Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-09-30

nv force ana means PCtahlttSu'
fell. amidst the horrors drawn on by the nero,
ism, of garrison which shut Its ears 70 al
proposals for capitulation, on the Ssln Oh .uhe'
. day- that will be memorable in future tunes
for the tragical end of this ancient caPitai q
Spain. which has been condemned to see itS
TEMPLES and edihces destroyed, during the
siene. BIZ more than 1000 bombs or grenaaes,
and an innumerable quantity OF bullets ana
Rails. which filled with terror the isles OF MA
;orca and Minorca, and coasts OF the Meaiter-
ranean, the hospitals OF which are niieo WIN
Its wounded defenders: which, IN short' hes
seen at the last moment OF It's existence 81
many victims slaughtered.
Son the following day, Gen. Count ouch-
et. caused me to be conveyed on litter 10
his headquarters at CONSTANT, where found
Generals Courtens, Cabrer, Brigadier Mesi-
ma. and other chiefs, who had been made prl-
soners, with 1900 men, OF whom 400 were Oh
fcers, who have been conducted to france
The General sent for me, and IN presence OF
the principal officers Of his army, openly toid
Inc, that was the cause OF all the horrors
| that his troops had committed In larragona'
because had defended myself beyond the liz
rits prescribed by the laws OF war and that
these laws authorised him to punish me even
with death, for not having demanded capi-
ulation as soon as the breach was practicable
that ON entering by assault, he had right TO
mt every thing to fire and sword !; and that
| bv consequence, the bcsieged ought to have
hung out the white flag as soon as the breach
was opened.
| "I replied, that if it was true, that the laws
| of war prescribed, thatif the assaiant enter
he may deliver up town and its inhabitants
to plumber, flames, and the sword and that
they in consequence indicate, that the mo-
ment when the assault is about to take place
is the time to capitulate; these same laws,
however, ~ not prohibit the garrison to de-
fend itself, and endeavor to repel the assall.
ants that had resisted, because with force
sufficient to repe his, which would doubtless
have been the case had my dispositions been
obeyed in the Way that ordered them; that,
because, I expected succours Oh the day toll
lowing, both from Campoverdc, and from the
sea, Sc; that having resisted until the breach
was practicable, l should have passed for
coward had l not dared to defend 1t; and,
| in short, that no law forbade me to repel the
| assault.
| General Suchet, convinced by the power
| full reasons which gave him, treated me at
last, as well as the other general and private
| officers, with all the distinction which we had
| merited by our resistance.
"The garrison behaved heroically in the de-
fence I'D to the moment of the assault; ii
then showed some weakness, the soldiers gave
way and was intimidated. The officers, Oh
the contrary, always behaved perfectly well,
/ I've fec Eff
to keep the soldiers to their duty, and to col
ect them in order that they might resist and
attack the French, who were pursuing and cut
| ing them down in the streets. But their ter
ror increased every moment, and they let
| themselves be sabred even by US, without even
| then resolving to recommence the combat.
| "Every thing has conspired against this
poor garrison. Campoverde, on leaving it.,
himself promised to come speedily to its re-
| lief and deliverance, and never did SO, though
| he daily renewed his promises, as may be seen
from great number of letters which have
| preserved, and Of which / send copies sub
Joined. The kingdom of Valencia sent to the
| aid of the place general Miranda, with divi-
ion of the troops of that kingdom, who land
ed at Tarragona, and the following day re-em-
barked, and was 70 Join the army of Campo
| verde An English division, made its APP
| pesrance on the 2eth. Colonel Skerret, who
| commanded it, came on shore to confer with
| me- On the s7th the English engineers came
to reconnoitre the front Of attack; and, con-
yinced that the place was incapable of resist
| ance, they returned to their ships; so that
| they all kept aloof from the place, though
thew had come to relieve it. This abandon
ment on the part of those who came in order
| to save it was the worst of all /: it made such
an impression on the spirits of the soldiers,
that they began to foresee that they were lost;
they were cast down; they only continued
their resistance in consequence of my contin-
nal exhortations, because they saw my COOL
ness, and the GOODNESS which felt that it they
executed my orders, the French would never
effect an entrance. These reasonings were
only of weight for few hours; the idea of
seeing themselves abandoned, soon laid hold
of their minds. and completely subdued them
"The English commandant came on the
| evening of tie Goth, and asked me what 1
L l.