GARIBALDI IN SICILY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 207, 6 September 1860, Page 4

GARIBALDI IN SICILY.

> V SioilJ, the latest island in the Mediterranean, [a separated from the southern extremity of Italy by the Straits of Messina, and is surrounded by several groups of small islands- It is about 188 miles in the largest p£rt, that is from east to west; varies from 31 to 109 miles in width ; is 334 miles round, and 16,875 square miles in superficies. Tinisland contains a range of high mountains, which is considered by geologists as a continuation of the Appennines. Mount Etna, also called Monte Gibello, is situated in the province of Catena. This celebrated volcano, isolated like Vesuvius, is 3608 yards above the leyel'of the sea,, and is from 81 to 88 miles rbiihd at. the base. Towards the bottom of the mountain the vegetation is magui ficent, and here and there are to be found noble forests of oak, chesnut, fir, and beech. The'' plains at the foot, and particularly those of Messina, Melazzo, Palermo, Trapani, and Marsala, are fertile and well cultivated, producing grain, grapes, and fruits of a superior quality. Sicily is divided into seven intendencies or provinces—-Palermo. Messina, Catana, Syracuse, Caltanisetta, Girgenti, and 2Yapani. The population of Sicily is about 2,000,000—A1l Roman Catholics. The Sicilians are intelligent, gay, and witty; they possess brilliant imaginations, strong passions, and entertain an ardent love of their country. They are very fond of religious: spectacles and much attached to their religion. 2 heir patriotism makes them consider themselves far superior to other nations: among them- ' selves, moroever, they are engaged in a continual conflict for pre-eminence; and this conflict is particularly strong between Messina and Palermo. In addition to its natural advantages, Sicily by its situation in the Mediterranean is a military position of the first order.”

Marsala where Garibaldi landed is situate about 9Q.miles from Palermo. It carries on a large business in the wine of that name; and in corn, fruit, cotton and salt. Its population is about 20,000. It is situate in the smithwest end of the island and occupies the southwest corner Of a parallellogram of'vhicli 1 rapani lies at the north-w* 10 *'rnigle, distant about 25 miles, p»w«w the north-east, ana Gorleonp ‘fe south-east corner, about 25 miles rro:u Palermo.

Garibaldi appeared before Marsala with his two steamers shewing the Piedmontese colours about 4 p.m. of the 11th May. At 4 o’clock the Lombardo began to put the men on shore with six pieces of field artillery. Half an liour afterwards the Piedmonte under the command of Bixio put in likewise. While the disembarkation was proceeding three Neapolitan war steamers weie seen approaching ; the Lombardo hoisting Piedmontese colours, again, sailed against the Neapolitan steamers as if intending to attack them. They came on more slowly. By six p. m. the whole 6100 men and the material were onshore in admirable order. Only the engineers and stokers were left on board the vessels which were then fired on and raptured by the .Neapolitan steamers. Garibaldi’s troops were received with open arms. 2’hey are described as fine athletic fellows—“just the sort to make short work of a dish of macearoni.” Next morning at three o’clock the whole expeditionary corps started for Alcamo, which is 29 miles distant from Palermo, at which the various iusurgent bands bad been ordered by messengers sent off the previous evening to collect. General Salzano meanwhile concentrated his troops at Palermo; but hearing where Garibaldi was sent off 4000 troops to meet him. These troops with 4 guns under General Landi took up a position on the heights of Calatafimi, a place 8 miles to. the south of Alcamo, and at which all* the roads to Palermo from the south and southwest meet. 2'he road from Marsala to Calatafimi leads through mountainous defiles where a few determined men could stop a host, but the King’s forces neglected to seize on the passes. On the 12th Garibaldi advanced to Nalemi. On the 13th being joined by several bands of Sicilians commanded by Baron Santa Aiena, Coppolo del Monte and others, his troops still * advanced towards Alcamo leaving 2Yapajii : on the left in the hands of the Neapolitans. On the 14th at the village of Salem-j, Garibaldi published two proclamations, in one of which he announced that he had assumed- Dictatorship, and in the other other gave very minute instructions to his soldiers. On the 15th he advanced on Calatafimi and on the 16th attacked the enemy there. After a contest of an hour’s duration the Royalist troops gave way before a charge with the bayonet in great disorder, some of them crying out “ Viva Garibaldi; abbasso il Re.” The fugitives were pursued to near Alcamo and the following day about a thousand of them entered. Palermo in small parties of 20 and 30 worn out with fatigue. The baggage, stores, and 4 gnus fell into Garibaldi’s hands with. 1200 prisoners,, whom he afterwards released on condition that they should not take up arms against him. On the same day the Governor of Palermo, General Salzano sent a number of the foreign mercp-j naries chiefly Croats, Swiss, and /Hungarians, by sea to Marsala, so as to place the volunrj teers between two fires, but the attitude of the inhabitants was so menacing that they did not venture to land. On the 18th of May. General Lanza arrived at Palermo with full powdrs and with promise' of an amnesty, but bis pacific proclamations produced no effect. General Lanza condemned the tactics of the military authorities and taking the command made, the dispositions necessary for the defence of Palermo. On the 19th a great number of families embarked at Palermo for Naples. On the. 20th Garibaldi’s troops ad-j var.ccd on Monrealp, a. strong position near

