THE INVASION OF CALEBRIA. (From the Times Special Correspondent.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1351, 20 November 1860, Page 4

THE INVASION OF CALEBRIA. (From the Times Special Correspondent.)

On Boabd thh Citt of Abbrdbbn, August 9th. If Messina wai yesterday the scene of unusual stii and activity, the road to the Faro and the Tillage of Faro Inferiore, with all itt neighbourhood, was ten times more 10. All this space was like an ant-hill— all in motion. In what is oalled a regular army two-thirds of this space would have been taken up by carts and hones. With ui irregulars it is rather different. Baggage is a faint tradition, train unknown, Commissariat dispositions shockingly moderate. The soldier carries everything, and that is very little. Happy he if he has an extra shirt and drawer*, which "take little room in the havresaok, and leave plenty of space for biscuit or bread, and happier still ifhehasa greatcoat over his linen or cotton suit. Most have merely a smaller or heavier blanket, which serves instead. In this way our forces can be contracted like the tubes of a telescope. Had it not been for this it would have been impossible to get all the forces collected which found room last night and this morning on and about the Faro Point. The whole of the artillery and field guns, at well as of position guns, were already there, together with the Engineers, Sappers and Miners, and all the materiel which these arms require. The Faro Point had been the general port fort for all mat&iel ever since we came to Messina. So you may imagine that a good deal of room was monopolized by these first comers. Yesterday the Division Cosenz and the Brigade Sacchi had received orders to come -up. The first had been echeloned all along the road from Messina to the very extreme point of the Faro, its left wing resting on the outskirts of the tpwn and occupying two large monasteries there ; thd'rest disposed in the villages and hamlets along the road. All this force had received orders to start at nightfall, and to be by 11 p.m. as close as possible to the place of embarcationat the Faro. The Brigade Sacchi, quartered in the village and in the neighbourhood of it, on the first heights above the Faro point, had orders to descend and follovr'up the rear guard of the Division Cosenz. The Second Brigade of the Division Turr, quartered in Meisina, had to leave at night and be at dawn at Pace, a village two-thirds of the road. The whole force thus collected cannot have been less than 10,000 men, exclusive of the artillery. , Now about the object of the concentration. Two plans presented themselves in pursuing offensive operations, the first more brilliant and more expeditious, but likewise more hazardous ; it was to collect the forces and transport them into the heart of the continental possessions of the King of Naples ; the second to effect a landing in Calabria, and work J up our way through the country of Naples. Were Garibaldi's views only directed to Naples he would, I am sure, scarcely have hesitated between the two, and chosen the more hazardous one, as more suited to his taste. But his ideas aim higher, to the unity of Italy, for which all Italy should co- operate, Calabria as well as all the rest. It is a practical way of completing the union this passing from one end of Italy towards the other, planting national ideas, making them lake root, grow, and mature j teaching that example of sacrifice and devotion which Upper Italy gives to the rest by sending her sons to fight, suffer hardships, and die in the interest of the common cause Calabria contains elements which one day may be most important in establishing and defending Italian independence. Besides this, there was a formal call for Garibaldi by representatives of all the towns of Calabria, asking for his speedy arrival—a call he could not very well resist. These reasons decided him to choose the _ longer but more complete and surer road towards his great aim. The Calabrese soldiers who fought in 1848 in Tipper Italy showed what this element might become in good hands, and Garibaldi is not the man who would forget this in his "great national recruiting tour," as this campaign may be called. Once the resolution was taken to disembark in Calabria in preference to going higher up, the places which offered the greatest facilities became self-evident. It was the line from Torre di Cavallo to the Punta di Pezzo about three miles in length, and with a good beach. Higher up you have rocks and breakers, and at Scylla a stronger current. Lower down you are just on the line of communication between Messina and San Giovanni and Reggia, exposed to the batteries of the first, besides the steamers which take their berth at the last two places. Torre di Cavallo, which is likewise the nearest point of the opposite coast, is a small plateau, about 100 feet above the road, which is itself a little above the beach. It forms a