noon
Joan 's chances had been diminished , but she and her generals considered them plenty good enough yet . Joan ordered the attack for eight o'clock next morning , and at that hour it began . Joan placed her artillery and began to pound a strong work which protected the gate St. Honor . When it was sufficiently crippled the assault was sounded at noon , and it was carried by storm . Then we moved forward to storm the gate itself , and hurled ourselves against it again and again , Joan in the lead with her standard at her side , the smoke enveloping us in choking clouds , and the missiles flying over us and through us as thick as hail . In the midst of our last assault , which would have carried the gate sure and given us Paris and in effect France , Joan was struck down by a crossbow bolt , and our men fell back instantly and almost in a panic -- for what were they without her ? She was the army , herself .