REVOLUTION IN SICILY AND TAPLES.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 315, 26 October 1860, Page 4

REVOLUTION IN SICILY AND TAPLES.

( From ths RoiwiNeios.) INVASION OF CALABRIA. / Once more the daring genius oi Italy/s greatest general has led him into aposition to thrill his friends with an admiraton thp-t is tempered with concern. Garibaldi is^n, Calabria, to contend, with not mo.'c tnan 8000, and possibly with fewer thai 6000 chosen followers, in the name of liberty and Italian independency, against the large/and well trained army of a king whose government has been an incarnation of the/spirit oi oppression. If we have recourse to figures and compare the numerical s/rength, of the opposed forces, nothing seems more ridiculous than this invasion. The king of the remaining " Sicily " disposes of an army which, according to official statistics,,,should number 70,000 infantry of the guard and line, 6000 cavalry, and 6000 artillery, even when a'fair deduction is made for losses in Sicily; and to cut off Garibaldi's communication by. sea, has a fl>eet of 121 vessels, carrying 820 guns. But in this war such calculations would be quite out of; place. Garibaldi is in Calabria,, to place himself at the head of a nation which expects him as a deliverer, and which ..-.■will find diversified occupation for thejfcurbon. " army, while it will swell his ranks and recruit him with all kinds of succour. This which is the justification of his armed appearance in Neapolitan territory, is the ground of his expectations of success. Already we hear of th^ formation of a provisional government 7 at Potenza, a fortified town in the very heart of the kingdom, capable of becoming the nucleus of an important movement to divide the royal forces; and similar risings are to be expected at other points. But no military assistance Garibaldi can expect to receive will be of a character to detract from the boldness of his'enterprise, which must be measured by the risks he immediately encounters. The information supplied by the telegraph is in all respects too imperfect to afford the materials of a connected representation of the facts of this landing; we may, however, collect its most striking features. The vanguard of the romantic expedition, consisting of only 350 men, crossed the narrow straits of Messina on the night of the Bth of August, under Missori. They failed to capture the fortress of Torre del Cavallo, but established themselves in the neighboring mountains, and attracted around them an insurgent force said to amount to 2000 men. There appears to have been no further embarkation until the 19th or 20th. A telegram from Messina announces the illumination of that city on the 19th—the return of the general from one of his mysterious journeys (he had just paid a visit for some unknown reason to the Island of Sardinia) — his re-embarkation and departure with Colonel Bixio and 5000 men —and his landing the same day, with 3800 men, at Melito; the extreme point of the mainland. A telegram from Naples, via Florence, represents the landing as having taken place on the morning of the 21st at Bagnara, nearly opposite the Faro. It announces also the junction of 2000 invaders with the insurgents, and their attack uponßeggio. A later telegram, published at Turin on the 23rd, reports from Naples the capture of Reggio by Garibaldi, a general insurrection in Calabria, and the concentration of the Neapolitan force at Monteleone, on the road northward. Garibaldi has evidently affected a descent upon the Neapolitan coast, with his characteristic skill and customary success. Dividing the expeditionary force into two bodies, he appears to have conducted one in person, to the south point of the mainland. He may then have returned, and conducted another and larger body, in a fleet of small vessels—for the most part, of course, mere fishing boats— into the Gulf of Goija; where Bagnara would furnish a convenient landing-place, and a march of about 10 miles to the south would effect a junction with Missori. A nearly simultaneous landing was, at any rate, accomplished at these two points. That no opposition was offered at either spot is expressly stated; and if a defence of Beggio was attempted, it must have been overcome in a few hours. The Neapolitan cruisers maintained a masterly inactivity until, as at Marsala, the stranded vessels were empty, and could be safely -fired upon. An English vessel supplied Garibaldi, before he started on the invasion, with 30,000 muskets and 15 pieces of rifled cannon.

In our last we stated that the campaign in Sicily had closed; and we have since received a full narrative of the events which immediately preceded the final victory. On the 20th was fought the battle^ of Melazzo, referred to in our last, which ended in the surrender of Bosco, and which resulted immediately afterwards in the capitulation of the garrison of Messina. The Neapolitans fought at a great. advantage ; they had cover, and they had a concentric position. The attacking force numbered only 5000 men, while the troops to which they were opposed numbered at least 8000. The fighting lasted 14 hours. Garibaldi was engaged in a hand-to-hand contest, and conducted himself as much like a paladin of old as a general of the 19 th century. Here is a stirring picture of one of the adventures of the day:— " Garibaldi was with the centre, which was making its way slowly over and through all obstacles, when the news arrived that the left [young Sicilian troops], unable to resist the superior forces of the enemy, was giving way, and thus exposing the whole line to be turned on that side. Taking the only reserve remaining, a battalion composed of North Italians and Palermitans, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dunne and several other English officers he went to the left to stem the advance of the Neapolitans. His presence and the exertions of the|officers of the battalion sue-

