—­[Sir Sidney Smith, in his Official report of the assault of the
     8th of May, says that Napoleon was distinctly seen directing the
     operation.]—­

Croisier, who was mentioned on our arrival at Damanhour and on the capture of Jaffa, had in vain courted death since the commencement of the siege.  Life had become insupportable to him since the unfortunate affair at Jaffa.  He as usual accompanied his General to the trenches.  Believing that the termination of the siege, which was supposed to be near, would postpone indefinitely the death which he sought, he mounted a battery.  In this situation his tall figure uselessly provoked all, the enemy’s shots.  “Croisier, come down, I command you; you have no business there,” cried Bonaparte, in a loud and imperative tone.  Croisier remained without making any reply.  A moment after a ball passed through his right leg.  Amputation was not considered, indispensable.  On the day of our departure he was placed on a litters which was borne by sixteen men alternately, eight at a time.  I received his farewell between Gaza and El-Arish, where, he died of tetanus.  His modest tomb will not be often visited.

The siege of St. Jean d’Acre lasted sixty days.  During that time eight-assaults and-twelve sorties took place.  In the assault of the 8th of May more than 200 men penetrated into the town.  Victory was already shouted; but the breach having been taken in reverse by the Turks, it was not approached without some degree of hesitation, and the men who had entered were not supported.  The streets were barricaded.  The cries, the howlings of the women, who ran trough the streets throwing, according to the custom of the country, dust in the, air, excited the male inhabitants to a desperate resistance, which rendered unavailing, this short occupation of the town, by a handful of men, who, finding themselves left without assistance, retreated towards the breach.  Many who could not reach it perished in the town.

During this assault Duroc, who was in the trench, was wounded in the right thigh by the a splinter from a shell fired against the fortifications.  Fortunately this accident only carried away the flesh from the bone, which remained untouched.  He had a tent in common with several other ‘aides de camp’; but for his better accommodation I gave him mine, and I scarcely ever quitted him.  Entering his tent one day about noon, I found him in a profound sleep.  The excessive heat had compelled him to throw off all covering, and part of his wound was exposed.  I perceived a scorpion which had crawled up the leg of the camp-bed and approached very near to the wound.  I was just in time to hurl it to the ground.  The sudden motion of my hand awoke Duroc.

We often bathed in the sea.  Sometimes the English, perhaps after taking a double allowance of grog, would fire at our heads, which appeared above water.  I am not aware that any accident was occasioned by their cannonade; but as we were beyond reach of their guns, we paid scarcely any attention to the firing.  It was seen a subject of amusement to us.