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Extracted from the e-book, By Order of Napoleon - The Taking of Malta, available online.
When Napoleon took Malta on his way to Egypt he ordered Marmont to occupy the city of Valletta. This is his report back to Napoleon after fulfilling his mission.
Extracted from the e-book, By Order of Napoleon - The Taking of Malta, available online.
When Napoleon took Malta on his way to Egypt he ordered Marmont to occupy the city of Valletta. This is his report back to Napoleon after fulfilling his mission.
Extracted from the e-book, By Order of Napoleon - The Taking of Malta, available online.
When Napoleon took Malta on his way to Egypt he ordered Marmont to occupy the city of Valletta. This is his report back to Napoleon after fulfilling his mission.
Being charged with the landing party of five battalions, three of the 4th light infantry, and two of the 19th of-the-line, we were the first to land on the island. A number of companies from the Maltese Regiment that were posted along the coast retreated immediately without a combat. We chased after them as they sought refuge inside the city. I had the city covered from the sea up to the aqueduct, where we joined Desaix's corps that had already landed to the east side of the city. I advanced towards the city until I reached the ravelin at Floriana on the southern side of the city. I posted my men as close as possible to tighten our attack. The drawbridge of the city was lowered, and a large number of troops came marching towards me in disarray. My men retreated slowly and in orderly fashion, firing occasionally to slow their advance. I ordered two battalions of the 19th, encamped at about gun-shot distance from the city, to prepare an ambush from both sides of the route, and to await further orders. My orders were carried out to the letter. On seeing my troops retreating, the Maltese advanced with confidence. When they arrived en masse to our hiding spot, the 19th came out and met them with a deadly fire, which threw them in a state of great confusion. I advanced upon them with my troops and chased them with bayonets, and killed many of them. I personally captured the flag of the Order which they carried at the head of the column. The poor Maltese soldiers, simple country folk that they are, spoke only Arabic and reasoned in this way: We are fighting the French and our commanders are also French. We have been defeated, therefore our commanders are traitors. In a raging anger they massacred seven French knights that were among them. And yet, the French knights were the only ones willing to put up a fight. This incident did not bode well for French knights. They became so concerned for their safety; they sent a messenger the following day stating that if the negotiations underway did not lead to the surrender of the city they were prepared to hand me the keys to St. Joseph's Gate. The Maltese were furious. At one point we were concerned about the signing of the capitulation as a number of Maltese country militia continued to occupy two of the forts inside the city. The forts in question are very high, tightly enclosed, and heavily armed cavaliers that dominate the entire city. They are known by the names of Saint John and Saint James. The Maltese soldiers refused to give themselves up even after we had already entered the city. Had they persisted in resisting us only God knows what consequence we would have had to face given the position we were in.