Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/696

place on this side, but unarmed. I established posts as near to it as possible, so as to confine the garrison. I had no sooner completed these arrangements, than I saw the drawbridge lowered, and a large and disorderly body of men marching against me. I called in my outposts at once, and retired slowly and in good order, firing from time to time on the head of the column, that I might check its advance. I sent directions to two battalions of the 19th Regiment, encamped beyond cannon shot range from the town on the right and left of the road, to place themselves under cover, and to show themselves only when I arrived at the spot and gave the word. This was carried out as I wished. The Maltese, seeing me retreat, took courage. Arriving thus massed in column close to the spot where the 19th was, this regiment shewed itself, and received them with a deadly fire, which threw them into the utmost disorder. I at once attacked them with my troops, and routed them. We followed, charging with the bayonet, and killed a considerable number. I carried off with my own hands the standard of the Order, which was displayed at the head of the column. These poor Maltese soldiers, simple peasants as they were, and only speaking Arabic, argued thus with themselves: ‘We are fighting against Frenchmen; we are led by Frenchmen; therefore the Frenchmen who command us are traitors.’ in their rage they massacred seven of the French knights who had led them in the sortie, and yet it had been the French knights only who had counselled resistance. Such treatment was not encouraging. Consequently they sent me an emissary the next morning to say that, if the negotiations then on foot did not lead to the surrender of the town, they would hand over to me St. Joseph’s gate (now called the Porte des Bombes). The negotiations, however, were successful, and the capitulation was signed. Thus were celebrated the obsequies of the Order of St. John, fallen from its ancient glory and splendour by its cowardice and want of firmness. The Maltese were furious. We had at first much uneasiness as to the carrying into effect of the capitulation. These peasant soldiers were in possession of two inner works, very lofty cavaliers, closed at the gorge, armed, and commanding the whole town, called forts St. John and St. James. They refused to surrender even after we had entered the gate,