Hfeeded in steadying these young troops, who (/not only resisted further attacks, but pushed forward towards the guns with which the enemy was sweeping the road. One advance bolder than the rest brought them to the guns; an English sailor, lately enlisted at Patti, was the first across the wall behind which one of the guns was posted, and the next moment the gun was carried off irii triumph. Just at the moment when it was disappearing behind the curve in the road the cry arose of " Cavalry—cavalry!" and excited confusion. Vain were the attempts of Garibaldi and of the officers to overcom* this bugbear of young troops; they pressed against the garden wall on one side, and, jumping a ditch on the other, they opened a road to about a dozen bold horsemen of the Chasseurs a Cheval, who, with their" captain at their head, rushed' through this break in our line to recapture the gunGaribaldi had only time to step aside, when the horsemen passed sabring right and left. But .tW did not go far, for after the first panic the infantry recovered and soon emp«'ed the greater part of their saddles. The captain, a sergeant, and a privCte tried to make their escape, and would have succeeded but for Garibaldi's personal bravery. He went into the middle of the road, and having left his revolvers in the holsters when he dismounted, he drew his sword and placed himself in position to stop the captain. The only person with him at the time was Captain Missori, of the Guides, who was likewise on foot, but armed with a revolver. His first shot, wounding the horse of the Neapolitan captain, brought it on its haunches; Garibaldi seized hold of the bridle intending to secure the captain as his prisoner. But the captain answered to the demand to surrender by a blow with his sword at Garibaldi, who parried and retaliated, cutting the Neapolitan captain with one stroke down the face and neck, and prostrating him dead at his feet. While Garibaldi was thus engaged in this singlehanded combat, Captain Missori shot down the sergeant who came to assist his officer. This one despatched, he seized hold of the private whose horse had been shot, and, when he resisted, shot him also with another barrel from his revolver."

The effect which Garibaldi's victory produced at Messina may be imagined more easily than described. The Times correspondent says:— "The evacuation on one side, and the entry of the victors on the other side, was the signal of the metamorphosis in the town of Messina which can only be designated by the name of insurrection. All that had been compressed for the last four months came out now with, all the violence of which these southern natures are capable. Fancy, while all Sicily has been rejoicing, talking, moving, breathing freely, this poor town has been under the iron pressure of a strong garrison, and under the eyes of hundreds of guns, deserted by the greater part of its inhabitants, dead to commerce and social life, and trembling for its existence. In the afternoon, about half-past, two Graribaldi, apprised of the entry of Medici, arrived in person. I can find no words to describe the ovations which are given to Garibaldi. Imagine a long expected Messiah greeted by the people he has delivered, the heart of the whole people poured out before the man of the people, who feels and lives with the life of the masses. They seem at his aspect to feel instinctively a being who thoroughly comprehends them, who loves them even with all their weakness and all their faults, and who has sacrificed his life to their redemption."

There are still a thousand or two of Neapolitan soldiers in Sicily; and Garibaldi does not insist on their departure, as their presence does not cause him the slightest inconvenience. Harmless garrisons of the of the royalist troops are allowed still to hold some of the forts at Messina and one or two other places. This is perhaps an advantage to Garibaldi, not only because the Neapolitan array is thus deprived of a number of men, but because an opportunity continues to be offered to the royalist troops of deserting to the national standard.

In an interesting letter dated August 2, the Times correspondent gives a description of a visit which he paid in company with Garibaldi to the Faro :•—

" The tower of the lighthouse at the Faro is likely to become the brooding-place of some great idea, for not a morning passes without Garibaldi being seen at this chosen spot. Besides indulging in this favorite pastime of contemplation and concentration in himself, his presence at the Faro just at this time is required to vivify and advance the works which are being constructed there. Like time, Garibaldi waits for nobody, so I took care to be there at dawn. He lives at the Royal Palace, close to the villa, the little ornamented garden in the main street. As usual, leaving the larger apartments to his suite, he retired into a small corner room, which forms his bedroom, study, and private room adjoining it is a small room; occupied by his private secretary. He had just done dressing when I entered; he walked about in the room scarcely illuminated by the first gray light of the morning, finishing his toilet. Coffee and some hard biscuits were ready for breakfast on a small table encumbered with papers, while in the rest of the room were lying about in picturesque confusion other papers, model arms, rifles, muskets, swords, and revolvers, samples of the soldiers' rations as they ought to be, and cigars. Welcoming me with a hearty phake of the 'Jiand, he continued walking about twice or three times along the room, then stopping, he asked me, 'Do you remember the Carme della Morte of Ugo Foscolo?' On my confessing my ignorance he began to recite it to me, giving all the emphasis of which those sublime verses are capable. Having finished we sat down to have some coffee, talking of poetry and the superiority of versi sciolti over rhymes. The carriage was ready and we drove