horseshoe, from which circumstance I suspect it has derived its name. To the north, in the direction of ScylU, the rock is almost perpendicular, and comes down close to the road ; it seems rather fragile, for you can see the buttresses by which the road is protected. You can see likewise a small stonework, which is said to mount about 20 guns. On the southerly point of the plateau is another fort, mounting about the same number of guns. This latter is called the fort of the Fiumara, overlooking as it does a little mountain torrent, or rather, its dry, gravelly bed. Then follows a suces■ion of gardens for two miles, intersected only by two other little dry river beds, and then comes the straggling village of Cannitello, which extends to the Punta di Pezzo. The road after skirting Torre di Cavallo, and crossing the first Fiumara, loses itself among the gardens, passing several clusters of ho«#es on its way. Ihis makes the part from Torre di Cavallo down Jto Cannitello look rather quiet, and just the place for a descent. The garrison, as far as one could ascertain from the best sources, is not more than 150 or 200 men. Towards the sea the fort is open, it being inaccessible from the height and steepness of the rock. The chief defence is on the land side, where it is ■well protected. From the first it seemed desirable to surprise one of the positions on the opposite side, the possession of which should facilitate the landing of the main force. The question was between this Fort of the Fiumara and the Fort of Scylla. According to the information received this latter had a very small garrison, scarcely 30 men, which circumstance turned our attention towards this point. In order to ascertain the exact circumstances, Major Mittori, of the Guides, was sent across in disguise. He succeeded in landing without difficulty, remained two days on the other side and returned. This facility would be surprised, if anything in Neapolitan tactics could surprise. People cross over from one side to the other without difficulty (and without any question being asked. A number of officers belonging to Calabrian families have more than once gone over to see their relations, from whom they have been separated by an exile of years. Well, Major Missori went over like so many otherf, »nd saw what there was to be seen at Scylla, The Fort of Scylla is perched on a detached rock with almost perpendicular sides, and connected by a draw bridge with the town, which lies on a mountain spur, and extends down to the beach on both sides. Close to the Fort is a church, and in front of it an open space, used a3 a market-place. From the corner of this a narrow panage of about 22 yards .leads up to the drawbridge. Until quite lately there was one sentinel at the drawbridge, and another over the gate. In expectation probably of coming events, the garrison was lately increased to 120 men, and had taken precautions against a surprise. A detachment was encamped before the church, and two sentinels placed at the entrance of the passage towards the drawbridge. This made a coup de main more difficult, because it required a greater number of men, and therefore exposed you to being discovered. Once the drawbridge up there was no chance, except in a regular attack with guns. Notwithstanding this increased difficulty, Major Missori, having examined the place, projected a plan for a coup de main. A hundred chosen men, dressed as country people and provided with revolvers, were to be taken over in batches of five and six, and to unite at one or more places. They were to come to the marketplace in the morning, when the drawbride is down, and mix with the people and soldiers before the church. The two sentinels were, at a given signal, to be overpowered, and a determined rush made by one portion of the asiailanti over the drawbridge, while the other was to detain the soldiers and prevent their helping their companions. The plan had its merits; but E/reial reasons favoured a coup de main on the Fort of Fiumara, The chief of these was that the coup de main on the latter could be best undertaken at night time, and immediately followed up by the landing of a considerable force, while that on Scylla eould only be undertaken in the day time, when the drawbridge was down, but when, at the same time, there was more danger from the Neapolitan steamers. An attack on the Fort of Fiumara was therefore chosen as the preliminary to a descent in force. Major Missori was chosen to carry it out. He received about 40 guides, all proved young men, 100 men of the brigade Sacchi, and about 50 men chosen from different gorps under the orders of Colonel Le Flot. They were to embark at the Faro, at 10 p m in boats, and row right across to the Fiuraara, below the fort, make a rush at it and escalade it,' for, which purpose they were to carry ladders and other material with them. Three cannon shot were to be the signal that the coup de main had succeeded.

