The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-12 00:00:00

TURIN.

Messina, Sept. 2.
Flaying left Genoa on the 24th of August, at six
p.m., for Sicily, and with information that Gari-
baldi was still at Catania, out of which it did not
seem possible for him to go, I resolved at first to
touch at Naples, in order to come to an understand-
ing with Gen. La Marmora, that we might act in
concert in any contingency. On the 26th at day-
break, I landed at Naples, and I was informed by
Gen. La Marmora that, contrary to all reasonable
expectation, Garibaldi had left the port of Catania
in two French postal steamers, on board of which
as many had embarked as the vessels could hold,
and that he had gained the shore of Melito, where
he had disembarked with his followers.
I had in reality no other orders than to combat
with Garibaldi in Sicily. These orders might have
been considerd at an end from the moment in which
Catania, occupied by Gen. Ricotti, had returned
under the power of the government, and that
Garibaldi was in Calabria, a territory under com-
mand of Gen. La Marmora.
However, the gravity of the circumstances re-
quired that Gen. La Marmora should not abandon
Naples, and that he should make every effort to re-
press insurrection in the Basilicata, and in Calabria
Ulterior 11. and Citerior ; while in the meantime
others could take the direction of the troops united
and to be united at the extremity of Calabria Ul-
terior I.
I accepted this second position, and starting from
the Gulf of Naples I arrived at six next morning at
Messina. There I learned the state of things, what
troops and resources were disposable, and, after
having left the necessary orders, I went to Reggio.

1 learned there that Garibaldi had advanced to
the vicinity of the city in the hope of exciting it to
insurrection and easily taking possession of it, but
be was briskly repulsed by Col. Carchidio, leaving
in the hands of the latter about 40 prisoners, among
whom were some officers. Col. Carchidio, of the
32d Infantry, had taken all the necessary measures
with great intelligence and firmness.
There were at Reggio ten small battalions, of
whom two were Bersaglieri, and four pieces of
mountain artillery brought from Messina; but there
were no mules to draw them, so that it was neces-
sary to employ horses of the country.
The spirit of the troops was excellent.
Count Pallavicini, of the Bersaglieri, had reached
Reggio some hours before me, and as senior officer
had taken the command of the troops in the city.
His first dispositions bore the stamp of the ever.
getic resolution which is natural to him.
Having long known him, I was happy to meet
him so opportunely, and I ordered him to set out as
soon as possible with a column of six or seven bat-
talions, to make every effort to come up with Gari-
baldi, who was said to be encamped on the plateau
of Aspromonte, and to pursue him constantly with-
out giving him a moment's repose; to attack him
if he sought to escape, and destroy him if he ac-
cepted battle. Foreseeing, also, the possibility of
a complete victory, I ordered him not to treat with
Garibaldi; and only accept a surrender at discretion.

There was no reason to believe that this column
alone would be able to obtain the results which it
did obtain. It was requisite, therefore, to close
against Garibaldi every road by which he could
penetrate into the interior of the Ulterior 11. and
Uiterior Calabrias ; it was requisite to form and put
in movement other columns, which should act
within a limited range, because thereby they would
have the greater chance of meeting with and de-
stroying him. Garibaldi, occupying the summit of
Aspromonte, and sending little bands into the
neighbouring plains, was probably seeking to raise
the country, to renew his means of obtaining intel-
ligence, to accumulate resources in men, provisions,
munitions, and beasts of burden, and to spy out the
moment for throwing himself upon Reggio, or on
Catanzaro, according to the advices he might re-
ceive. This prolonged halt gave us an opportunity
of preparing a double system of defence and attack
which would crush him. In conformity with my
despatches General La Marmora directed the troops
arrived from Genoa and Naples to march upon
Pizzo.

