13 OCTOBER 1860, Page 2

ITALY.

THE RATITE OP THE VOLTURNO.

Pretty full details of the action upon the Volturno on the 1st of Octo- ber have arrived this week, and they show how very important a victory it was. The report—" we are victorious along the whole line "—was true. We quote an account of the action from the letters of the able correspondent of the Tunes— "You will remember the heights of San Angelo and the Bosco di San

Vito from my description of the affair of the 19th. It is an isolated long range, which runs from the north-west of Caserta towards the Volturno, pas- sing to the left of the plain of Santa Maria di Capua, and reaching the Volturno about two miles to the north-east of Capua. It is all along a precipitous mountain on both sides, and comes down just as precipitously to the river, leaving only a narrow place where the road from Capua, skirting the mountain, runs towards the Beata di Cajazzo. "Well, Garibaldi had looked at that position on the 19th, and had looked

at it almost every day since. It was just one of those Which he likes—com- manding the country all round, close to the river, which is rapid there but narrow, a good many trees down in the plain, and plenty of brushwood on the heights. Several batteries were ordered to sweep the road which passes along the opposite bank of the river ; a trench was dug not far from the bank of the river to give good cover to riflemen, and a number of barges were brought up from Naples to be in readiness in case an opportunity offered to cross. At the same time a considerable number of troops were collected at that spot. Besides the Brigade Spangaro, stationed there since the 19th, there were successively sent there the company of Genoese Riflemen, the Brigade Dunn (lately arrived from Sicily), one of the regiments of the Di- vision Medici, and the body of Calabrese volunteers.

"The position deserved the attention which was bestowed on it, but it

had one drawback—it had its left flank and its line of communication with Santa Maria rather exposed. A glance at the map will show you this. The relative positions of Santa Maria' Capua, and the heights of San Angelo are such that Capua falls just about the line of communication between Santa Maria and the edge of the heights held on the banks of the Volturno. Had it been possible to push quite close to Capua from Santa Maria this danger would have been obviated ; but there was no equally good position on that side to come up to that point, so our outposts there did not much pass the gates of Santa Maria.

" On the right, the position was tolerably guarded ; there is, indeed, a footpath which comes from the river over the heights at the back of St. An- gelo, but at first it was only accessible to small bodies of infantry, and thus the heights were guarded by our troops. On the other side of the heights was Sacchi, with his brigade, guarding the road from Cajazzo to Caserta, and at the same time occupying the heights of Castel Moroni, and observing the passage at Limatola. To the right again of Sacchi was Biala with his brigade, and one of Medici's regiments, who watched over the road coming from Amoroti towards Maddaloni. At Caserta was General Tiirr, with part of his division.

"You must thus conceive our position as forming a large semicircle, fol- lowing the hill line along the Volturno as far as Limatela, and then bend- ing back, while Santa Maria, Caserta, and Maddaloni form the chord of this arc. The arc alone is from nine to ten miles, while the semicircle is quite three times that length.

