GARIBALDI" IN ITALY. THE BATTLE OF VOLTURNO.

Otago Witness, Issue 474, 29 December 1860, Page 6

GARIBALDI" IN ITALY. THE BATTLE OF VOLTURNO.

The Piedmontese and French" journals bring exceedingly animating accounts of this great conflict. A correspondent of the Journal dcs Debats, who was present, gives the following graphic description of what he saw :—: — i During the last five or six days, Garibaldi has shown immense activity. The loyalists, on their part, have erected formidable works on the right bank of the Volturno. They hold most favourable positions, without mentioning the fortress of Capua. They are masters of the course of the river, which they cau cross by the bridges from Capua, where the river is little more than a ditch, for Capua is built on the right bank. From San Clemente to Cajazzo, the right bank is bristling with guns, cleverly masked, strong redoubts thrown up with barricades and drawbridges. The whole country on the right bank is a trap. Add to this an entrenched camp of 20,000 picked troops, elated by promises of royal rowards. ■ The ba«e of the operations of the Garabaldians wa'< at Maddaloni. Their left wing stretched from Santa Maria to Aversa, pro* tected here by the canal which runs through the country, and occupied by Major Corte, with the volunteers of Basilicato. Santa Maria, strongly fortified, was occupied by General Milvitz, by the Sicilian brigade La Masa, (rather an embarrassment than a support), by the fine Tuscan regiments Malenchini and Zucchieri, and Balbi's Genoese carabineers. The headquarters remained at Caserta. The right wing, covered by the mountains, stretched from- Dentici, occupied by Bixio, who had returiKii from Genoa, as far as San Salvatore, by San Lenoro At half a mile from that village is the Puntadel Parco, and a little beyond a ravine capped by a hill which commands Cajazzo. The hill was occupied by Garibaldians, Cajazzo by the royalists. A little in advance of Punta del Parco the road divides, the one leading to Cajazzo, the other to Capua. This point was also in the hands of the Garibaldians. Monte San Angelo, the key of the defence, commanding the course of the Vollurno, had triple batteries, entrusted to the Genoese artillerymen and to Colonel Spangero's corps of General Eber's brigade, under th? direction of Captain Ferrare. To this position Garibaldi had paid especial care. He had visited about fifty times the batteries, which consist of 28 guns. On Saturday, I took the railway and visited Santa Maria. On the preceding day, the fire of the outposts was incessant. The Royalists seemed determined to strike a blow, for Garibaldi's plan was to remain on the defensive. I met the Marquis Pallavicini returning from Caserta. At Santa Maria I found Garibaldi much agitated, thoughtful, his face blackened by exposure to the sun. The station was full of artillery carriages, guns, &c, and aides-de-camp were giving orders for all to be pushed on towards the Volturno. During the night, I heard the sound of cannon towards San Angelo. The night passed quietly. On Sunday, the 30th of September, at .daybreak, Santa Maria was all astir. The soldiers were consigned to the barracks ; Garibaldi started for San Angelo. Troops continued to arrive, and artillery galloped through the town.The faces of the people were pale and agitated. The tricolour flag is partially taken down from some of the houses, and the gates of many of them closed. I started for San Angelo when I heard the roar of cannon, and I arrived in time. Two battalions, commanded by Castellini, were attempting to throw a bridgeover the Volturno. Protected by Monte's artillery, they advanced by a covered road, and succeeded in launching two boats; but the enemy perceived the manoeuvre. Immediately the right bank, as if by magic, was covered by royalist troops, and a terrible fire was opened against the batteries of San Angelo, and against the Garibaldians attempting to make the bridge. They were obliged to retreat. San Angelo opened its guns and replied with good effect. But this was simply an overture to the great event that was to come off on the Ist. The Royalists had made up their minds to attempt a decisive blow. They felt they were being surrounded.. They knew Cialdini was in their rear, steadily advancing; that Lanioriciere was completely defeated ; and that Naples was undefended. At 6 a.m. on the Ist of October, 