In the mean time the Division Cosenz was to beir readiness. About 2,000 were to be embarked ir ' three steamers, «nd the rest prepared to embark ir the boats, which, were drawn up on tho beach, th< boats prepared for the guns and hones to bo ladei ' in the little lake, and brought out at the moment to be taken in tow by the steamers. Ai loon as thi disembarcation was happily executed the steamer were to return and continue to embark the differen corps. The preliminaries were successful enough. Men steamers, and boats were all in readiness, and at th given time 32 boats laden with tho little band ohosei for the first trial. They started under favourabl circumstances enough, the night being rather dark and the Neapolitan steamers at a good distance Three other boats started a little later, having beei detained by the embarcation of materiel. All wa expectation during the next half-hour, and, as th greatest silence prevailed on the other side, and m stir was audible, every one hoped that all was right when all at once the flash and report of a gun, fol lowed by a few shots of musketry, dispelled thi illusion, and hope gave way to anxiety for the fate o this forlorn hope. It was a painful half-hour, a you may jmsgine. The sound of oars made an em of it, a rush followed towards the beach, and sooi after, one after another, in came the 32 boats, bring ing the news that they had landed their men withou being observed, and were just preparing to return when the alarm gun was fired from the iort. Hoy the alarm was caused remained a mystery which a yet is not sufficiently cleared |up. Soon after th< three other boats returned, but with their men They had missed the road, or had been carried ti another point by the current, and the alarm wa. given before they could land their men. The mos probable supposition is, therefore, that they ha< attracted notice and awakened attention. That th alarm was given most thoroughly there could be n< doubt, for the three boats tried sev ral times to gi across, but always returned, having heard the drum beat. Still the hopo remained that, the attention of thi enemy being attracted towards the sea, those wh< had landed might escape observation, and thus sue ceed in their enterprise. But hour after hour ha: passed since without bringing the desired signal o the three cannon shots. Towards morning tw< rockets were sent up ; this was the only sign of lift which was visible on the other side. Ever since da} has broke glasses are in constnnt requisition. Eye! are strained to see whether there is not some sign — i cloud of smoke, or roll of musketry, or movement o: troops. Towards 10 a.m. about a company of in fantry, a peloton of Lancers, and two guns were seer along the road under the Fort of Fiumara. Thej came down and advanced almost to the sea. Thej had all the appearance of a reconnoitering party, with all the precautions of a march in face of the enemy. From time to time they hastened theii march, which seemed now and then almost a rush ; they halted and formed in orde.- of battle ; in one word, they looked as if they were in search of some one they suspected to be there. Weary with expectation and from the effects of a sleepless night, most of the people on board have sought a corner to lie down for a moment's rest ; the General himself has retired for a moment to his room, and the heavily ornamented and faded looking saloon of the old City of Aberdeen is filled with reclining figures which look picturesque enough on that venerable-looking dark crimson velvet. In one corner is the tall thin figure of Cosenz, still showing on the neck the traces of the wound zeceived at Melazzo, with the never- failing spectacles near him, and attired in his uniform as brigadier of thePiedmontese army. In the opposite corner lies General Sirtori, the chief of the Etat-Msjor. In another is the gray head of Guzmaroh, the faithful follower of Garibaldi, whether he be in Caprcra or in Loinbardy, Rome, or Sicily. Aad then comes the smaller fry of more or less unknown faces, for there has been an influx of the staff lately j not a day passes without bringing more than one individual who has already belonged to some force commanded by Garibaldi, or is recommended to him as the most capable person to do every thing in general, but having a special inclination to belong to his staff. The descent in Calabria was, of course, too brilliant an affair to lose, and so every one who could, tried to get on board of one of the steamers by fair means or subterfugesItalians, and people of all the corners of Europe, soldiers and civilians, speaking a babel of languages, and wearing a regular curiosity shop of costumes , priests, monk*, publicists, newspaper correspondents, artists — in one word, every sort and kind of mixture. Besides those on deck and between decks a battalion of riflemen, artillery, sappers and miners, sailors, engineers, and stokers, — nay, even ladies, one ot them in the costume of the Guides, as a disciple of Miss Nightingale, and the other in an elegant morning costume as she had left Messina yesterday. On shore nothing but soldiers, eating, drinking, sleeping, playing, lounging about, talking, joking, quarrelling ; busy officers running about or trying to get their recalcitrant steeds through the crowd ; artillery drawn up in line on the beach j bullock carts standing in the way, with denser crowds round them waiting for the distribution of the rations ; in the distance the Neapolitan steamers exhibiting considerable curiosity about our proceedings. All this gives a picture worthy of the best pencil. At thxFaro, Aug. 10. Yesterday, about noon, all minds were relieved by the news which came of the forlorn hope on the other side. They were all safe at St. Angelo in the mountains, and had been already joined by a number of Calabrese insurgents. They hoped to be soon numerous enough to undertake something. This news was not alone welcome as reassuring about the safety of the chosen lot, but likewise important as it brought another feature into the whole affair. Of course according to all laws of warfare, an adversary may follow up his succass as he best can, so I suppose no one would have had a right to complain of a descent of Garibaldi's on the Continent. It was simply using the right of warfare. An