The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-04 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER

GARIBALDI'S VICTORIES IN CALABRLI.

(non oca anew. reansnroimerr.)
REGGIO, Ammar 21, 12o'ccocc
My letter of yesterday will have prepared you for
the triumphant success of our arms this morning,
whoa this town was carried by assault, with com-
paratively little lose on our side.
Immediately on landing on the 19th, Garibaldi
sent orders to Miasori and his column to join him
on the hills in the rear of Reggio, and proceeded
himself with his main body, 3,800 strong, to the
same position. On his departure the Torino, left
hopelessly aground in spite of the efforts of the
Franklin to tow her off, was burnt by the Neapo-
litans. Owing to some mistake of the messenger
sent to bliaeori, he thought the general bad
taken to the high ground round Aspromonte,
and consequently did not effect his junction
until last night, when Garibaldi made his disposi-
tions for attack as follows : Sitio, with four bets*
liona, was to attack the towu from the south side,
whilst the main body advanced from the bills,
carried the suburbs, and eudeavoured to gain pos.
session of the fortress, which is situated in the
centre of the town. Two expeditions were also in
readiness to force the peonage, one from Messina
and the other from the Faro. Garibaldi com-
menced the attack about an hour before day-
* and soon engaged the alistersaufid
Owego, who -*li-
the must advantageous positions in and near
the town, and were advancing steadily, when
Ihrio's furious onslaught on the southern side car-
ried all before it. So Bill°, though slightly
wounded, pushed his way up to the effecting
a junction with Garibe, whilst the royal troops
fell back on the castle from both sides. In spite of
their fuvourable position and the vigour of their
fire, it wax hopeless for them to resist unless they
were prepared to do so at the point of the bayloll4.
as when onoe our men had entered the town they
were allowed no time for anything else, and the
conflict became almost a rout, the enemy flying
to the fortress. Bia.io having captured a sort of
magazine, in which he found two heavy
guns, they were immediately turned against
the castle, which has now (11 o'clock) hoisted
the white flag. Ere long the Neapolitan =M-
ot-war in the road will doubtless have recominessed
the work for which they are so well trained, namely,
removing the royal troop, after we have books
them.

Sunultaneously with our attack, Coeenz, with a
considerable body of men, croa.od in boats at the
Faro without much opposition, all the steamers
having been drawn southwards by the firing, and
by the feint made in the harbour of Messina, where
all Garibaldi'm vessels were concentrakid, with
steam up and a mock embarkation to divert the
enemy.

Never were plans better conceived or better
executed, and the élan of our troops oould not have
been surpassed, advancing as if victory was at
their bayonets' ends. As for the Neapolitans,
they fought either like men without heart
or men without officers. Of the latter
deficiency on the enemy's side, there is little doubt.
What the effect of this news may be at Naples it is
difficult to conceive ; but fruit' the reports we re-
ceived yesterday, it is not improbable that the fate
of the Neapolitan crown may be decided here, and
our lung march on Naples be unnecessary.. I be-
lieve the Faro and opposite batteries, together
with one or two Neapolitan steamers, had a species
of triangular duel this morning, but without any
great result. The Faro commenced at daylight
with the view of distracting the enemy's attention.
Our losses are,. astounding to say, only 7 lulled
and wounded, the Neapolitans nearly 200, as far as
we can estimate. To-night we shall carry the
Torre di Cavallo, Pismo, Scylla, and other forte,
and commence an advance on Bagnara the follow-
ing day. We have now nearly 10,000 men ifot
across, and their number will be considerably in-
creased to-night. One of the general's aides-de-
camp is just starting with despatches for Messina,
and I hope to save the Malta mail.

THE LANDING-THE MARCH-AND THE

BATTLE OF REGGIO.

REGGIO, Ammer 12.
Although I am close following General Garibaldi's
staff, yet as a man cannot be everywhere at the same
time, it was impossible I should have sent you, in
my last letter so hastily written, a full and cprrect
account of the brilliant action—for we can scarcely
call it a battle—which caused Reggio to fall into
our power. I shall endeavour to do so now, in the
clearest manner I can. Travellers who have been
this way must remember that the town of Reggio
is built almost opposite to Messina, upon a lull,
which slopes gently down towards the gulf. Three
wide streets run parallel to the seashore, one higher
than the others. These three streets, or roni, are
intersected at intervals by other streets, which run
down from the highest part of the town in a per-
pendicular direction towards the sea. At the
north-east end of the upper town, and commanding
the town, stands a strongly built castle, called the
Fortessa Alta. It has the command of the sea, and
its guns can be equally well used against the town.
Down below, at the left of the castle, there is another
smaller fort, which at the time of its capture was
armed with four iron sixty-pounders. The country
all about this city is one continued chain of hills,
which from the highest tops of the Aspromonteridge
slope down in different irregular forms towards the
gulf. The consequence of this topographical con-
formation is that the two forts, which might prove
formidable either to an assailing fleet or to the
town, can easily be attacked on the rear from the
heights which dominate them.