"Well, on all this long line the Neapolitans attacked with all their forces yesterday at dawn. "Garibaldi, as usual, started before dawn from Caserta by the railway to Santa Maria. When he arrived, the firing had already begun. The three places, Capua. Santa Maria, and the spur of St. Angelo, form almost an egilateral triameae, which is indicated by the three roads which connect these places. '1 hey run with little curves almost straight —that from Capua to St. Angelo close to the river, that from Capua to Santa Maria parallel to the railway, and that from Santa Maria to St. Angelo at some distance from the hills till close to this latter place, where it is joined by the road coming from Capua. "This triangle, which is in most parts thickly wooded with olive and other trees, and has only few open spots, the Neapolitans had chosen as their field of operations on our left, and as the chief attack of the day. During the eight, all the troops stationed in the Polygon behind had passed through the town, and had collected in the Campo, a large open space before the fortress. Here they opened out in two directions—one column, the left, towards St. Angelo, and that on the right towards Santa Maria. "I shall first speak of the left column. Besides the great road from Capua, alongside the river, there is a by-road, which, leaving the main road at a little distance from the town, strikes across the country, and goes straight towards the village of St. Angelo, which lies on the retreating slopes of the heights. This was chosen by the Neapolitans as the centre of their operations against this point, while they sent one column by the main road towards the right, and another to the right across country to take the village in the other flank. "The by-road which runs direct from Capua to St. Angelo intersects the road from Santa Maria to the river just where the road turns up to St. An- gelo. In order to guard this position, a barricade was constructed a little beyond this point, and armed with four guns. The country near the river is so low, that every morning the exhalations of the ground cover it with a white mist, which makes it very difficult to see, even at a little distance. Besides this, the torrents which come down from the hills have artificial beds of fifteen to twenty feet in depth, very steep, and covered with brush- wood, which are dry now, and serve as roads. The Neapolitans, advancing by these, and taking advantage of the mist, approached quite close to the barricade and carried it at the first onset, driving our men across the main road towards St. Angelo. Having taken this position, they came out and formed in an open field, which lies along the road, in regular order of battle. Their left had been equally successful, driving ours from the trench near the river, and forcing them back on the heights of St. Angelo. The column to the right again had not only passed the road, but had gone up a little hill commanding St. Angelo.

'4 It was at this critical moment that Garibaldi arrived. He had taken

with his staff carriages at Santa Maria, and was coming on in the main road towards St. Angelo. The balls and grape were flying about, but the car- riages still proceeded. When they arrived in the neighbourhood of St. An- gelo, they were in sight of the Neapolite.ns, who were drawn up there in line of battle. Fortunately, close to this spot was one of the torrents dammed in which formed a covered way. In this the carriages turned down, except the last, which was struck by a cannon ball awl remained op the road. Through this road Garibaldi advanced, revolver in hand, towards St. Angelo, and arrived just in time to give new courage to the defenders. The object was to drive away the column in.the rear °lathe hills- to the left

of St. Alava°' this was easily done by throe ing Knee skirmishers on the heighar ahem those occupied by the intrude] a There was, fortunately,

same =May in front, whisk was turned. to goad account, but, as usual, it was the bayonet which decided. The Neapalesans tried to penetrate by a cavalry attack, but were beaten bask, chiefly ha the coolness of the Cala-

brese, who behaved splendidly. After three or-fenr hours' fighting, what- ever could be got together of available men were carried forward, and the Neapolitans not only driven back from their position on the great road, but likewise the barricade retaken. This was about nine o'clock.

" During this time the fight had been equally hot at Santa Maria. General Milvitz, who commanded there, was obliged to confine his defence to the immediate vicinity of the town, holding the main road to Capua and the space between it and the railway. Some light earthworka which he had thrown up lately were of good service. But the enemy brought up fresh and fresh troops, which he kept in reserve in the Campo before Capua. The shells and shot flew into the houses of Santa Maria, and the inhabi- tants left in masses. Despatch after despatch was sent to Caserta, where the reserve was, to ask for reinforcements. But thc reinforcements were likewise claimed on another side. Early in the morning, a column had shown itself towards Castel Morone, but was easily driven back, and did

not renew its attack. More serious was the advance against Maddaloni, where a column of 4000 or 5000 men attacked Maio. It was a hard fight,

for there were not more than 2000 to 2500 men to oppose on a long line where the hills had to be kept on both sides. But the struggle was soon decided. By noon the news came that the enemy had not only been driven back from their position, but had likewise been followed up to the river. A part of their forces were cut off, and threw themselves into the mountains between Caserta and Maddaloni.

