The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-09 00:00:00

after our departure by men left behind for that purpose.
Garibaldi went up to kook at the position underneath,
or; perhaps, to indulge in that kind of reverie to which
he is subject in such solemn moments, and which ends
in a concentration of all his faculties on the sole aim he
has before him.

The evening gun in the fort had long been re-echoed
by the mountains, and the moon had risen clear and
bright above our heads, giving a new charm to this lovely
scenery, before we stirred.

During this interval the Picciotti (youngsters), as the
patriots are called, were put into some kind of order,
and the march began about ten p.m. We reached the
plain and came in among the olive-trees below, with
few falls among the sure-footed horses. A halt was
made until all the columns had descended, and
during this halt an incident occurred which did not
promise much for the future behaviour of out Picci-
otti. The horses in Sicily are left for the most part
entire, hence considerable fighting and considerable
neighing, which was so inconvenient in a night expedi-

tion of this kind that several of the most vicious steeds
had to be sent back. One of them still remained and
began his antics ; the rider lost patience, which made
matters worse. Those nearest threw themselves back in
haste, and communicated the movement to those behind.
These, many of whom had sat down and began to doze,
mistook in their dreams, probably, the trees for Neapo-
litans, the' stars for so many shells, and the moon
for a colossal fireball ; at any rate, the majority
of them were with one bound in the thickets on
both sides of the road, several fired off their muskets
in their fright, and very little was wanting to
cause a general panic. Every one did what he could
to restore confidence, but the effect was produced and
reacted, as you will see by-and-bye. Another incident
occurred, which might have led to the failure of the
whole expedition. The Sicilian guides who were with
the avant-garde missed the road, and instead of taking
a by-road which led into the main road we had to pur-
sue, they continued on the road near the hill-side, which
would have brought us just where the Neapolitans were
iu the greatest strength. The mistake was perceived in
time and repaired, but not without considerable loss of
time. At last the column emerged on the main
road, which is broad, and skirted by high garden walls.
The sguadri, who ought to have known the locality
better, began shouting and " evivvaing," just as if we
had been close to the gates. Had it not been for this
.blunder, the avant-garde might have surprised the post
on the bridge of the Ammiragliato, and probably pene-
trated into the town without the loss of a man. As it
was, the shouting not only roused those on guard on the
bridge, but likewise gave an opportunity to the Neapo-
litans to strengthen the force at the gate of Termini,
and to make all their dispositions for a defence from
the flank.

Instead, therefore, of surprising the post on the bridge,
the avant-garde was received by a well sustained fire,
not only in front, but from the houses in their flanks.
At the first sound of the musketry most of the Picciotti
were across the garden walls, but not with the view of
firing from behind them, leaving thus the thirty or
forty men of the ovant .garde all isolated in the large
exposed street which leads 'to the bridge. The first
battalion of the Cacciatori was sent up, and as it did
'not carry the position fast enough, the . second was
sent after it soon after. While these were driving
back the Neapolitans, every one did his 'best to drive
the Picciotti forward. It was not so easy, in the begin-
ning, especially, when the sound of cannon was heard in
front, although its effects were scarcely visible. How-
ever, the Picciotti, who remind me very much of Arnout
Bashi-bazouks, can be led on after the first unpleasant
sensation has passed away, especially when they see that
it is not all shots that kill or wound, not even the cannon
shots, which make so formidable a noise. They could see
this to perfection this morning, for although the Neapo-
litan rifles are scarcely inferior to the best firearms, I
never saw so little damage done by so much shooting.
Every one put himself, therefore, to work to lead and urge
on the Picciotti, driving them. out of the sheltered places
by all kinds of contrivances, and often by blows and main
force. After some trouble most of them were safely brought
through the open apace • before the bridge, but the
general tendency was to go under rather than above the
bridge, which is, like all bridges over torrents, high, and
was in this instance exposed to a heavy cross-fire from
the Piana di Borazzo, where the Neapolitans had aloop-
holed wall and some guns mounted, which threw a few

