THE BRITISH LEGION IN ITALY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1506, 19 March 1861, Page 4

THE BRITISH LEGION IN ITALY.

(From the Home News, December 26 ) THE BIOT AT CASERTA. A letter from Salleris says : — "The departureof the British Legion from Caserta has been expedited by an ocourence of a somewhat unexpected nature, some of the Italian regiments stationed there having joined in an attack

upon the members of the brigade, which began to assume a very serious aspect; so much so. that it was deemed neccessary to separate the belligerents, and transport the legion to some distance from Caserta. The affair, so far as I can learn, would appear to have originated in some dispute, which occurred at a cafe, between the Euglish and a party of the Italian volunteers. The precise manner iu which the quarrel commenced is uuknown, but it resulted in an attack being made upon the English, who W6i*e only some half-dozen or so in number, and were armed merely with their bayonets. They were driven out of the cafe into the street, but managed for some time to defend themselves successfully, until the number of their assailants had very considerably (increased, At this period I happened to be returning to the barracks through the square where the affray commenced, and can record its result from personal observation.

1 "An immense crowd of Italian volunteers was assembled in the centre of the square, and in the midst were the English. Both parties appeared to be scuffling together, the mob surging to and fro, amidst a series of deafening shouts and ories. The English were borne into the Italian barracks, but contrived to fight their way out. A body of their opponents, amounting at least to 50 or 60, then rushed from their burracks, armed with drawn swords, heavy sticks, &c, aud made an indiscriminate attack upon the English, who were oompelled to retreat somewhat precipitately. One man, who was standing a few paces from me, and who had not taken any part whatever in. the affray, was struck to the ground by a blow on the head from a heavy stipk> and his assailants gallantly surrounded and knocked him about until he was insensible. The whole body then rushed down the street leading lo the English barracks, braudishingtheirswords and crying, 'Down with the English.' The latter made the best of their way to their barracks, with a view of rousing their comrades and returning with assistance, as it was known that several of the English volunteers were about in different parts of the town, and if they met any of the Italians in the infuriated state they were in, it was feared, as most of the for mer were unarmed, they would be cut down without mercy. This fear was, to some extent, realised, as several of them who were returning to barracks by twos and threes were a good deal knocked about and bruised, but escaped without serious injury. In the meautime, the great body of the Italians rushed up to the English barracks, pushed past the sentries, who were unable singly to oppose any resistance, and ran up the steps leading to the officers' quarters, clamouring for the English commandant. The English volunteers who had escaped from the melee ran up to their own quarters, and the cry of' Fix bayonets' resounded from room to room, Most of them had retired to bed, but, in less than five minutes, upwards of a hundred were up, dressed, and down in the court-yard, with bayonets fixed ready to repel any further attack, and lo render any assistance to their comrades that might be required. Major Smelt, the officer in commaud, whose privacy had been thus suddenly invaded by the Italians, came down and procured the assistance of General Zacchi and of several other commanding officers, who endeavoured to pacify their men, who appeared to be satisfied with n )thing less than the total aud immediate extirpation of the English brigade The English officers also hurried down, and fortuuately met the body of their men, which was coming down at the 'double' in time to prevent an actual collision, which, in a few moments more would have undoubtedly occurred, the number of the Italians haviug increased to batween 400 and 500. For a long time the English refused to retire, a report having got afloat that several of their number had been killed, and they were gradually becoming as noisy and bellicose as their opponents. Major Smelt at length made his appearanoe, and comparative order having been obtained, he stated that he had seen General Zacchi, who had promised that the whole matter should be investigated in the morning. There was no doubt that violence had been oommitted, but he (Major Smelt) gave them his word of honour that he would see that justice was done. He would ask them, as a personal favour, to go quietly to their beds and they might rest satisfied that a thorough investigation would be made in the morning.

The major's assurance had the effect of partially allaying the storm., and the English went to their rooms, the Italians having been at the same time got rid of by similar means. A strong patrol of the National Guard then went round the town, to pick up all the English stragglers, who were ordered into barracks, the gates of which were also entrusted to their care. Several Englishmen were shortly afterwards brought in, some of them much hurt and bruised. Sergeant Clark, of the 10th company was killed, having received a bayonet thrust through the ohest, and similar wounds in other parts of the body. Another volunteer named Lockhart, a private in the sth company was also seriously wounded by bayonet thrusts, and now lies at the hosnital of Caserta in a very precarious condition. Immediate attention were paid to the men who were hurt, Major Smelt having gone through the rooms to ascertain how many were injured, and also with thd intention of calming the men, who were in a state of great excitement, and could not be persuaded to go to their beds. The Italians did not es-

capo entirely scot-free, as many of them were a good deal knocked about ;. but I have ilot learned that any of them rereceived serious injury. Two privates in the Hungarian regiment, one of whom was mixed up in the commencement of the affray, sided with the English/ and, armed with heavy 9tones, delivered! one or two good knock-down blows.

i "In the morning the Italians assera--1 bled in crowds round tho gates, hissing, groaning, and throwing stones at every Englishman who presented himself; being only Icept from entering the bar* racks by the efforts of a detachment of the National Guard ; but more difficulty was experienced by our officers in keeping their men in than tho others out, they being as anxious as their opponents to resort to the arbitrament of arms. The crowd outside consisted not only of the military, but comprised many of tho townspeople, aud so strong was the feeling manifested, that it was considered necessary to remove the brigade entirely from Caserto, as the only means of preventing the collision which appeared inevitable. The order to march was then given, and the brigade moved forward to the station, where a train was waiting in readiness. Arrangements had probably been made by the Italian officers to keep their men out of the way, and the departure consequently passed off quietly. Having arrived at Naples, the train stopped about half-an-hour, and proceeded to Nocera, and the brigade thence marched to Salerno, adistanoe of about 12 miles, reaching it late in the evening. We were very favourably received by the inhabitants, and a great portion of the night was consumed in fraternizing with them. It is much to be regretted that the unfortunate affair at Caserta should have occurred to interrupt the entente cordialle which had hitherto existed between the members of the English brigade and the Italian Garibaldians; but uo blame whatever can attach to the former, and I do not doubt that this will be fully borue out by the facts elicited at the official investigation."