Garibaldi, who was fully acquainted with this
town of Reggioi which be had often visited in his
youth when a sailor, knew, as you shall see by said
bye, how to profit by the advantages its situation
offered. The force he had taken with hba from
Taormina, on board the Franklin, consisted of three
companies of Benches Brigade, commanded by
Maor Chiassi, and the 2nd battalion sharpshooters
of Bixio'a Brigade, numbering in the whole about
700 men. The other. steamer the Torino, com-
manded by Birk—who, by-the-bye, is as good •
general as he is an experienced sailor—had on
board her the let battalion of sharpshooters, coin-
mended by the sou of Garibaldi, besides the brigade
of the Hungarian colonel, numbering in the whole
2,000 men, the flower of Garibaldi's troops. As
you are already aware, this small but gallant army,
which had no artillery, was landed at
a place distant throe Italian miles from
the village of Mileto, at half-past two
o'clock p.m. on Sunday last. The Franklin,
under the command of Garibaldi himself, had
gently approached the sandy shores to effect the
lauding, when Bixio, who, as I said before, was in
command of the ill-fated Torino, had given orders to
put on all steam. He had thought the water
deeper than it really was, and having pushed on too
fast, the ship had run ashore with such impetuosity
that she was stranded on the sand. There was,
however nothing to be dune, for all the exertions
made 1:y the Franklin to get her off failed.
The troops on board of the two vessels were at
once landed, by means of small boats carrying 12
men each ; the Ist battalion of sharpshooters was
sent to reconnoitre, while the other troops were
ordered to stand their arms and bivouac on
the sand. Seemly bad they obeyed this
order when two Neapolitan vessels were
seen to come up from the gulf, with all the
speed of their steam, and taking up • position in
front of the beach, began to open • mod tired-
()us tire on Garibaldi's sien. As you may easily
imagine, some confusion began to spread
our soldiers, but they were soon ordered to :atom!
mad of the hills, which they did, shouting "Viva
Garibakli Viva and but two men were

4, 1860.

killed by the explosion of the shells which were I
pouring upon the beach. The Neapolitans, who
saw that the prey was going to escape them, turned
all their wrath against the ill-fated Torino, which
was lying on her stern, half buried in the sand. Fire
soon got bold of her, and the flames shed a ruddy
hover the glorious blue sky as well as over the
est tops of the surrounding mountains. Old
Etna saw the waves of the gulf all in a blase from
the effect of a burning furnace which was not his
own. Night came on, and our troops, who by this
time had reached the heights, could witness the
defenders of Francis IL still venting their spite
against the harmless vessel, already half-burned as
it was. This scene was a most imposing one,
though it was also distressing. Some of the crew
bad been burned to death, and a noble vessel be-
11=iyleattlya :dray thentil eflawminernyOurhtlri:ran
use-
were
bivouacking, and their fires, reflected in the waves
of the sea, looked like so many mysterious lights
fleshing out of its very bosom. The moon was just
rising, and her soft rays were spreading a sort of
airy veil over the whole of this wonderful picture,
which no artist's brush could paint, nor any poet
describe. Meanwhile the merry songs of our men
were rending the air, and contrasted with the
es boosting of the far-off guns of the Faro and Scylla
batteri.

Monday morning our camp was raised, after
WitiOteenteine-hact teen dtstaltated to the

