The Express.
London, England, 1860-10-09 00:00:00

HIGNWATIZ AT IOWDON SUDO&

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LONDON, TUESDAY, OCT. 9.

Tics general character of the battle of the Vol-
turno was so truly presented in the few well-chosen
features transmitted last week by telegraph, that
the, letters now arriving from the spot confirm and
intensify rather than alter the impressions pro-
duced by the first accounts of the conflict. The
survey of GARIBALDI'S positions and the details of
duties assigned to his captains, now given in the
letters of the French correspondents, agree, natu-
rally enough, with almost photographic resem-
blance with that we published last Saturday ; but
so also do the amount of the leading dispositions
of the commanders on the respective aides as far
as the development of the battle is concerned.
What we gain by the reports of the eye-witnesses
which are now published is a strong vivification of
previous knowledge by the addition of local colour
and detail. We cannot agree with the Journal dei
Debatsthat the results of the battle were exaggerated
in the earlier telegrams. We confess to considerable
sympathy with the Oaribeldiana and are as
likely as any to take a sanguine view of their
exploits ; but on Saturday, with no other guide
than the telegrams, we descriled the battle of
the Volturno as probably indssiMve in • strictly
military point of view. For all that it was a
great battle, and for Italy • great yuccas.
With what hopes the courage of the BOVRBON
army was animated on the terrible lit of October
we have yet to be informed. The besotted igno-
rance of the peasantry from which the Knio's
ranks are recruited makes them the fit victims of
any delusion which it may be the interest of their
master to cultivate, and the large promises
made to them must have seemed to be based on
some chanCes of success of which the world in
general is ignorant. Perhaps to them, as to the
garrison of Messina, the ultimate triumph of the
litso's cause through foreign aid was held out ea
sure and certain. However this may have been,
the Kiso's troops fought like good and hardy
soldiers in this battle, and, with better handling.
might by this time have been at Naples. It would
be a sinister compliment to the superstition mis-
called loyalty, the tendency to pay en equal and
undistinguishing devotion to anointed Sovereigns
irrespective of their character, to suppose that
these brave men threw away their lives from sheer
regard for a family which to the Two Sicilies has
proved one of the direst curses ever inflicted upon
a nation.

The morning of October lit opened with every-
thing in the Kuto's favour. His position behind
the Volturno was one of the best that can be con-
ceived, end offered him a tolerably safe retreat in
any contingency. He was master of the river,
which ho could cross and norms nadir the very
guns of the fortress of Caput., while his numerous
artillery enabled him to place batteries all along the
right bank, either to forbid or to cover the pump.
The number of his troops is varionelygtves. A Nes-
politer' officer who was taken prisoner elates it at
20,000. If he had no more, he had twines many
es Gsate•Let could put in line during the early
part of the day. His cavalry was of half the strength
of GAR' e•tei's whole army. Nothing but the
highest skill in the commander and the greatest
devotion on the part of the men mud emshie the
patriot force to stand against its onslaught. Gene-
ral Rrrrein, who held the chief command, appears
to have formed a plan by which he expected, with
16,000 men, to engage his adversary in a life and'
death struggle at Santa Maria, while by another
route a second division of his army, 5,000 strong,
took possession of a point, Maddolini, on GAM-
LIMA line of retreat. The manoeuvre, like
many a pretty combination in war, would have
been an excellent one if it had succeeded. The
16,000 men who were to have overthrown
BALDI in front and driven his disordered batta-
lions into the toils of the 6,000 behind
were themselves beaten. The larger mess of
the Neapolitan army Moiled from the hairs=
of Capita, and being of a strength,
as was supposed, to disregard the petty rules of
prudence, was divided into two columns. Both were
to engage the Garibaldians collected near Banta
Maria, wie of them falling upon the enemy in the
rear. For a time, as the letters show, the attack
in front had a partial success. After two
hours' lighting, G•measees troops were compelled
to fall back on Santa Maria, where the Waif ilia
and LucaniOn troops appear to have arrived as
supporta. Had the second column of the larger
body of the Knio's army been able to execute its
orders, the result might have been disastrous to
the national canes. Hut here the admirable
foresight of GAILISALDI was again seen. This bold
leader—who, because with the just confidemise of
genius ho attacks difficulties which appal 'medio-
crity, is called rail and adventurous—had anti-

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ciliated the movements of the Bouaecx general,
and with his usual caution had prepared ditches,
barricades, and redoubts on the very fields
which the enemy had proposed to crime,
and the latter, being taken between two
columns of GeribaWiens, were lad. They do not,
however, appear to have surrendered, probably
becalm no quarter was to be bad. The terrific
obstinacy of the struggle is told in the fact that
the Krsu's 7th Regiment of Chameurs was anni-
hilated, only 35 men and 3 officers made prisoners
being saved. But the whole battle appears to
have been fought out with a degree of passion only