"There were but two brigades remaining in reserve one the Milano, almost a skeleton of not 1000, and the other the Eber, equally weakened by detachments sent in different directions. The first was sent on by rail ; the second went by the road,. and both arrived almost at the same time, about one p.m. And it was tame. The Neapolitan bullets and balls were coming freely into Santa Maria, while Garibaldi sent orders to let any dis- posable troops advance as quickly as possible towards St. Angelo. The defence of Santa Maria was quite confined to the outskirts of the town, where the Piedmontese artillery were behaving beautifully. The first thing was to oppose this, and a battalion of Bersaglieri, and one of the regiments of the Brigade Eber, were sent to advance, while the Brigade Milano was sent by the Porta St. Angelo to take the enemy on the left flank. But before this occurred the newly-formed Hungarian Hussars had been sent out by the Porta Capua to drive hack the enemy's cavalry, which ranged close to the gate. Although not more than sixty horsemen, they charged and drove back the two squadrons, cutting them down and taking a number prisoners. "The intently soon followed, and General Tiirr took the command of that side. Although mostly fresh troops, with the exception of the cadres, com- pared of the Cacciaton of the first expedition, they went on like old soldiers. The enemy, who had evidently all day long the idea of intimidating our troops with his cavalry, charged ; but the Picciotta guided by the soldiers of Calatafimi, formed groups, and not only stood firing, but bayoneted the horsemen. After this it was almost nothing but advance with the bayonet until the Convent of the Capuchins and the Cemetery, the two chief po- sitions of the Neapolitans, were permanently taken.

"While this was going on on that aide, the rest of the Brigade Eber, the last reserve' was called by the Dictator towards St. Angelo. Scarcely out of

the gates it fell in with Garibaldi, who, accompanied only by a few officers, was waiting for further reinforcements to fall on the flank of the enemy, who, on withdrawing from St. Angelo, had taken to the woods, and occupied some houses with his artillery. "After the first defeat in the morning, the enemy had returned with new forces to carry St. Angelo. Not only did all his field guns scatter death in every direction, but likewise three batteries from the opposite bank and the mortars of the fortress began to open a tremendous fire under the protection of which the Neapolitans advanced, between ten and eleven a.m. They

carried once more the position of the barricade., and occupied even the first houses leading up towards St. Angelo. Medici and Colonel Spangaro, be- sides Garibaldi, did everything to steady the wavering troops who, seeing

themselves so much outnumbered and attacked by such formidable artillery, began to think the day lost. For hours the fight lasted, a continual advance or retreat on both sides, but still the Neapolitans could not gain much ground. This woe, perhaps, the most strongly contested spot on the whole line, and only in the afternoon the advantage began to show on our side. The Neapolitans had again to clear the road, but they still held our barricade and the woods on both sides of it. With great trouble two skirmishing lines were formed, and sent to threaten their left and right, and then a hundred men were collected behind the first house, and these made a rush at the cry of Viva Garibaldi !' and carried the position about two p. in., which was kept, as well as the guns which were in it. Garibaldi returned towards Santa Maria, and brought on thereat of the Brigade Eber to complete the success which had been gained. Scarcely half a mile from Santa Maria an open space lies on the left of the road, through which a detached barrack is visible. Here the Neapolitans had placed some guns, while their infantry lined the woods. As soon as they saw the co- lumn, they opened fire. Garibaldi, not heeding, still advanced till he came to the firsl. body. Here he gave orders to the Hungarian Legion and the Swiss Company to advance and drive them away. fhe two threw them- selves into the woods, and, scarcely using their firearms, advanced with the bayonet, driving the Neapolitans before them hate sheep. A cavalry charge of several squadrons followed, and did a good deal of harm to the little body of brave fellows, but did not hinder them following up their success and pushing forward to the very edge of Campo before Celina. "Garibaldi still advanced with the few remaining companies in the direc- tion of St. Angelo, sending off one after another to continue the work of the Hungarians. Medici had in the meantime also pushed in advance, and by four p. m. the Neapolitans were flying in all directions, and our men had occupied the edge of the wood at half a mile from Capua, where they re- mained all night, and are still."

The division which failed to defeat Bixio and penetrate into the rear at Maddaloni, was discovered in the hills above Caserta. On the 2d they were to be surrounded and taken, but, acting under the mistaken impression that their comrades had been victorious at Santa Maria and St. Angelo, they attacked Caserta at early dawn, surprising the advanced posts, who must have kept a bad Took out. They began to burn and plunder, but, assailed in turn, 2500 were taken, and the rest dispersed. The prisoners were marched into Naples, to the great delight of it timid population' some of whom insulted the prisoners.