16,000 men, of which number 5,000 were cavalry, left Capua, commanded by General Pahneri, with five batteries, commanded by General NegiL General Ritucci had the chief command. At the same time a body of 5,000 men marched on Maddaloni, to take the Garibaldians in the rear and cut off their retreat. The soldiers of Francis 11. were divided into two corps — one, by the railway, was to attack the position of the Garibaldians at the arches of Santa Maria, and draw their attention to that point; the other, by the parallel Consular road, to cross upon their right by the field?, guided by the reactionary peasants of San Prisco and the neighbouring villages, and \va3 to fall upon Santa Maria in the rear of the Garibaldians. Another body of 1,000 men, starting from^La Piana, was to cross the Volturno below Cajazzo, and debouch by San Leuchio. All this had beeu foreseen by Garibaldi,' and it is extraordinary that in a very reactionary country the Royalists were not better informed of the operations of the Garibaldians. Thus the latter had erected redoubts, dug ditches,, and built barricades on the very fields, over which the Royalists fancied they could advance without impediment, and attack the right of the Garibaldians, or throw themselves into Santa Maria. At half-past 6 o'clock a sharp fire of musketry commenced, and the cannon soon began to roar with fury. The population showed great excitement, and every one prepared for defence. I hastened to the spot, and arrived just as the Royalists were crossing over the fifteen arches of the railway, chasing the Garibaldians before them. At 8 o'clock, the former were already at Santa Maria, near the walls of the Campan amphitheatre. While General Ritucci was carrying out this movement, Garibaldi, who had arrived on the scene of battle, ordered an analogous one. He ordered Malenchini's regiment to leave San Taniaro on his left, to leave Santa Maria by the rear, and threw it into the fields which the Royalists had to cross. The latter thus found themselves taken between two columns of Garibaldians shut -up between the railway and the road, and completely surrounded. The 7th regiment of Chasseurs was annihilated, with the exception of 35 men, an adjutant, major, and Captain Perelli, who were made prisoners. It is quite impossible for me to describe the terrific obstinacy of the struggle, and the real and calm courage of the men engaged." I went through the whole campaign in Lombardy, I was present at Magenta and Solferino, and yesterday I fancied I was there again. Three times were the positions of the Garibaldians taken and retaken at the point of the bayonet The grape swept men down unmercifully. No quarter .was asked or given. With mine owu eyes I saw wounded men bayonetted, and the stiletto and pistol used in a fight which commenced with the rifle. Except the ' Sicilians and the Neapolitans of the city of Naples, every man did his duty with enthusiasm. A strange and fearful circumstance, if we consider the character of tbe Italians— they fought without uttering a shout, almost

n silence. It was a lovely day, the sun shining in all its glory, and the ground adorned with rich produce. At noon the tide of battle turned in favour of the Garibaldians. Fresh battalions and new guns came up from Caserta and Naples, and joined in the battle. The Garibaldians when the battle commenced were not 10,000 strong; they had. now 15,000 men in the battle. Garibaldi seemed übiquitous. He watched every phase of the battle, keeping 2000 men in reserve on his left, to throw into Capua, if the vicissitudes of the struggle should offer him a. propitious opportunity. He was much moved, red and wet from perspiration and his voice altered by emotion. I At the bridges of La Yalle, behind the hills I of Maddaloni, Uixio had definitely driven back j the Royalists, who had taken and retaken that position. Near San Lucio Affanft's column had prevented the Royalists crossing the river. With the Lucans and Calabrians, Colonel Corte had bravely supported the combatants of Santa Maria, and kept the enemy in check, who might have forced a passage by San Tamaro, left open by the movement of brave General Malenchini, on the right. Five guns were taken from the enemy, with their mules and accoutrements. Prisoners and wounded in great numbers began to arrive at Santa Maria, and were immediately sent on by railway to Caserta. A