ill-aimed shell. While the general himself and many
of his staff did their best to make them leave this
shelter again and proceed, the avant-garde had chased
back the Neapolitans to the stradone, which runs down
do the sea just in front of the Porta di Termini. The
Neapolitan fort at the gate, considerably reinforced,
opened a hot fire, which swept down the long avenue of
houses leading to the bridge, while at the same time
the. two guns and the troops posted at the Porta Sant'
Antonino brought a cross fire to bear on the attackers.
But this was no obstacle to the brave fellows who
led the way. They did not lose time with
firing, but rushed on with the bayonet. The commander
of the avant-garde, Major Tiikori, a Hungarian, and
three of the guides were the first across the sandbag
barricade in the town, but the leader was wounded by a
.k.c.t, which shattered left knee. Otherwise tb,a low
had been trining. W bite the avant-garde and the
Cacciatori chased the Neapolitans from spot to spot, the
Palermitans began likewise to stir, but justice compels
me to say, only in the parts which the troops had left.
The same scene as at the bridge was repeated at the
crossing of the stradone by 'the Picciotti,. who followed
in.a_straggling movement. And yet it was important
to get into the town, in order not to be outflanked or
taken in the rear by the Neapolitans holding the Piana
di Borazzo. At the same time a barricade was thrown
up in the rear with anything which could be laid hold
of. This work pleased the Picciotti so well that they
began throwing up a bairicade in front likewise. At
anyrate, they blocked up a part of the road before they
could be prevented.
But the most critical thing was decidedly the crossing
of the stradone, where the cross fire was kept up, and
all kinds of dodges were resorted to to make them risk
this salto, which they thought mortal. I and one of
the followers of Garibaldi held out one of the men by
main force exposed to the fire, which soon made him
run across. It was here, above all, that the bad firing
of the Neapolitans told. I' was looking on for some
time, and did not see a single man even wounded. In
order to encourage the Pii•ciotti, one of the Genoese
riflemen took four or five chairs, planted the tricolour
on vile of them, and sat down upon it for some time.
The thing took at last decidedly, and - you SAW the
Picciotti stopping on the road to fire off their muskets.
Close to the Porta di Termini is the Vecchia Fierra—
the old market-place. This was the first point where
Garibaldi stopped. One must know these Sicilians to
have an idea of the frenzy, screaming, shouting, crying,
and hugging ; all would kiss his hand and embrace his
knees. The entrance was affected at about half-
past five a.m., and by noon more than one-
half of the town was clear of the troops. But
two hours before this was effected, the citadel
had opened its fire on the town, at first moderately
enough, but soon after with great vigour, firing large
13-inch shells, red-hot shot, and every other projectile
calculated to do the greatest possible damage. About
noon or so the ships in the harbour opened their fire,
and between the two they contrived to destroy a great
number of houses in the lower part of the town, killing
and wounding a large number of people of all ages and

both sexes. Two of the large shells were sent right
into the hospital, and exploded in one of the wards.
Everywhere you perceived ruins and conflagrations,

dead and wounded, not a few of whom must have
perished among the ruins of their houses.

EVtNING.

The bombardment is still kept up, with only short
intervals, especially from the Castle, where the alter ego
of Ring Bomba 11. reigns. There is no doubt that
Admiral Mundy made very strong representations to the
Neapolitan Commodore about the bombardment, but
they have not been listened to. According to all
accounts there is no comparison between the bombard-
ment in 1848 and the present one. Then the Neapoli- '
tans were satisfied with sending one or two shells every
half-hour, while now they take just time enough to let
their guns•and mortars cool.
All those who came in this morning with. Garibaldi
are dead-beat, having had no sleep last night and plenty
of work since. The General himself is reposing on the
platform which surrounds the large fountain in the
Piazza del Pretoria where the committee is sitting en
permanence. ,• This committee, the same which carried
on the Viliole movement from the beginning, has consti-
tuted itself as a Provisional Government, under the dic-
tatorship of Garibaldi.
At our first entrance into the town, there was a good
deal, of haste made. about the barricades, but as the'
extension of the occupation constantly nquites new bar-
ricades, there is some difficulty in keeping the Palermi-
tans up to the work; a great many evvivas, but all pre-
ferring to run about the streets to laying hard to the
work. Even the ringing of the bells, the most demoral-
ising sound to an army in a populous town, can, in spite
of all injunctions, be only kept in fits and starts. It is
the Southern indolence, which soon gets the better of all
good dispositions.

The town is illuminated, and presents, during the
intervals of the bombardment, an animated appearance ;
but all the shops are still closed. The illumination, with.
the antique-shaped glass lamps suspended from the bal-
conies, presents a very pretty effect, rather heightened
by the shells flying through the clear sky.

SOUTHERN DIRECT TRADE.—The Washington Con-
stitution prints three letters relating to the project.for
direct trade between the Southern States and Belgium.
Pram these letters it appears that the Belgian Societe
Generale has consented to patronise the trade, which
_looks mainly to an export of cotton for Belgian mills.
A company under the style of the " Belgian Direct
Trading Company" has also been incorporated. to develop
this trade, with a preliminary capital, of. ten million
francs, whether subscribed or paid in or not does not
sprig.