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Jenks's Portland Gazette
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
Austrian General Melas sends a summons to French General Massena at Genoa, urging capitulation after Suchet's defeat at St. Giacomo and warning of further bloodshed. Massena replies from Genoa on April 21, refusing as he still has sufficient troops to defend.
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"GENERAL,
"Fortune has not crowned your bravery, which entitles you to my esteem, and to that of the whole world. With but a small number of men, you was forced to give way to my exertions, and you did it with honour. But I think it is time to listen to the voice of humanity. Gen. Suchet has yesterday been defeated at St. Giacomo, and you have no longer any hopes to resist my forces. You will be accountable for the blood that shall be spilt hereafter, and you will complete the miseries of a people who have already suffered so much.
"The city is exposed to the greatest calamities; it is menaced by pillage and all the horrors of war, if the country people should enter into it with fury in their hearts, without a capitulation having previously been concluded.—
I cannot entirely answer for my victorious troops. Listen to the voice of humanity, and sacrifice the glory of having defended yourself to the last drop of blood, to the true glory and to the admiration which no one will deny you.
I offer you the most honorable capitulation which a warrior of your character merits, to prove to you the esteem and the most perfect respect with which I am, &c." MELAS.
To which Gen. Massena returned the following Answer:--
Head Quarters, at Genoa, April 21.
"GENERAL,
"I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write to me, and by which you offer me an honorable capitulation. General,
I am not yet reduced to that situation. I have still a sufficiency of troops to enable me to defend myself, although Gen. Suchet may have been beaten, which I have good reason to believe is not the case.
MASSENA."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Genoa
Event Date
April 21
Key Persons
Outcome
massena refuses capitulation, denying suchet's defeat and asserting sufficient troops to continue defense; potential for further bloodshed if siege continues without surrender.
Event Details
General Melas writes to General Massena urging honorable capitulation due to Suchet's reported defeat at St. Giacomo, warning of humanitarian concerns, city calamities, pillage, and horrors of war without agreement. Massena replies from Genoa headquarters on April 21, rejecting the offer as he is not yet in that position and has enough troops, doubting Suchet's defeat.