through the still silent streets towards the Marina. It is about nine miles to the Faro'; almost all along the road there is a succession of dwelling-houses, villas, and villages. The first part of it is the usual summer evening drive- in ordinary times, and it well merits its attractions, with that deep blue sea, and the white fort and hon^s of Messina rising out of it; the picaresque fishing and coasting boats drawn up on the beach; to the left the verdant hills, coming down close to the road and exhibiting a deep green tropical vegetation on their slopes; before you, in a graceful curve, the sandy promoatory> witn the aro at its ex~ trern jtj,- and on the opposite side of the! -Siraits the mountains of Calabria, and the; white buildings of Villa San Giovanni and Reggio, bathed by the sea. It,is hard to" say whether this scene is more lovely in the warm evening tinge, or seen in the rosy vapors of the morning. Although it was; only sunrise when we left the town, the dwellings of the lower classes were already open, the children playing on the beach, their elders peeping out of windows, or standing at the door, to give their greeting to their saviour, as Garibaldi is called. Man, woman, and child seemed to know him like an old acquaintance, and saluted him with their best smile. They are lying as it were, in wait for him, knowing, as they do, that he passes every morning. By seeing him every morning they seem to think that they have acquired a kind of right to his acquaintance, and, above all, the children watch for his carriage and never fail to stammer the 'Bvviva Garibaldi!' It is a kind of affectionate popularity which he enjoys on this spot, and which is quite different from the noisy popularity which is the usual tribute paid to great men; and Garibaldi is just the man to appreciate this popularity, and to comply with its tyrannical exigencies. Every one expects to have a look of recognition, a familiar smile, a slight nod or waving of the hand; it would tire out any one else except the man from whom they are expected. He sees every one and listens to every one —the most formidable corvee in a country where every one begins his speech with the creation of the world. ... Before

we left the village of Faro Inferiore, wecould distinguish four Neapolitan steamers cruising about between the point of Messina and Villa San Giovanni, on the opposite coast. I don't know whether it was accident, or whether they saw us, but they seemed bent on keeping company with us. As we advanced, they followed, till they arrived with us in the neighborhood of the Faro. There were three other steamers already there, and all the seven together seemed to watch with great interest what we were doing. If we went on, they went on ; if we returned, they returned. Garibaldi seemed scarcely aware of their existence. At the outskirts of the village we descended, and went on towards the works near t^e lighthouse point. Before arriving there we passed the guns lately brought from Palermo and Melazzo, which were drawn up in a respectable line along the beach. The first hour or two after our arrival was given to the inspection of this materiel and of the works, where some hundred men were busy excavating the sandy ground. The inspection being over we ascended to the gallery of the ligHthoase, from which you enjoy a magnificent view of the Straits. Evidently the Neapolitans, in case of a descent, don't intend to make a stand in this part of Calabria, but1 reserve their resistance for higher up—for instance, on the line between Nicastro and Tiriolo, where the road crosses the main chain of the Apennines, and descends into the valley of the river Crati. For an army which really intends to fight, there are positions enough all along tie road; but it must be likewise recollected that, for light troops, without baggags, every footpath or mule track is a road, This is the advantage we have. The Neapolitans cannot operate, and dare not mcve where we can. They have, besides, ths drawback of having the population agains'; themi Not only the two Calabrias, but likewise the adjoining province of Basilba, give unequivocal signs of their intention to make common cause with Garibaldi. I myself have no great faith in their ictive co-ope-ration, but even the passive ympathy of a population is a powerful auxliary in military operations."

