ing.
The republican troops were ordered to capture the town, which they did
after a lively siege and assault. The commander of artillery having
been wounded, Napoleon was ordered to take his place. His skill,
coolness, and bravery during this engagement are well attested. A
soldier serving a gun near him was killed. At once Napoleon took his
place at the gun, and served until relieved.

Aiding the royalists in the harbor was a fleet of ships under the
English and Spanish; and here it was that Napoleon was to strike his
first blow at his life-long antagonist, England. He submitted a plan
for the bombardment of the fleet, and the capture of a fort which they
had heavily fortified on shore, called, from its strength, "the little
Gibraltar." As a result of a spirited attack at dawn, the shore
batteries capitulated, and a few hours later the foreign ships sailed
away in haste.

Napoleon's superior officer, Dugommier complimented him highly for his
share in the attack, and mentioned him in the official dispatches to
this effect: "Among those who distinguished themselves most, and who
most aided me to rally the troops and push them forward, are citizens
Buonaparte, commanding the artillery, Arena and Cerconi,
Adjutants-General."

As a direct result of this first taste of battle, he became, in
February, 1794, a General of Brigade, with charge of the artillery and
stores of the "Army of Italy," as the southern expeditionary forces
were called. But his feet were by no means firmly fixed on the ladder
of fortune. These were the days of the Reign of Terror when no man's
life or liberty was assured. At one time, Napoleon was deprived of his
command, and was in imminent danger of losing his head. He had
incurred the suspicion of the Tribunal, as had many another
unfortunate; but he was finally pardoned, not because of any sentiment
or justice, but because of the "advantages which might be derived from
his military information and knowledge of localities, for the service
of the Republic."

In the swift turn of events, it was not many months before this pardon
of convenience was actually turned to the advantage of the
Tribunal--and of Napoleon himself. A rival government called the
Central Committee was set up, and the streets of Paris were in uproar.
Something had to be done, and done quickly. Revolutions rise or fall
overnight. The command of Republican troops was entrusted to Paul
Barras, and one of his staff offi