General Revei, sent in haste by me with two
battalions to Pizzo, took up, according to orders
received, a strong position at Nicastro and Tirlolo,
fortifying besides the latter very important point.
From Catania, in accordance with a telegraphic
despatch, two battalions were sent to occupy Catan-
zaro, which was to be afterwards reinforced by
General Revel. Thus was obtained in the narrowest
part of the peninsula a strong line, supported by
two gulfs, into each of which the fleet sent a frigate
—that is to say, the Gulf of St. Eufemia and that
of Squillace.
From this solid base two columns at least were to
march against Garibaldi, while Lieutenant-General
Vialardi, established at Monteleone with sufficient
forces, received orders to advance a party as far as
the plain of Giuja, to act, according to circum-
stances and the instructions he might receive.
Desiring above all things to finish the aifair at
once, and to that end to mass at the proper point
the greatest amount of force possible, on the very
day of my arrival at Messina, the 27th, I proceeded
to Catania, where I arrived the same evening. The
information given me there by General Ricotti as
to the forces at his disposal and state of things in
that province satisfied me that I might safely draw
from thence at least four battalions, and land them
wherever they might be most needed, according to
the news I should receive on my return to Reggio,
where I arrived next morning, the 28th, at break
of day.

Garibaldi still occupied Aspromonte ; but the
bands sent out by him in various directions, radiat-
ing from his camp to a distance of some hours'
march, alarmed the country. and led to a belief in
his presence in various places at the same time.
From the column of Pallaxicini, sent on the day
before at one o'clock p.m., I had no other news ex-
cept that it had overtaken on its march a party of
Garibaldians, and that it had taken about 100 pri-
soners, who were sent under escort to Reggio.
While I was making these arrangements, and
desiring General La Marmora to suspend the de-
spatch of any more forces to Pizzo, he, if I am not
mistaken, was disposing his troops in echelon from
Cosenza to.Castrovillari and Potenza, and providing
by land and sea for the security of Salerno, where
Nicotera has many adherents, and which was known
to he a point aimed at by Garibaldi.
I passed afterwards on the same day of the 28th
to Messina' to attend to the state of the island. At
the same time came news of the arrival at Palermo
ated my ex-
of General Brignone, to whom I deleg
traordinary powers, that I might be free to devote
myself exclusively to the military operations.
The adherents of Garibaldi had not all been able
to embark on board the two French steamers which
transported them to Calabria. Seven hundred and
more remained prisoners in the hands of General
Ricotti. At Catania some hundreds had been im-
prudently dismissed to their homes with passports,
and besides a certain Major Treselli wandered at
the head of a band, whose force, according to
various reports, appeared to consist of between 800
and 900 men.

It was therefore necessary to arrange
for the
.pursuit of this band by launching upon their traces
the troops from Catania, and those few which were
dibposablc at Messina, the state of men's minds in
that town not permitting to send these forces too
far.

It appeared prudent also to disembarrass Catania
of too great a number of prisoners, and 500 of them
vvere embarked and sent to Spezzia.
Fou
rt Of. r battalions drawn from Catania. arrived in
the
Messina, and these I proposed to keep po
Still on hoard while awaiting intelligence; that they
might he in--
hand, and ready to he transported and
landed wherever needed.
- - -

Tint on the night of the 29th a telegraphic re-
port reached me from Reggio, from Colonel Palls-
vleini, 'which informed me of the extraordinary and
complete result obtained by him•
Upon thin feat of arms, which, by its conse.

quences, acquires the importance of a battle, I send
to your excellency the two original reports which
I received at the moment from Colonel 13,11avicini,
and to which I abstain from adding or retrenching
a single word.
I feel that it only remains to me to r( commend to
the Government and to the favour of i he Sovereign
this distinguished colonel and the brave troops he
commanded, for the services they have reudered can
never be sufficiently recompensed.
CIALDINI, General of Division.
To his Excellency the Minister of War at Turin.
COLONEL PALLAVICINI TO GENERAL CIALDINI.
Reggio, Sept. 1, 18t)2.
In conformity with the instructions addressed to
me by your excellency on the 28th of August, I
set out from Reggio at one o'clock in the afternoon
with a column composed of five battalions of in-
fantry of the line and two battalions of Bersaglieri,
the 6th and 25th. •

I moved by the coast road leading to Galileo,
and from thence I followed the course of the river
which bears the same name, until within two miles
of the little village of Padargoni, where, overtaken
by the close of the day, I encamped for the night.
On the morning of the 29th I set forth early, di-
recting my course towards San Stefano, where I
arrived at half-past eight a.m. There, from exact
information I received, I knew that Gen. Garibaldi
had encamped with his force during the night on
the plateau of Aspromonte-1 ordered the troops to
pursue their march until within a short distance of
that plateau, and before allowing them to proceed
further I gave the troops some rest, as they were
excessively fatigued by the long march by abrupt
paths. In the meanwhile I learned that only two
hours previously General, Garibaldi was still en-
camped on the plateau of Aspromonte below me, I
saw that by two paths I could descend towards his
camp.

