Marshal Suchet and the Siege of Valencia
By Dominique Contant,
Robert Ouvrard, and Jonathan
Cooper
Marshal Suchet to General Blake
From the camp before Valencia, 6th January 1812
General,
The laws of war define a limit for human suffering ; that limit has
been reached. Today, the Imperial army stands ten fathoms(12)
from the core of your defenses ; in a few hours, several breeches can
be opened, at that time a general assault by the French columns shall
fall upon Valencia.
If you wait until that terrible moment, it will no longer be within
my power to stem the fury of the soldiers, and you alone will answer
before God and before mankind for the evils which shall befall Valencia.
A desire to spare the great city from total ruin has compelled me to
offer an honorable capitulation. I have pledged myself to preserve the
officers' baggage, and to insure respect for the inhabitants' property
; I need not say that the religion that we ourselves profess will be
revered.
I will await your response for two hours, and I salute you with the
highest esteem,
Marshal of the Empire,
Signed: Count Suchet.
Notes:
(12) 64 English
feet or less than 20 meters
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