The Aftermath
"Ahh..." Napoleon groaned as he pressed his hand on the bruise in his lower back. He must have incurred it when they assaulted Mont Cair, where his horse threw him off.
A day had passed since the final attack on Toulon, culminating in Admiral Samuel Hood's surrender. The city now lay under French control, and the aftermath of the battle was evident everywhere. Streets were littered with debris, buildings stood damaged and smoldering, and the scars of war marred the landscape.
The incessant musket fire had robbed Napoleon of a good night's sleep, leaving him fatigued and restless. The agonizing cries of the executed civilians reverberated in his ears, further tormenting his troubled mind. He had mustered the courage to voice his objection to General Dugommier, passionately arguing that such merciless actions only stoked resentment and impeded the delicate process of rebuilding trust. Yet, his heartfelt words had fallen upon deaf ears.