At once he assumes the tone of a master.
"You mind your business, and let me look after mine," he exclaims to officious infantrymen; "it is artillery that takes fortresses: infantry gives its help." The drudgery of the last weeks now yields fruitful results: his methodical mind, brooding over the chaos before him, flashes back to this or that detail in some coast fort or magazine: his energy hustles on the leisurely Provencaux, and in a few days he has a respectable park of artillery--fourteen cannon, four mortars, and the necessary stores.

In a brief space the Commissioners show their approval of his services by promoting him to the rank of _chef de bataillon_.
By this time the tide was beginning to turn in favour of the Republic.
On October 9th Lyons fell before the Jacobins.

The news lends a new zest to the Jacobins, whose left wing had (October 1st) been severely handled by the allies on Mount Faron.

Above all, Buonaparte's artillery can be still further strengthened.

"I have despatched," he wrote to the Minister of War, "an intelligent officer to Lyons, Briancon, and Grenoble, to procure what might be useful to us.