insursection in Calabria, besides being an assistance in military operations! has the advantage of silencing all objections which might be raised. It was, above all, with a view of attracsing attention to the sea, and thus giving time to the insurrectionary force to increase, that last nigkt steam was got up and several feints were made to go across. The feint succeeded, and all night long the steamers, gunboats and the garrisons of the fotts were kept on the alert. There was a continual singnaling, going on to and fro, showing lights, putting them out again, but scarcely any firing. Only when the steamers were approaching was there musketry from the line of outposts. This morning those who had been embarked on board the steamers were again put on shore, and Garibaldi himself took up his quarters in the tower of the lighthouse, in the diminutive chamber of the guardian. He is there now in solitude, as he likes to be in moments such as the present, and he has the terrace -above as an Observatory, which commands a view over the whole country all round. How the crowds " attached " in some capacity or other could manage to find room in the miserable fishing village of the Faro Inferiore would be a mystery had I not seen numbers of disappointed spectators, who had come in the expectation ot a sight, going back in carriages and boats. It was the best thing they could do, for the artillery, as first comers, have taken possession of all the accommodation which was available, sc that the crowding in houses reminded one a little of Balaklava in the early times, although all other circumstance! are widely different. The troops, although most of them fresh ones, begin by degrees to make themselves as comfortable as can be expected under the circumstances. While there was a probability of an immediate embarcation they were in ichelon along the road and along the sea shore. They have begun now to stand on both sides of the road, seeking shelter from the hot sun under the trees of the" neighbouring vineyards. Old campaigners looked about for material to make ■beds of the canes which abound, and which were covered over with branches and leaves. The new recruits did not remain behind in imitating them, necessity, as usual, being a prompt master. -That this camping is not to the advantage of the proprietors of the grapes, figs, and prickly pear need not be observed ; but an order has blent < given that after the departure of the troops an estimate shall be made of the damages done, and the people indemnified. It cannot be expected that the troops, . exposed in the open to the sun, with considerable difficulty in procuring water and rations, should. not touch fruit within their reach, however forbidden it be ; it is but fair that it should be the commonalty, and not the individual, who should suffer from this inevitable neceisityt August 11. Last night passed tolerably quiet. Pome boats were sent across with men to probe the vigilance of the Neapolitans. They went close to the shore opposite, but the night being rather clear and still they were soon perceived,' and received with muiket shots. The steamers kept quiet enough, now and then showing their lights. In the middle of the nightjust about midnight— there Were three cannon shots, at equal intervals, evidently meant as a signal of some kind, a few rockets towards morning andsome lights on the heights' 1 , all of th'era without meaning for us who have only general information and conmo' >

jectures about \ylitt 4«^paising' on the other side* The iniurgimts and ofifij detachment may have approached some of tho ; ;Ne»politan positions, or perhapi the fcTeapolitans'were assuring each other that «11 was right. ' ' This morning early oontidorable' reinforcements arrived at the'fort of Fiumara. Heavy columns of infantry could be seen coming along the road, and information brought since shows that there ore not less than three battalions of riflemen, the picked troops of the Neapolitan army. The fort being too small to contain them all, a part it. encamped to the right of it in an open space Which seems to have an enclosure wall. With good glasses we could see them moving about, and the smoke on one side indicated that they were intent in providing for the animal mnn. Some imaginations, raoie heated than the rest, saw in those steady columns of smoke puffs of musketry. In tho afternoon, about 3 p.m., a column issued from the fort and made a regular rush at the second plateau, which rises above the one on which the fort is situated. The movement was made with all military precaution. A turning column was sent, and we could see a few shots o' musketry. This made u* suppose that some of our, people were in ambuscade there, but this seems not to have been the case, for the Neapolitan*,' without encountering any resistance visible to the eye, scaled th6 heights, where they encamped. August 12. night, unlike the preceeding one, was one of continual disturbance, the causes of which we o»n only guess hitherto. It began about 10 p.m. Just a little above the Punta di Fezzo, on the high beach, there is a Neapolitan, fort, and behind it a succession of detached houses. The night being clear, a brisk fire of musketry could be seen in that direction, which lasted for several minutes. Then all was quiet for some time. About midnight it began again. The six gunboats which we have often seen in the neighbourhood had moved down and opened a heavy sustained fire in the direction of the land. Soon after, the three large steamers, which passed the night atjjSan Giovanni, came up, and steamed round the point, then went alongside the gunboats. Their fire was very rare. From the sound of the whistle of the balls one would have supposed that there were guns on the shore which responded. After an hour or so the firing relaxed, but recommenced again towards morning, and again about 7 a.m. Although it was daylight, the glare of the tun prevented our distinguishing whether there was firing with guns from the shore. If those who say there was are right, then there can be no doubt that oun people, or the insurrection, have taken possession* of the fort; if not, they must bo in the neighbourhood. You must wait till next steamer to hear the exact state of things, for the French steamer leaves in an hour.