General Bixio writes on the 2d of October- " Never believe anything of what they write to you about the numerous forces the Dictator may have at his disposal. His army, fur from increas- ing, is greatly thinned. It is, therefore, impossible to expect great deeds from him before Gaeta. Certainly, if all the red shirts which I see strut- ting proudly about the Toledo, with ponderous broadswords dangling after them, were, instead of at Naples, at the camp before Capua, we should only have some delay, and some less to complain of, as the number of these worthies is so great that they could rout the Royal troops by mere fisticuffs. The Dictator has now issued a peremptory decree bidding all these people to .join their respective corps. We shall see." The following is Garibaldi's order of the day of the same date- " Caserta, October 2.

"To fight and conquer is the watchword of the brave who long for the freedom of Italy at any cost ; you have proved it in these two days of battle. Yesterday victory crowned our efforts on the whole line. Today at Caserta and on the hills one of those deeds of arms was achieved which will be written down in history among the most fortunate. "The brave and disciplined soldiers of the North, under the orders of the valiant Major Luigi Soldo, have shown today what Italian valour joined to discipline can accomplish. If this ancient queen of nations were again to be trodden down by foreigners, the world shall see what her children can do if they be unanimous and all come forward together to the rescue of their land. - G. Genrnsmar." A; French writer makes these comments on the engagement- " I went through the whole campaign in Lombardy, I was present atlia- gents and Solferino, and yesterday I fancied I was there again. Three times were the positions of the Ganbaldians taken and retaken at the point ofthe bayonet. The grape swept men. down unmercifully. No quarter was asked or given. With mine own eyes I saw wounded men bayonetted, and the stiletto and pistol used in a fight whioh commenced with the rifle. Ex- cept the Sicilians and the Neapolitans of the city of Naples, every man did his duty with enthusiasm. A strange and fearful circumstance, if we con- sider the character of the Italians, they fought without uttering a shout, al- most in 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."

Father Gavazzi at Naples, gave a most absurd and laughable account of the battle to an audience assembled in.the open air. "What," he said, "did the sucking Bourbon do last night ?

"Why, after sending his Bavarians on our right further than Cajazzo, to draw off our attention, at the same time he brought all his troops out of Capua-34,000 men, my children—they sallied forth by the Neapolitan gate, and debouched along the main road and the railway. The horse ran i on n front, covering half a league ; than came the guns the infantry formed the tail. They fell upon Santa Maria. They found thirty-seven men at the advanced posts—thirty-seven against 34,000! The fighting was desperate ; but reinforcements came up, and then more reinforcements rushed forward, and again and again, passing on in a constant stream. The fight was terrible. It lasted five hours; but at last victory was ours. The Royalists were routed and fled. But before Capua they found Gari- baldi lining the road. Our general had allowed them to come out of their burrow and had merely cut off their retreat. The 34,000 Royalists there- fore found themselves hemmed in by bayonets. The carnage was fearful. The wounded were flung into the Volturno, already choked with corpses. Our slain are avenged. As for the Bavarians, who had attempted a diver- sion near Maddalani, they were all killed—all but eight who hid themselves in a mill under meal bags. Great battle ! Great victory ! Viva Garibaldi !" It will be remarked that Piedmontese artillery and infantry took part in the battle ; arriving at a seasonable moment, and doing tremendous - execution. Some English sailors are also said to have been there.

Advices from Naples, received by La Patrie, state that on the morning of the 4th instant Garibaldi made a reconnaissance in person in the di- rection of Capna. He ascertained that the line of the Volturno was still strongly protected, and that the Royal troops, despite their recent check, were prepared to defend it. He went as far as the bridgo of Treflisco, and found that fresh redoubts, armed with cannon, had been thrown up. The Marquis de Pallavicini, in his q,uality of Pro-Dictator, having requested Mazzini to leave Naples, the latter had taken his departure from the city.

.Aarectera.

We have little news from this side. Oar latest news is conveyed in telegrams- " Arecona, October 9.—The King has proceeded towards the Neapolitan frontier.

