The warlike Cardinal, after collecting a number of new levies, in the capacity of General., recurred to his sacred functions as a priest, on purpose to arouse the fanaticism of a people whom he knew to be both superstitious and barbarous in the extreme. In virtue of his spiritual authority, he excommunicated all those who would not take up arms, while he enjoined every true catholic to wear a red cross in his hat, as a signal of faith, and promised such as might die in battle the immediate enjoyment of paradise. In addition to many of the peasantry, his Eminence was soon joined by a multitude of galley-slaves, criminals from the different gaols, and robbers who had infested the highway: these were immediately formed into divisions, under three chiefs; the first of whom was called Francisco Diabolo, a monk, who, after being expelled from his convent, became the leader of a desperate band of freebooters; the second was the gaoler of Salerno, who marched at the head of his prisoners; and the third, Panzanera, who, as reported, had committed fourteen acts of homicide. Such were the troops on whom Cardinal Ruffo bestowed the appellation of “The Christian Army;” himself assuming, at the same time, the designation of “His Sicilian Majesty’s Vicar-General and Vicegerent.” With this rabble he attacked and obtained possession of the towns of Avigliano, Cotrona, and Cantanzaro; after which he proceeded against Naples, and there acted in the reprehensible manner described by Captain Foote, when vindicating his conduct as senior officer on that station, during the absence of Captain Troubridge, in May and June, 1799. The subsequent operations against fort St. Elmo, Capua, Gaieta[1], Civita Vecchia, and Rome, are recorded at pp. 475 and 476 of our first volume.
In announcing to Nelson the surrender of Rome, the once celebrated capital of the world, Commodore Troubridge says:–
- ↑ Gaieta surrendered to Captain Louis, Aug. 2, 1799; and the French garrison, consisting of 5,000 men, were embarked under the superintendence of Lieutenant Schomberg, during the night of the 3d. In that fortress were taken 70 battering guns, mostly brass, 19 mortars, and 2 field-pieces of the same metal.
