The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-17
NAPOLEON AT TOULON.
An Incident Recalled by the Presence
of the Russian Fleet.
New York Press.

New YORK Press.
The eyes of all Europe are turned toward
the south OF France and centered upon the
harbor OF TOulOn, where, shortly, a Rus
sian squadron is to be the honored guest
or the French nation, and where it Is ru-
mored, Russia may have permanent out
post.
That this naval demonstration is viewed
partite Alliance, and that England's posi-
ton is that of much-interested spectator,
Is doubtless true.
England has reason to remember Toulon.
for 1t was there, just one hundred years
ago this month, that Napoleon Bonaparte
began TO make history, and the English
were the ones whose defeat furnished the
vantage ground from which he Sprang al
most at bound to the position where the
destiny of France lay in his grasp.
In September. 1793 Toulon was a beeag-
ured city. Within its walls was a motley
garrison, to which not only England, but
almost all the countries bordering upon the
Mediterranean had furnished their quota
of hastily gathered troopers. Toulon had
Caen and Bordeaux and had revolted
against the dictation of the Jacobins The
allies had made haste to occupy the city
when its gates were opened to them.
In the harbor lay the squadron of the
English, and Toulon was the arsenal and
advance post of the invaders On the land
side the forces of the Republicans held the
avenues of approach, but their attacks upon
the city were of an utterly futile charac-
ter and occasioned but little uneasiness to
the English and royalists who garrisoned
the town.
When Toulon was besieged the command
er-in-chief of one of the principal corps of
the attacking forces was Carteaux, a paint
er, and his immediate successor was Doppet,
n Savoyard doctor. Above these men was
the convention committee. vested with great
powers, but with exceedingly slight knowl-
edge.
files which commanded the approaches to
the city, the Republicans were at q loss for
an effective step. Within Toulon all went
swimmingly. The siege on the land side
had no effect on communication with the
squadron where lay the friends of the be-
leagured and whence came all supplies.
Toulon, lying we'll UP the harbor, was pro-
tected on the sea side by the fort at Cape
PEguilette and the formidable redoubts
allies.
At this juncture Bonaparte, on his way
from Avignon to Nice to pay visit,
stopped at Toulon. His coming was an in
| cident. 1t was the incident of the century.
The young artillery officer found Car
at t ~o sbe On the sauadon of the allies
| and drive it from the harbor. cutting of
the base of supplies and leaving Toulon
| lican forces 1t was not so bad plan, but
the painter-commander had failed to
learn the range of his guns, and when the
battery was tried it was found, to Car
| tcaux's great modification. that the mis-
| siIes from his cannon, which were to have
pumped down upon the vessels OF the
squadron barely reached the Shore, Where
| they sank. harmless, In the soil =,
The direct result of this proof OF the In
efficiency or CarIeduA WAS Tic ny
the convention committee to the young
| Ronaparte to try his skill on the formid-
| able fortress before him. His plan was
| already formed. and its execution was as
rapid as it's formation. Soldiers or reck-
| less daring were ready, and in successive
| attacks the redoubts which protected the
| fort on Cape PEguilette fell, ana the tort
itself was abandoned.
The keynote of the situation lay in the
hand of the leader of the Republican forces.
| The English saw that Toulon was no
longer tenable and withdrew their troops.
Following then came. in a wild rush, the
| Royalsts and refugees Of all sorts who
| had found harbor there, and left all in
| their eager desire to reach safety on the
| ships The guns of the captured forts
were turned on them in their boats and
many of them were killed or drowned.
Toulon was deserted save by convicts
| who had been set free and some citizens
| who saw no cause for fear. The victor
| ious Republicans entered. Their entry was
| the signal for a wholesale butchery of
| those left within the city. Over two hun
| dred were shot down in a single day.
| Meantime the English fleet left the har
| Dor setting fire it went to the best part
| OF the French navy. which it had taken on
l &c arrival