soldiers7isfOr wins or rum it was quite out of
the question for in the hasty departure of the ex-
pedition the Intendente of the army, Signor Acerbi,
one of the moat distinguished young men who
'hays followed Garibaldi, could not give the neces-
sary orders for shipping provisions. Even water
was wanting, for the country all about is one con-
tinued up-and-down region of dry hills, as far as
the eye can penetrate through the scattered tufts of
Indian figs, and the sunburnt patches of heath. It
wasdistresaing to see how these gallant defenders of
the Italian national cause had to suffer the agonies of
third, andhowmany of them actuallydied of it. Not
a complaint, however, was heard amongst them ; not 11
a weed of regret. Those who were not able to bear
it dropped down by the roadside amidst the 'com-
panion of their comrades, who could not help I
them. I really think that there are few armies
which have ever suffered more from thirst than
ours did in their march of last Monday. During
the niOt, however, we came to a hillock where •
cleat fresh spring of water was found. Our
missies were then at an end, and the soldiers
could take a comfortable rest for a few hours. It
was about 10 o'clock, and, our march having been
resumed, we were getting nearer and nearer the
town which Garibaldi had determined to attack.
Although the Neapolitan General Gallotti, com-
mander of Reggio, was fully aware of Garibaldi's
landing, he did not expect Garibaldi would attack
him so soon. The whole of the Reggio population
being against the Neapolitan army, be could
not get any information about Garibaldi's move-
ments since he bad landed. I must also add that
Gadlotti not being a Wellington or a Jomini, had
got it into his head that Garibaldi would attack this
town by the sea. He had therefore retired to his
comfortable lodging in the town, so far was he from
the thought that Garibaldi would be so imperti-
nent as to assail him in the rear. General Gallutti
had under his orders eight companies of the 14th
Regiment of the line, 150 men strong, a battery of
seven field-pieces, and two forts well armed with
guns, and with ammunition and provisions for a
mouth. How could he be blamed, therefore,
if ho went to bed at his usual hour, to
sleep 'off his anxiety 1 The poor old gene-
ral was perhaps dreamiug of his marshal's
Wens, when at half-past two o'clock a.m. our
column reached the northers to of Reggio
mentegkeert gm bills. Tbe National Ocenenittee;
which had been informed of Garibaldi's movements,
had summoned the National Guard under arms,
and about 800 well-armed men were thus waiting for
us, and ready for fight.
The advanced guard of Garibaldi was formed of
the battalion commanded by his son and two com-
panies of Sacchi's brigade, under the orders of
Major Chimed. Major Cliiassi is not only one of
the most gallant officers of our army, and brave as •
lion, but he is also one of the cleverest and most
daring of our leaders. The arrangements he made
were, therefore, so ably contrived that he
could occupivtluitie Piazza del Merest° without the
Neapolitans even aware that he had entered
the town. Geri di's son had at the same time
taken a position in the northern extremity of the
wide street, or cone, running parallel to the sea-
shore, and was ready to assail the Neapolitans
I wherever they should show themselves. At last •
patrol of the royal troops coming up from the
marina or shore road having fallen in with Chimers
men, the conflict was engaged. It would be impos-
sible to describe the confusion which soon prevailed
in the streets of Reggio. The moon had set, and
darkness pervaded the scene. The Neapolitans
had thus been surprised, and they were running
about the streets without listening to their
Ileaders, making their way, however, towards the
castle. Major Boldrini had by this time come up with
his mm, and skirting the extreme street of the
town which elopes perpendicularly towards the sea-
shore, arrived without any great difficulties at the
rear of the small fort on the sea-shore. This fort,
as I said before, was armed with four 32-pounders,
but as the heavy guns were turned towards the sea,
they could not be brought to bear upon an assailing
foroe in its rear. Boldrini'e men rushed at its walls
with such a terrific howling of " Viva Garibaldi,"
that they struck terror into the Neapolitans. They
climbed up like cats, and in they went. The
frightened Neapolitans had just time for laying
down their arms and asking mercy, as they con-
atently have done since the beginning of the cam-
, paign . The possession of this fort once secured,the two
companiesof Chiaasi which had helped Boldrini in his
bold and successful operation were ordered to come
up again into the town, and by way of a moveable
barricade approach the lane or steep alley which
leads up to the castle. This movement could not
be effected without great difficulty, for grape-
shot and shells were sweeping the street and burst-
ing at different points of the upper town. Major
Miami and Colonel Baldone, of the Artillery, at
last sueoseded in forming a strong barricade, and
thus preventing any aortae of the enemy from the
castle. It was then that the work of Bixio began.
That gallant officer had by this time come
from the heights into the piazza, which had
become the oentre of the action. By a
dariug movement he went up to a street on the
right, and began a tremendous fire of musketry
against the gunners of the castle. He was soon
wounded in the left arm, but the wound was slight,
and he went ahead with his usual courage. Colonel.
Eber's brigade had in the meantime occupied the
heights in the rear of the castle, and two of its
companies ware keeping up a brisk fire against the
Neapolitans within its walls. They answered feebly,
and from their manner of firing it was apparent
that the greatest confusion prevailed in their ranks.
Whilst all this was going on in the town of
Reggio, General Brigante, who was commanding a
column about 1,200 men strong at Villa San Gio-
vanni, having been informed by telegraph of the
dangerous position of General Gallotti, hastened to
come to his aid. He proceeded from the last-named
town at 5 o'clock, and had already passed the vil-
lage of Galileo, four miles from Reggio, wheu Gari-
baldi moved to meet him at the left of anta Lucia.
At the first news of Garibaldi's movement Brigante,
whose military valour seems to be not altogether in
accordance with the literal translation of his name,
thought proper to fall back on Gallico, leaving his
etilialgue at Reggio to extricate himself how he
could. Having thus checked the attempt of Bri-
gaati, Garibaldi soon hastened to return into
Reggio and, so soon as he arrived in the piazza he
saw that a decided attack against the fort would
produce a good effect upon the frightened Neapo-