"A manifesto of his Majesty, addressed to the people of Southern Italy, has been published. It explains the line of policy he has followed, and the resolutions taken in consequence of the late events in Italy. "Deputations are arriving from every province of the Neapolitan States, bearing the resolutions of the municipalities and other constituted bodies, which proclaim Victor Emmanuel king, and solicit his presence.

"The oovernors and magistrates of the different provinces have signed an act of submission and homage to the King's Government."

"Today, the troops of whom his Majesty has taken the command enter the Neapolitan provinces at the different points. They are awaited with impatience by the inhabitants."

TURIN.

A telegram in the Morning Post, from its Paris correspondent, makes the following statements-

" Official despatches confirm the intelligence-1. That King Victor Em- manuel takes the command-in-chief of the army of Italy ; 2. That Gari- baldi calls for the King and asks for trooes; 3. That the corps of Cialdini has received orders to cross the Neapolitan frontier. We may, therefore, soon expect decisive events."

The Corriire Mercantile of Genoa announces that a despatch of the Sardinian Minister of War orders the immediate embarkation of the King's brigade for Naples, That brigade was to sail from Genoa on the evening of the 6th ; the ships were all ready. In the Turin Chamber of Deputies, there have been some interesting debates and speeches. Signor Cabella called for documents relating to the bill before the House giving authority in annexing Naples and the Roman States. Count Cavour replied— "Iii applying to Parliament for power to annex such provinces as might express a wish to that effect, the Government has in reality asked for a vote of confidence. Now, M. Cabella says, If you ask me for a vote of confi- dence, give me the means of judging of your conduct.' This would oblige us to produce all our foreign as well as home correspondence ; but M. Ca- bella restricts his motion to those papers which relate to the glorious events accomplished in Umbria and in the Marches. As regards these, I must frankly say that there is no other document but an English note, very badly translated by the German and French newspapers. The Government has not replied to it, because the assurances previously given were a sufficient answer, and because the answer to this note was exactly to be found in the frank and explicit declaration of its policy which the Government intended to lay before Parliament. If M. Cabana wishes to know the contents of other documents previous to that, I may tell him of a note dated the 31st of May, addressed by our Government to the British one, in which the suppo- sition of new concessions was categorically refuted. There is no other docu- ment in existence, unless, indeed, allusion be made to a certain pretended treaty said to have been concluded between France and Sardinia. It cod me some trouble to discover the origin of that paper. At last I got a copy of it from Palermo and sent it to London with some comments of mine. The English Minister, on reading it, declared he had seen it already, and that he had received a copy of it that very morning from Vienna. (Laugh- ter.) This proves, gentlemen, that it has a double origin, which you may easily guess. (Renewed laughter.) I need not, therefore, repeat my former explanations to Parliament; but I think it esssential solemnly to declare that in no document, public or private, and in no negotiation, no conversa- tion, however familiar, any foreign power has ever insinuated or demanded the cession of even an inch of Italian ground. (Loud cheers.) As regards the Marches and Umbria, if the military part of the question has been ra- pidly solved, the diplomatic part has only just commenced, and I should injure the public service were I to enter more fully on the subject."

Bertani has publicly denied that he ever gave any order to oppose the entry of Sardinian troops into Naples. Poerio has expressed much concern at an irregular proceeding of the Dictator's Government—the cession of all the railways to be constructed in the Two Sicilies to a Leghorn firm, signed by Bertani alone. Count Cavour declared he had no other information respecting this transaction than what the public press conveyed to all readers. He agreed with Poerio that such a measure would go beyond the limits of the powers of the Dictatorial Government.

Signor Ferrari has spoken against annextion and declared in favour of a confederation.

At the sitting on Thursday, the order of the day proposed by the Com- mittee who rendered homage to Garibaldi, and unanimously expressed their approval of the law of the annexation, was agreed to by ballot by. 290 votes against 6.

A Sicilian deputation has waited upon the Prince of Carignan, to plead for immediate annexation ; and it is said 4000 ileums are to go to Palermo. The electoral colleges of Sicily have been convoked by Mor- dini, the Pro-Dictator, for the 21st.

