Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar12700
of the Appenines , and on the point of two roads , one of which leads to Tuscany , and the other over the Appenines , to Ancona . It was in that position , which appears to have been chosen with great judgment , that the French army halted . General Mack , with a view of dislodging it , and also , probably , with a view of cutting off its retreat into the Cisalpine Republic , attempted jo turn it by Terui , while he attacked it in front towards Civita C-tstellana . In both these attacks he was defeated with considerable loss , as will be seen by the subsequent part of this narrative . ' On the 28 th , General Mack orclered-Geiieral Bouchard to send the following summons to the Castle of St . Angelo :
' The Commandant in Chief of the Neapolitan army has desired me to hvfbrm you , that he has learned with the most lively indignation , that you have dared to fire on his troops , and still more so , because General Champ ionet had notified to him that he Would evacuate Rome without making the smallest resistance . He desires me to declare to you , that ail the French tvho are sick in the hospitals at Rome , as well as the guards whom your General has left there , and who have been detained as prisoners , will be
considered as hostages , and that every shot which you may fire upon the Neapolitan troops shall be followed by the death of a French soldier , who shall be g iven up to the just indignation of the inhabitants .. You will yourself be answerable for the fate of these unhappy victims . ' The next day , General Macdonald made the reply which follows to this extraordinary summons , from his head quarters at Monteon Therozi : ¦ ' The-Commander in Chief , Sir , has sufficient confidence in me to recognize as his own the reply which I now make to your letter ofthe 28 th of November . I well know that he has not given any answer to your letters '
respecting the evacuation of the forts and strong places , and we consider ' the Castle of St . Angelo as one of these . The silence of contempt was certainly what was due to your insolent menaces qn this subject , and this was the-only answer that could be expected consistentl y with the dignity of the French name . You speak of a regard for justice ! and yet you invade the territory of a Republic in alliance with France , without provocation , and without its ' having given you the least reason for such conduct , You have attacked the :
French troops , who trusted in the most sacred defence , the lav / of nations , and the security of treaties . You have shot ' at our flags of truce which were proceeding from Tivoli to Vicavero , and you have made the French garrison ' at Ricti prisoners of war . You have attacked our troops on the heights of Terui , and yet you do not call that a declaration of war ! Force alone , Sir , constrained us to evacuate Rome ; but , believe me , ( and you , Sir , know better than any one what I say ) , that the conquerors of Europe will avenge inch proceedings .
' At present I confine myself merely to stating our injuries : the French Army will do the rest . I-declare to j'ou , Sir , that I place our sick , the Commissary of War , Valvilie , and the other Frenchmen who have remained at Rome to take care of them , under the protection of all lire soldiers whom you ' command . If a hair of their heads be hurt , it shall be the signal for the faith of all the Neapolitan army . The French Republicans are not assassins ; tat the Neapolitan Centrals , the Officers , and the Soldiers , who were taken
prisoners of war on the day before yesterday on the heights of Terni , shall answer with their heads for their safety . Your summons to the Commander of the Fort of St . Angelo is of such a nature , that I have made it public , in order to add to the indignation and to the horror which your threats inspire , tod which we despise as much as we'think that there is little to be dreadedfrom them . ' " . " In the mean while General Rusca , commanding the advanced corp of ths VOL . XI . ¦ 3 ft , '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar12700
of the Appenines , and on the point of two roads , one of which leads to Tuscany , and the other over the Appenines , to Ancona . It was in that position , which appears to have been chosen with great judgment , that the French army halted . General Mack , with a view of dislodging it , and also , probably , with a view of cutting off its retreat into the Cisalpine Republic , attempted jo turn it by Terui , while he attacked it in front towards Civita C-tstellana . In both these attacks he was defeated with considerable loss , as will be seen by the subsequent part of this narrative . ' On the 28 th , General Mack orclered-Geiieral Bouchard to send the following summons to the Castle of St . Angelo :
' The Commandant in Chief of the Neapolitan army has desired me to hvfbrm you , that he has learned with the most lively indignation , that you have dared to fire on his troops , and still more so , because General Champ ionet had notified to him that he Would evacuate Rome without making the smallest resistance . He desires me to declare to you , that ail the French tvho are sick in the hospitals at Rome , as well as the guards whom your General has left there , and who have been detained as prisoners , will be
considered as hostages , and that every shot which you may fire upon the Neapolitan troops shall be followed by the death of a French soldier , who shall be g iven up to the just indignation of the inhabitants .. You will yourself be answerable for the fate of these unhappy victims . ' The next day , General Macdonald made the reply which follows to this extraordinary summons , from his head quarters at Monteon Therozi : ¦ ' The-Commander in Chief , Sir , has sufficient confidence in me to recognize as his own the reply which I now make to your letter ofthe 28 th of November . I well know that he has not given any answer to your letters '
respecting the evacuation of the forts and strong places , and we consider ' the Castle of St . Angelo as one of these . The silence of contempt was certainly what was due to your insolent menaces qn this subject , and this was the-only answer that could be expected consistentl y with the dignity of the French name . You speak of a regard for justice ! and yet you invade the territory of a Republic in alliance with France , without provocation , and without its ' having given you the least reason for such conduct , You have attacked the :
French troops , who trusted in the most sacred defence , the lav / of nations , and the security of treaties . You have shot ' at our flags of truce which were proceeding from Tivoli to Vicavero , and you have made the French garrison ' at Ricti prisoners of war . You have attacked our troops on the heights of Terui , and yet you do not call that a declaration of war ! Force alone , Sir , constrained us to evacuate Rome ; but , believe me , ( and you , Sir , know better than any one what I say ) , that the conquerors of Europe will avenge inch proceedings .
' At present I confine myself merely to stating our injuries : the French Army will do the rest . I-declare to j'ou , Sir , that I place our sick , the Commissary of War , Valvilie , and the other Frenchmen who have remained at Rome to take care of them , under the protection of all lire soldiers whom you ' command . If a hair of their heads be hurt , it shall be the signal for the faith of all the Neapolitan army . The French Republicans are not assassins ; tat the Neapolitan Centrals , the Officers , and the Soldiers , who were taken
prisoners of war on the day before yesterday on the heights of Terni , shall answer with their heads for their safety . Your summons to the Commander of the Fort of St . Angelo is of such a nature , that I have made it public , in order to add to the indignation and to the horror which your threats inspire , tod which we despise as much as we'think that there is little to be dreadedfrom them . ' " . " In the mean while General Rusca , commanding the advanced corp of ths VOL . XI . ¦ 3 ft , '