I then divided my troops into two columns, that
on the right commanded by Lieut.-Col. Parrocchia,
and that on the left by the colonel of the 4th gi-
ment, Chevalier Eberhart. The two columns ar-
rived at the same time in view of the Garibaldi en-
campment, already abandoned by him, he having
taken up a position on the crest of a steep hillock,
to the east of the plateau of Aspromonte. I then
sent an order to the commandant of the left column
to attack the Garibaldian front, while making the
right column fall back, and by a rapid movement I
attacked the left flank of the rear of the rebels in
order to cut off their retreat. In the meantime I
caused the entrance of the valley to be occupied by
a battalion, that they might not regain the plateau.
The left column, with the 6th
,battalion of Ber-
saglieri at their head, after a smart fire carried the
position at the point of the bayonet, with cries of
" Viva it Re !" " Vivo Italia," while the left side
was also attacked by our troops.

General Garibaldi, and his son Menotti, having
been wounded, and the rebels being surrounded on
all sides, resistance became useless; whereupon the
Garibaldians gave the signal to cease firing, and
negotiations were commenced, the result of which
is known to your excellency.
I am happy to be able to announce to you that all
the officers distinguished themselves by their zeal
and courage ; and that all the soldiers of the different
provinces of Italy without distinction, rivalled each
other in valour and discipline.

I cannot pass over in silence the fact, that during
the first attack an energetic resistance was made by
our adversaries, and I lament that such bravery was
displayed against the legitimately constituted
power, and against the interests of the country.
I must mention particularly to your excellency
Lieut.• Colonel Chevalier Eberhart, commandant of
the 4th of the line, as having distinguished himself
by his intelligence, and led his column with admir-
able spirit.

I have to bestow the same praise on Lieut.-Col.
Parrocchia, who gave proofs of extraordinary energy
and courage during the engagement.
I must also mention to your excellency the valiant
conduct of the two majors commanding the Gth and
25th battalions of Bersaglieri, Messrs. Giolitti and
Pinelli, who always marched at the head of their
columns, never ceasing to animate them by their
example.

In the last place, I cannot sufficiently praise
Colonel the Chevalier Carchidio, who had taken
excellent and energetic measures before my arrival
for the defence of Reggio, and to protect the coun-
try from being disturbed, as also for preserving
tranquillity in the city.

I shall send you a list of the rewards I propose
to grant to the most distinguished of those who
have deserved them by their conduct.
PALLAVICINI, Major-General.
To H. E. Enrico Cialdini, General of
Division, Messina.
The following is General Pallavicini's private
report on the subject :

Reggio, Sept. 1.
After having laid before your excellency a mili-
tary account of the events of the 29th of August, I
shall now state certain circumstances and detailed
particulars which may have some political bearing.
Above all I cannot pass over in silence the fact
that the rebels had no sooner given the signal to
cease firing than I sent the chief of my staff to
summon Garibaldi in the name of the King to sur-
render. But the General, being irritated, replied
that he would never surrender, and seized his re-
volver ; but, being withheld by his own followers
around him, he ordered my officer to be disarmed
and kept a prisoner. The same thing was done
with. M. Giolitti, major of the 6th battalion of Bar-
saglieri, who went to the wounded general by the
invitation of the Garibaldians themselves, to confer
with him. Through the intervention of followers
of Garibaldi, and especially of Messrs. Nullo and
Corte, their arms were given up to them, and they
were set at liberty before I myself went to parley
with the General.

Invited by the latter to confer with him, I went
accordingly. As soon as I arrived, Messrs. Corte,
Nullo, and Guastalla asked me in the name of Gari-
baldi to propose conditions. I replied that I had
no other instructions than to attack and fight with
Garibaldi, and to take him prisoner, and that I bad
no conditions to offer.