Pater mA-- They were at tacked by the King’s I trdops finder General Lanza, but beat them buck with great- slaughter and drove them to Pale fin'd. £ occupied the time from that " date bp to the 27 th in fortifying Monreale for the attack on Palermo ; he was joined during this time by a number of the /Sicilians and his forces were swelled by them to about 12,000 men. Leaving Monreale which lies south-west of Palermo occu. pied by some of his troops lie suddenly marched to east side of that city, and at on the 27th of May he burst gates, engaged and army in the front of the city street fighting made hiniself Palermo. 1 The troops lcept citadel, and from them and the NeHpoSßwilps of war in the bay a fire was openecnw the town which lasted for 8 hours, and I was only stopped by the interposition'oFt)ie..British admiral, Mundy.who liappeFiedrtro be there, and the threat of Garibaldi that if the bombardment continued, he would kill = a prisoner for every shell fired, Admiral Mundy describes the scene produced by the bombardment as “ most horrible,” a great district of the city having been entirely consumed and whole families burned alive, 1300 shells had been thrown into the town, besides grape, canister, and round shot. On the 30th May an armistice was agreed to for 31 hours, the expiry of that time a further delay of three days Was agreed to ; and afterwaids an indefinite prolongation of the truce. On the 6th June General; Lanza agreed to give up the place entirely on condition that he should be allowed to embark ibis troops with their arms and baggage: Traipani, held by the king’s troops, has also been evacuated ; and it is supposed that all have gone to Messina, the only place which now holds* outß against the revolutionists, and on which Garibaldi proposed shortly to march. He has addressed the following letter to a friend,—“ Dear Bertani, I authorise you not only to make an advance or to : negotiate a loan for. Sicily, but moreover to contract any debt whatever, as we have here immense means to satisfy all claims.” On the 30tb June 3000 troops, under Colonel Medici, landed at Palermo to his assistance. The following account of his reception at Palermo is from the Times “ In the afternoon Garibaldi made a tour of inspection round the town. T was there, but find it really impossible to give you even a faint idea of the manner in which he was received everywhere. It was one of. those triumphs which seem to be almost too much for a man. Garibaldi, in bis red flannel shirt, with a loose coloured handkerchief round his neck, and his worn wide-a-wake, was walking on foot among thbse cheering, laughing, crying, mad.thousands; and all his few followers could do was to prevent him from being bodily carried off the ground. The people threw themselves forward to kiss his hands, or,-at least, to touch the hem of his garment, as if it contained the panacea for all their past and perhaps coming sufferings. Children were brought up, and mothers asked on their knees for his blessing ; and all this while the object of this idolatry was as calm and smiling as when in the deadliest fire, taking up the child* ren and kissing them, trying to quiet the crowd, stopping at every moment to hear a long complaint of houses burnt and property sacked by the retreating soldiers, giving good advice; comforting, and promising that, all damages should be paid for.”

A correspondent of the Daily E ews writes, —I have’ bad some ' conversation with the officer second in command of the steamer Piemonte, which conveyed Garibaldi to Sicily; “ It seems to Stielike a dream'” said he. “ In less than a .month I have made that wonderful landing, have present at three fights, the last of which; and a bloody one it was, was in Palermo, and here I am come back with my mind full of the things I have seen. I hardly dare to tell them, they appear so astonishing. Garibaldi had a sort of magnetic attraction for me. Though I was half dead with hunger and fatigue, I could ..not bear that he should see me lagging behind ; ’arid I believe that many were in my case—anxious to fight, but quite tired out, arid kept up mainly by the moral influence of Garibaldi, who was himself as gay as if on; a, pleasure trip. It is not true that the Neapolitans could have prevented our disembarkation. They did not arrive till w*e badlanded, and were bringing on shore the last munitions. We tramped for three days and three nights, through sun and rain, and in this wearied out state we gave battle at Calatifiini,. I believe that we conquered through sheer desperation; for we gave ourselves up for dead. Luckily for us, the Neapolitan, soldiers began to fire before we were within range, while we did not respond except by a stray shot or so.. Mfe descended into the valley that lay between us, ran up the other slope; and then, when close, fired into them. ; By this time they bad used up all tbeir cartridges, but as we were only about fifteen paces apart, and they were on higher ground, they tried! the effect of throwing at us the large stones 1 which were lying plentifully about. One of these stones struck Garibaldi on the arm, whereupon we shouted and charged with; the bayonet, and they broke, and ran away.. At that moiherit 'we * forgot hunger and fitfigue, aiid overtook ’aritFkilled some of the- fugitives. Half-anffiofir* afterwards;' however, we felt half dead again;' dndTF Wofild J have been aU ."op with uB df bOdjr had Attacked ris. Instead of this,: fortunately,' we received accessions of inen- and provisions. froiri all parts, people having begun to believe in the revolution, and to think there was a chance of our doing something. Since that day, having jrested a little, we fought here; and there, or imanceuTrcd in order to second the movements

of other bands, which the General alone was acquainted with. I saw. Schiaffino, who had imprudeutly advanced too far, die like a hero. I saw Pilo fall dangerously wounded, and by this time he must be dead. I saw Carinf; such a dandy in Paris, fighting like a lion, and exciting the admiration of all. Bixio, as usual, acted like a desperate fellow, who does not know what danger is. All these gallant men were wounded by the time we took Palermo.”;

Here the narrator was interrupted by the question-—But how did this fight go, what movements did Garibaldi make ?

“ I can tell very little about it all,” he replied, “ for all I saw was the point of my bayonet and that of some enemy; and all I heard Was the thunder of the artillery round about me. I know that Garibaldi sent away the guns and a few squadrons' to another spot, saying that if the enemy wanted to take those guns we should in the mean time take Palermo, and so we did; but it still seems to me an impossibility. Not one of us had more than seven cartridges in his pouch. The Sicilians had nothing but fowling-pieces without bayonets ; they had pikes, a few pistols, and some hand-grenades. But they fought like devils, urged on by the women, some of whom fought at their side. Then the desertions began, and the officers, being left alone, said they were well pleased to* be made prisoners