The Governor of Gaeta, Marechal de Camp and Inspector of Artillery.

To Baron Lauer, Austrian General, and Fahie, Commander of Her Majesties British Squadron off Gaeta.

I ask the authorization to leave my officers to surrender this place to S.M. Ferdinand IV, they are not to be considered as traitors. My honor and mine alone obliged me to defend this fortress.

You ask for me to capitulate, but I must ask for the intervention, in favor of the brave garrison under my orders, as well as the poor inhabitants of the city.

I ask for permission to re-unite a counsel of defense to take the fortress absolutely intact. You may send officers authorized to conclude the capitulation; you have my word of honor that I have scrupulously held at all engagements.

A. B. Begani

P.S. I desire a superior officer repesenting King Ferdinand IV at the negotiations. Please excuse the nature and corrections of this missive; it would take too long to recopy.

The Last Neapolitan Battle Siege of Gaeta 1815

Fortress Gaeta
The Siege
Appendix 1: Garrison OOB
Appendix 2: Begani's Letter
Map of Gaeta (slow: 117K)