The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-10 00:00:00

7IIE AFFAIR OF ASPROMONTE.

STATEMENT OF GENERAL GARIBALDI.
The following letter from General Garibaldi, re-
lating to the unhappy conflict at Aspromonte, will
be read with interest :

" On board the Duke of Genoa, Sept. 1.
" They thirsted for blood, and wished to spare
it. Not the poor soldier who obeyed, but the men
of the clique who cannot forgive the revolution for
being the revolution—it is that which disturbs their
Conservative digestion—and for having contributed
to the re-establishment of our Italian family.
" Yes, they thirsted for blood ; I perceived it with
sorrow, and I endeavoured in consequence to the
utmost to prevent that of our assailants from being
shed.

" I ran to the front of our line, crying out to them
not to fire, and from the centre to the left, where
my voice and those of my aides-de-camp could be
heard, not a trigger was pulled. It was not thus
on the attacking side. Having arrived at a dis-
tance of 200 meters, they began a tremendous fire,
and the party of Bersaglieri, who were in front of
me directing their shots against we,struck me with
two balls, one in the left thigh, not serious, the
other in the ankle of the right foot, making a
serious wound.

at the opening of the con.
1 Ei
ic'
t'
"asn adl li thisw
as happenedcarrie
carried to the skirt of the wood after
being wounded, I could see nothing more, a thick
crowd having formed around me while my wound
which was at my litter, and
to that of 121 Y
was
be neeingd d
aides-de-camp, not a single musket
was fired. As there was no firing on our side, it
was easy
for the troops to approach and mingle
with ours, and, when I was told that they wished
to disarm orfe
thess ed
line I feel certain, however, that up
.
us, I replied that the men might dis-
arm themselves. The intentions of my companions
were, however, so little hostile that I only by this
disarmed in the crowd some officers and regular
soldiers.

"It was not so on our right_ The Picoiotti, at-
tacked by the regular troops, replied by a fire upon
the whole line, and, although the trumpets sounded
to cease firing, there was at that spot a smart fusil-
lade, Which lasted not more than a quarter of an
hour.

"My wounds led to some confusion in our line.
Our soldiers, not seeing me, began to retreat into
the wood, so that little by little the crowd round
most faithful alone remained.
so
At
te
this
skme
uump,eanntd h
I
the
erned that my Staff and Colonel
commanded
be
Pallavicino, who manfrdeeedwtithhe
my regular
staff ttorwooipths,
were negotiatinbc,u
..
the following considerations :
—First, that I h
draw
whereess I
);
that,
tr,ephlaiveidn,
g, On
arrived
vboard t tan
e h
English v
seashore, the rest of my companions should be set
at liberty. Col. Pallavicino conducted himself as
a valorous and intelligent chief in all his military
movements, and he has not been wanting in respect
or courtesy towards me and my people. He showed
his grief in having to shed Italian blood, but he had
received peremptory orders and had to obey them.
My arrangements had been purely defensive, and I
had hoped to avoid a conflict, seeing the very strong
position that I occupied, and entertaining the hope
that the regular troops had received orders loss
sanguinary. If I had not been wounded at the outer
set, and if my people had not received the order
under all circumstances to avoid any collision what-
soever with the regular troops, the contest between
men of the same race would have been terrible.
However, far better as it is. Whatever may be the
result of my wounds, whatever fate the Govern-
ment prepares for me, I have the consciousness of
having done my duty •, and the sacrifice of my life
is a very little thing if it has contributed to save
that of a great number of my fellow countrymen.
"In the hazardous enterprise in which I and my'
companions had thrown ourselves, with heads bent)
I hoped nothing good from the Government of
Ratazzi. But why should I not have hoped for
is
rigour on the part of the King,
most is
nothing the old programme, and hhaavvininggeldaeecl
to alter it at any price ? What
notaffli°ts a little to
unitytraeiey:oauserene s front
o fso
this fatal distrust, which contributes
Once more, my,
Howeverledreednoitt
the incometion of national
may
assured b e ,
ofl once
having againd oe present
meesyemndtourtteoy
pi.
enofihave been offered as et
unimportant life and tnih
holocaustmany g et generous utsh younge
causes—pure from all
rile and personal interests.
O. OARIBALDI."
heest