"Every Englishman," siys the Daily News, "will be glad to fear that the bravery of the small band of our country-; men already in the ranks1 of Garibaldi elicited his heartiest praise at Melazzo. That famous shot, Captain- Peard, was made a colonel for his coiduct (always intrepid) on that day when saw the standam of the Sicilian patriots wave over Messina. Colonel Dunne, vho won the Victoria Cross, commands a corps in Garibaldi's army. Another Englishman, Colonel Forbes, is commandant of the town and fortress of Melazzo. A document arrived recently in London, in whi^h the great Italian general expresses the\ highest admiration of his British volunteers. Captain Styles, formerly of the Fusilier Guards, and who carries on his breast me Crimean medals of England and Turkey, aid now of Garibaldi's staff, has arrived in London for a few days, and will enable the riiemen of the metropolis to judge of the lightness, grace, and remarkably picturesque efftct of the Garibaldian uniform. The gallant aptain landed with Garibaldi at Marsala, md was in the actions at Calatafirpi, Palermo, and the crowning battle of Melkzzo. There is no doubt that if any of oiir volunteers, with a turn for adventure and some little military training, should fancy to exchange for a time the battle-grounds of Hampstead or Bromley for those of Calabria at this holiday season, they would receive a warm welcome from Garibaldi." [Oapt. Styles has published a document in which Garibaldi authorises him to eniol volunteers in England for the cause of Italian nationality; and a meeting at which Capt. Styles made

a statement of what he has done and expects to do in London ,has been reported. The captain said that "in three days he had collected 500 volunteers, many of them of the. highest respectability—some of independent means. And while he had been compelled to take some of the lower class for the purpose of servants, yet with, these he had received characters for respectability. His object was to raise a battalion of at least 800 men; but he did not wish to take them empty-handed. All the money and ammunition which General Garibaldi had at his command he required for the troops he had there. He wanted, therefore, to collect sufficient to equip the English battalion, and when he reached Garibaldij say, ' Heve we are, ready to fight!'"] The Italian papers state that the steamer the Queen of England has brought to Garibaldi the following contributions in aid of the Sicilian cause:—Seven of Blakeley's cannon, 1150 Enfield rifles, 80 common rifles, 40 pistols, 16 other cannon (two rifled, with the carriages complete), 40 cases of bombs, 389 cannon-balls; to which are added ] 125. cases of Colt's revolvers, sent to Garibaldi from America by Major Hartley. The entire freight of the vessel xepreserits a value of £'50,000.' The same vessel carried also the gifts of the " The Ladies' Garibaldi Benevolent Association," namely 25 hospital tents, four large boxes ot medicines, supplies of splints and bandages and lint, and numerous air-beds and air-cushions for the use of the wounded volunteers.

The following is said to be a copy of1 the letter recently addressed by King Victor Emmanuel to General Garibaldi:— " General,—You know that I did not approve of your expedition, and that I was entirely foreign to it, but to-day the very grave circumstances in which Italy is placed make it a duty to enter into direct communication with you. In the event of the King of Naples consenting to evacuate the whole of Sicily, and voluntarily abandoning all species of action, and formally pledging himself to exercise no pressure whatsoever upon the Sicilians, so that the latter may freely pronounae their will, and choose the mode of Government which they may prefer, I believe it will be wise in you to renounce altogether any further enterprise upon the kingdom of Naples. In the contrary event, I expressly reserve my entire liberty of action, and relieve myself of making any comment to you. in regard to future projects." The following has been published, not as a literal, but so far as the sense is concerned, as an exact reproduction of the letter of reply from Garibaldi to King Victor Emmanuel:—-

" Sire, —Your Majesty knows the high esteem, and the devotion I feel towards your Majesty; but such is the present state of things in Italy, that, at the present moment, I cannot obey your Majesty's injunctions, much as i would like it. I am called for and urged on by the people of Naples. I have tried in vain with what influence I have, to restrain them, feeling, as I do, that a more favorable moment would be desirable. But if I should now hesitate, I would endanger the cause of Italy, and not fulfil my duty as an Italian. May your Majesty, therefore, permit me this time not to obey ! As soon as I shall have done with the task imposed upon me by the wishes of the people which groans under the tyrrany of the Neapolitan Bourbon, I shall lay down my sword at your Majesty's feet, and shall obey your Majesty for the remainder of my lifetime."

The expeditions to Sicily from. Northern Italy still continue, though, since La Farina's forced return from Palermo, the National Society has shut its office for enlistment. The youth of Lombardy and the Genoese seem to have caught the fever of emigration; week after week they come to the port of Genoa; Bertani sends them off by thousands, and still the tide is on the increase. About 20,000 young Lombards, students of Pavia, the sons of the gentry of Brescia, the mountaineers of Bergamo, the flower of the youth of Genoa, have already crossed the Mediterranean for Sicily. Farina has succeeded in preventing the departure of an expedition that was to have landed in the Roman States. Most of the volunteers composing it will, however, it is said, proceed to Sicily.