great number of officers were killed or wounded. The Sicilians made a great noise and did little fighting. The National Guard of Santa Maria was on foot, but having prudeitly placed their flag in the guard-house, closed the doors and windows. At noon the roar of the cannon ceased. The fire of musketry at the Archi of Santa Maria continued unabated. A smile began to play upon the lips and the colour to reappear in the cheeks of many patriots. At this moment I was told that a train was leaving for Naples. I left the outposts to write you an account of this portion of the battle— the first act of the Capture of Capua. The Garibaldians were often out of ammunition in the course of the day, and from 6 in the morning until ] they were without a bit of bread or a drop of water, under a broiling sun. Colonels Dunn and Corrao were wounded early. Dunn's Anglo- Sicilian battalion was almost destroyed, but all the officers re-, mained at their posts, and were either killed or wounded. The field of battle was.covered with killed and wounded, whom there was no means of removing. It was a glorious and dreadful day for both armies. A correspondent of the Presse, taking up the narrative where it is relinquished by the correspondent of the Debats, writes : — At three iv the afternoon the Royalists gave way everywhere, and escaped from the charge of the bayonet to Capua. Even boys attacked and killed them. There was a frightful massacre. The dead cannot yet be counted. At San Angelo, or in the neighbourhood; a j whole battalion fell into the hands of the young Italian militia. The chief of the battalion advanced, and prayed the officer who had taken him not to kill him with knives, but to shoot him, because he was a soldier. It is not necessary for me to comment on this proceeding. They gave this poor man some wine and bread, and offered him a bed to rest upon. A wmadron of hussars, at Santa Maria, I believe, was literally annihilated by a discharge of grape. The number of prisoners is very great ; several estimate it at 6000. The Garibaldians have many wounded, but few dead. Colonel Spnngaro fought nobly. From noon to evening, with admirable coolness, he commanded the extreme right of the patriots, and defended the most threatened point where the danger was greatest. He retook all the lost positions, captured seven of the enemy's guns and drove him back till he was sheltered by the fire of the forts. It was a brilliant day for the colonel. The Hungarian hussars deserve equal praisetwice they charged amid a shower of grape the infantry of the Rojalists, whom they killed like flies. 'We read in the Corriere . Mercantile of Genoa, of October 5 :—: — Yesterday, at break of day, the Royalists, under the command of Francis 11. in person, came out of Capua in three columns. One attacked Santa Maria, the other San Angelo, and the third cut off the communication between those two points. Tbe advanced posts of Santa Maria, consisting of Sicilians, were surprised and driven back. The Royalists attacked Santa Maria with fury, and penetrated the first houses. It took three charges with the bayonet to dislodge them. San Angelo, defended heroically by the Ist brigade of the Medici division, held out obstinately, although all the efforts of the Royalists were concentrated against this position. The Ist brigade has suffered terribly, and three officers of the staff are disabled, one of them being killed, and the other two seriously wounded. The Royalists crossed the river simultaneously at Cajazzo, and attacked our extreme left at Luciatala and Castel-Borrono, where Hixio was, and the 3rd brigade of Medici. Tbe Royalists, to the number of 20,000 men, after driving us back along the whole line, commenced the attack on our positions. But at this moment our reserves arrived. We then formed a force 12,000 strong. About 2 o'clock we resumed the offensive ; by six in the afternoon the Royalists, repulsed on all sides, were driven towards the Volturno, from which they retreated hurriedly to Capua. The King, dressed as a private individual, commanded in person, and was seen several times under fire. Garibaldi, as of old, was everywhere, and especially wherever the danger was greatest. We have sustained a loss of 1,280 men, and the Royalists of about 3,000. The battle lasted from half-past three in the morning to seven at night. It is evident that this formidable