The generous French nature was touched at its tenderest point, personal and national honour, and the battery thereafter never lacked its full complement of gunners, living and dead.
The position at Fort Mulgrave, or the Little Gibraltar, was, indeed, all important; for if the republicans seized that commanding position, the allied squadrons could be overpowered, or at least compelled to sail away; and with their departure Toulon must fall.
Here we come on to ground that has been fiercely fought over in wordy war.

Did Bonaparte originate the plan of attack?
Or did he throw his weight and influence into a scheme that others beside him had designed?
Or did he merely carry out orders as a subordinate?
According to the Commissioner Barras, the last was the case.

But Barras was with the eastern wing of the besiegers, that is, some miles away from the side of La Seyne and L'Eguillette, where Buonaparte fought.

Besides, Barras' "Memoires" are so untruthful where Buonaparte is concerned, as to be unworthy of serious attention, at least on these points.[22] The historian M.Jung likewise relegates Buonaparte to a quite subordinate position.[23] But his narrative omits some of the official documents which show that Buonaparte played a very important part in the siege.

Other writers claim that Buonaparte's influence on the whole conduct of operations was paramount and decisive.