctively turned toward the distant hill where Fort l'Eguillette and Balaguier stood, now under the control of the French. The two forts, once stalwart symbols of the British defense against the French siege, appeared as mere dark silhouettes against the gloomy backdrop of the early hour.

Seconds later, the bleak darkness was shattered by a sudden flicker of light, casting an eerie glow over the scene. In that instant, the stillness of the early morning was shattered by the resounding boom of a cannon firing. The explosive echo reverberated through the misty air, sending shivers down the spines of those who stood on the rain-soaked streets of Toulon.

As the sound dissipated, a chilling realization took hold. The heavy thud of wood splintering followed, originating from the massive ship-of-the-line docked in the harbor. It was as if the very timbers that comprised its hull quivered under the relentless force of the impact.

Hood blinked as he watched one of the ship-of-the-line getting struck by a cannon with extreme accuracy. And then his heart raced, realizing the precarious situation he was under.

While still in his stupor, another thunderous explosion jolted Admiral Hood to full alertness. His trained instincts kicked in, and he swiftly assessed the dire circumstances that surrounded him. The French had not only captured the forts but were now systematically targeting their naval forces.

"Inform all the commanders and officers to prepare for a retreat!" Hood said, his voice quivering.

"Retreat?" The officer standing next to him repeatedly. "But sir...if we retreat, we would lose our position here in Toulon..."

"If we stay, then our fleet would be decimated!" Hood's voice cracked like a whip, and the officer was startled by the sudden raise of his voice.

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"Understood, sir..."

As the officer turned on his heels and hurried away to carry out the order, Admiral Hood's gaze remained transfixed on the misty harbor. His eyes locked onto the beleaguered ship-of-the-line, its once-majestic form now marred by the brutal assault of enemy fire. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon him, and time seemed to slip through his fingers like sand in an hourglass.

He didn't expect the French to launch their attack in the early hours of the morning, especially amidst the heavy rain that cascaded relentlessly from the sky.

The firing of the cannon from Mount Cairo woke the citizens of Toulon from their slumber. Panicked voices and hurried footsteps filled the rain-soaked streets as people stumbled out of their homes, their faces etched with fear and confusion. The attack had taken them by surprise, and the realization of the impending danger spread like wildfire.

"What is happening?"

"Are we under attack?!"

"Look, the British ship is listing!"

Dugommier took a deep breath and gave his order. "Unleash hell on them, Napoleon. That's an order."

"Understood, General," Napoleon said, turning his gaze back to the harbor where thick black smoke billowed from the burning British and Spanish ships. With a nod of affirmation, he relayed the order to his artillerymen.

The French cannons pivoted, their aim redirected towards the town of Toulon. The citizens who had sought refuge within its walls now found themselves caught in the crosshairs of destruction. The chaotic streets became the target of a merciless bombardment as cannonballs rained down upon the town.

The thunderous booms reverberated through the air, drowning out the panicked cries and plead for mercy. Buildings crumbled under the devastating impact, sending debris flying in all directions. Flames erupted, engulfing structures in an inferno of destruction. The once picturesque town of Toulon now resembled a war-torn wasteland.

"General, I suggest that you move your troops now. The British and the allied forces appeared to have arrived in the port."

Dugommier checked through his spyglass and there he saw the allied forces making their way to their respective ships.

"Understood! Thank you, Colonel, for your hard work. I appreciate your dedication, and I will make sure to highlight your achievements in the letter that I will send to the National Convention."

Napoleon scoffed softly. "I thank you for that. For the meantime..."

Napoleon's words were interrupted by a huge explosion that erupted in the center of Toulon.

"What was that?" Dugommier demanded.

Napoleon quickly peered through his spyglass and saw the French ship of the line on fire.

"They are scuttling our ships," Napoleon realized with a mix of anger and frustration. "General you have to hurry!"

With a resolute nod, General Dugommier swiftly turned his horse around and galloped towards the troops, barking orders and urging them to hasten on the preparations of assaulting the city of Toulon.

"Don't let anyone escape! This is our only opportunity to deal a huge blow on the Coalition forces..."

As he was about to finish his sentence, Napoleon saw from the starboard side of the British ship. And moments later, the cannons that hurtled in the air crashed thirty meters east of Napoleon's position.

"Ah, they finally got their shit together huh?!" Napoleon exclaimed with a wry smile, his eyes fixed on the approaching ships which appeared to be the HMS Robust, warping out of the harbor for their desperate escape.

"Prepare for new instructions. Adjust the elevation by four degrees and the azimuth by 45 degrees to the right. Fire when ready!"

A minute later, The French cannons roared to life, belching fire and smoke as they unleashed a barrage of cannonballs toward the fleeing HMS Robust.

The crew of the Robust, realizing the imminent danger, scrambled to adjust their course and take evasive action. The ship maneuvered with desperation, its sails billowing as it attempted to dodge the incoming projectiles. But despite their efforts, the cannons found their mark.

Explosions erupted on the deck of the Robust as cannonballs tore through the wooden hull, ripping apart masts and rigging. Splintered wood and debris were sent flying, mingling with the cries of wounded sailors.

One hour and thirty minutes later, the Allied forces had already lost 40 ships. Only 34 ships are left.

Samuel Hood was still on the fort, coordinating the retreat of the Allied forces. But the fear of getting struck by a cannon turned it into a rout. It also didn't help that they learned of the French mobilization from both sides of Toulon, basically encircling the city. At any moment, the French comprising thirty-two thousand men would flood into the city.

He knew what was going to happen if the French arrived at the city, they would massacre everyone. Even if they were to put up a fight, the British and the Allied forces are outnumbered. With the French targeting their ships, their escape to the harbor is growing increasingly difficult. The situation seemed bleak, and Hood could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. He needed to make a decision quickly, one that would save as many lives as possible.

With a heavy heart, Hood turned to his officers and gave the order they had all been dreading.

"Reach out to the French, tell them we are going to surrender."