The Vienna correspondent of the official Dresden Journal states that Russia is on the point of recalling her ambassador from Turin.

The Morning Post correspondent, however, categorically denies the report— "Paris, October 11.—There has been no Protest, in the diplomatic sense, by Russia, Austria, and Prussia, against the entry of Sardinian troops into the Neapolitan territory. The rumour of an identical Note by the three Northern Powers is, therefore, unfounded. This does not imply, it must be understood, that the three Powers are not opposed to the march of events in

THE POPE AND KING FRANCIS.

The French occupy Viterbo, Velletri' Civita. Vecchia, Castellana, Tivoli, Palestaina, Frascati, Albano and Valmontono. General Goyon was present at the funeral of Genera Pimodan. Preparations for departure were being ostensibly made at the Vatican, but the decision upon this step had been adjourned. The Official Journal

had published an article claiming payment of the "Peter's pence" from all the faithful, but textually declaring that the Pope would accept no subsidy from any terrestrial power. A Russian and an Austrian answer has been sent to the Pope's appeal for aid. The Russian Government advises the Pope not to quit Rome, nor to pronounce any excommunication, but for the present to confine him- self to protesting against the invasion of Sardinia. The Austrian Cabi- net, although severely censuring the Sardinian invasion of the Papal States, declares the utter impossibility of intervening otherwise than in the ordinary diplomatic way. Ads-ices from Rome state that the French were about to reoccupy Vi- terbo. Pontifical gendarmes were to precede the French by twelve hours. The inhabitants were prepared to repulse the Pontifical soldiers, but to yield to the French. The Marquis di Pcpoli proceeded to Viterbo to reassure the inhabitants.

A protest from King Francis of Naples has been published, signed "Francesca Casella," and dated September 16.

Signor Casella, whose name is appended to the document, draws attention at the outset to three decrees issued by Garibaldi since his arrival at Naples —that transferring the Neapolitan fleet to Victor Emmanuel, and those pro-

viding that all acts of public authority should be done in the name of Victor Emmanuel, and that they should bear a seal inscribed with his name. He

then summarizes the events of the last few months. In spite, ho complalas, of the distinct assurances of Count Cavour that Garibaldi's attempt on Sicily was made in opposition to the orders of the King of Sardinia, preparations on his behalf continued to be made on Piedmontese territory, and expeditions sailed from Genoa, Leghorn, and Cagliari. Notwithstanding all this the re- lations between Naples and Turin remained pacific. Conciliatory up to the last moment, wishing to avoid new conflicts for Italy, relying upon his in- contestable right, his Sicilian Majesty hoped to repel the invasion, and finish the war without adding international questions to internal difficulties. Events have reached such a pass, however, that it is necessary to appeal to the good sense, to the justice, to the most legitimate interests of Europe." After describing the latest events of Garibaldi's career, Signor Casella con- tinues :—" Protesting in the most formal and explicit manner, in the name of his august master, against their acts of usurpation and violence, the undersigned considers it his duty to call the attention of his Excellency — to the new principles of public law which such facts tend to establish in civi- lized Europe. The Government of his Majesty still hopes that the King of Sardinia will hasten to repel with an indignation worthy of his loyalty that gift so insulting to his honour of the fleet and of the territory of a friendly sovereign—a gift made by a man whom he himself has treated as an usurper. The Government of his Majesty believes that, in consideration of the dis- asters resulting from the excessive and inexplicable tolerance of the Sardi- nian Government, the King of Sardinia will no longer permit his name and his flag to serve the purposes of the invasion of a pacific state, of the effusion of innocent blood, and of the violation of the treaties which constitute the public law of Europe. Signor Casella concludes by protesting against the title 'King of Italy,' proclaimed by Garibaldi, and declares his decrees null and void, 'appealing to the justice of Europe against conduct which trans- forms the Mediterranean, a sea of civilization and commerce, into an open field for piracy, and leaves to a nation all the profit of a conquest without the responsibility, or the perils.of a war.' "