To the prayer of Messrs. Nullo and Corte, that
il
might be observed with respect to the pre-
sentc
enreencontre, in order to conceal from Europe the
scandal of a civil struggle, I replied that it was im-
possible,
because there were too many witnesses of
s
and the wounded were too evident a proof
of
fe fact,it.

Garibaldi, who
etn,itwatyosthaevoNvidoeudndtheduching
upon
0' a the
I then
h®
manifested no resentment against andyidonneo.t_
express
contrary, any
subject of a political nature, and
towards the Government either hatred or oppesi
tion. He adhered tacitly to the conditions I -pro:
posed, and demanded permission to embark in an
English ship and leave the country. I replied that
I would ask and wait for instructions on the sub.
ject. He asked what would be done with the pri.
Boners, I replied that I was not the depository of
the instructions of the Government ; bat that, in
1 n'Y Own opinion, the Government, after causing the
1 prisonerstobe sent to
24 h
Messina, would
orderatlibertywithinin not to be
burthened
by them.
They agreed.
to
surrender unconditionally. The
and a number of
general was conveyed,
the 25th battalionsurrounded with his staff
of
adherents, under the escort of
eianseaed the night. Bersaglieri, to a cascina called
Marchesina, where he
he was conducted to Next day
whither I had pt eceded
dit:so him the order of
him, and where I comrariaotne
naoard the Daea di
the Government to put
with not
Genova. He half reproached
allow,
hinathen
having kept my promise to
English ship, and reminded me
thatto embark in
I
had said
his adherents would be set at liberty in
24 hours.
I then said with some heat that I had never
raised- anything in the rwine of the Government
pro-
Shat with regard to the embarkation 1 had tsnaer ;
would refer the matter to the Ministry,
an-
swer I had at that
general; that as to
dis-
posal of the prise
personal opinion, which did
Govern-
ment, which had given
subject. He then se
I should testify
moment conauttnicat
whoselj
ed to the
what related to the future
ners I had only expressed my own
not bind the Govern-
me no instructions upon the
suggested that, at a proper time,
that I had expressed that hope.

This I did not refuse, because the matter in ques-
tion was a private opinion of my own.
For the rest, as I have said above, Gen, Garibaldi
always kept silence, and broke it only to address
these words to the people of Scilla who happened
to be in his way, " Do you no longer recognise your
general ?" No cry answered this appeal.
Gen. Garibaldi insisted with me that I should
particularly recommend to the Government the case
of the deserters from the army. I promised him
to do so, but I added that I had no hopes of success,
because I knew the severe instructions given with
regard to them.

1 Of the documents which you demand from me, I
can only transmit the two sent forthwith, not having
found any of greater importance. Possibly others
of more significance may be discovered in the hands
of the officers of Garibaldi's staff, whom I have not
caused to be searched. According to the informa-.
tion I have received, other papers were torn up on
the spot where the surrender took place. Some
searches have been made, but no money has been
found ; however, each of the rebels was well pro-
vided.

I have been informed that at the cascina where
General Garibaldi passed the night a considerable
distribution of money was made to all present, about
150 in number.

It was asked of several volunteers why they per-
sisted in remaining with Garibaldi after the pro-
clamation of the K'ng ; a great number of them
answered that they were completely ignorant of its
existence, because it was concealed from them ;
others asserted they had believed that the whole
thing was concerted by the Government ; some said
that Garibaldi had deceived them, and that it was
only two days previous that they had become aware
of the deception.

Three flags were taken from the Garibaldians, but
on none of them were the arms of Savoy nor the
blue ribbon. In the centre of one was the device,
"Italy and Victor Emmanuel."

Messrs. Nicotera, Missori, and Micelli, quitted
Garibaldi on the 28th, perhaps to prepare a move-
ment in the province. I heard yesterday that Nico-
tera and Micelli were at Bagnara. I ordered them
to be arrested, but they have not yet been found.
I have caused the arms taken to be'deposited in
the hands of the local artillery to await your orders.
PALLAVICINI, Major General.
His Excellency Enrico Cialdini, General
of Division, Messina.