 Bernadotte had returned to Paris and was sent to defend the Netherlands by the council of ministers.His arrival gave the French a much-needed unity of command and he brought with him a genius for organization and training.Bernadotte led the reinforced and reorganized French forces competently and although the British had captured Flushing on the day of his arrival to the war zone after a ferocious bombardment, and the surrounding towns on 15 August, he had already ordered the French fleet to Antwerp and heavily reinforced the city.