attack has been the last effort of Francis 11., who intended, had he been victorious, to march on the capital. The Royalists set fire to several houses; some of the wounded men were burned to death. But these cruelties were committed by Bavarians, and not by Neapolitans. Upon the. heights of the Caserta 2,000 Royalists were made prisoners, with their arms and baggage. . , The correspondent of the Paitrie, writing t6 that paper on the 2nd instant, says :—: — I am assured .that in the affair of the Ist, a column of Bavarians, having been separated from the Royal troops, was pursued into the mountains up beyond Caserta-Vecchia, by Nino Bixio, who has a legion of Calabrians under his orders . The Bavarians are to be pursued incessantly, and no quarter to be^ given them : it is a fight of extermination. For the rest, the Calabrians are animated with a spirit of vengeance that gives birth to pro« digies. In the midst of yesterday's battle, in the very thick of the fight, they threw >w?y" their muskets as too cumbrous, and rushed on the enemy, whom they stabbed to the cry of- " Long live Italy ! " uttering terrible shouts at the same time. During the 'course of yesterday, the Calabrians exhibited extraordinary courage. The details of this vigorous attack have not yet reached us, so that it is : impossible to state the precise number of thedead and wounded, but it :is considerable. During the whole oC this morning the railway station- was encumbered _ with ,tne wounded, '" whom they are npw' taking to our various hospitals. All the vehicles let, out for hire have been taken for this servicei : One of the most critical episodes of the battle of Vulturno, on the Ist Octbbeiy wak the recapture of tK&T-baiterj^ai ih>Jfort\;oti Mount San Angelo, whieh.ra thug deaijribed^f- 1 " When I left Santa Maria I kn?wifiattii3* battery had been very; much diaasted.t Ia thfc \ morning, Garibaldi ' a|j>9, o'clock^ ari<£ the enemy .was, thundering afritiwi^: i aJt»;.hMi strength} because it took him in fi^nK/a|w.w«|(

causing him. severe loss. The- triple battery courageously resisted the attack, and never slackened fire, when all at once the one situ* ateu" at the foot of thehiH became silent, Thto Royalists, to.the number of 25,000, got round the bill, and, rushing upon the guns, spiked, five of them, and killed several of the men at" their pieces. Garibaldi, on the Santa Maria, very soon observed the silence of his favourite battery, and an aide-de-camp from. General Melwitz soou informed him of the disaster, which would probably have losthim the battle. Garibaldi at once started off across Sant* Maria, followed by Medici and his staff, and, collecting what men he could, he cried out, in a voice which caused all to shudder ' We are going to die, but the Italians must win the day. At all other points we have conquered/ Followed by a hundred men, at a tatrid price. Garibaldi, leading the way in a. smalfdisaoled carriage, went right forward, but just as they got near the Casino of San Angelo some Neaipolitan chasseurs, who were lying dn the ground, rose and fell upon them. The coachman drove his horses into the ditch, and formed a barricade of the carriage. Garibaldi jumped up indignant, and > went up to the chasseurs shouting 'Vivi Italia; vivi Italia:' Some of his men coming up at the same time,. the enemy became frightened and took toflight. Garibaldi Was slightly wounded in the stomach, and his trousers were riddled by two or three bullets.! *If I Only had another pair;' I he said, and without further remark he corttinued his march towards the battalion of 150 Hungarians, commanded by General Mogyorady. He pointed to the Neapolitans, who were in possession* of the battery, arid cried out to them, 'Forward, my. tads^-disperte that rabble yonder fot- me/ This rabble consisted of a regiment of the line, a squadron of cavalry/ a company of chasseurs, and a company of artillery. The! Hungarian*, without Waiting to count the numbers of their 1 adversaries, rushed forward, and charged \tfth the bayonet. After a contest of 20 minutes, the battery was retaken, and once more it poured its storm of grape on the Neapolitan troops, who fled in confusion acvos* the fields. Tne. Hungarians in this encounter had but 30 nten Adr* de combat; the Neapolitans' about 200. Garibaldi did not wait to dress his, wound, brit hurried elsewhere. The day, however, was now won."