The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-01 00:00:00

GARIBALDI'S* BRITISR VOLUNTEERS,

The following extract of a letter from Captain
J. G. Davidson, belonging to Garibaldi's army,
gives some account of the repulse of the Gariba'
dians from before Capua :

"NAPOLI, Sept. 23.
" I went up to Santa Maria on Tuesday, the 19th,
and next morning (20th) column after column be•
gan to move from Caserta, through Santa Maria,
on to Capua. This fort mounts upwards of 160
guns. On the north side is the Volturno, and on
the south side is a level plain of 1,000 yards in
length, without a tree to shelter. The attack
commenced at 7 a.m. on the 20th by Garibaldi's
troops. Two field pieces (6 pounders) were all
the guns we had ; and down upon them came
the thunder of shot and shell from the fort, killing•
and wounding at every other discharge. Had to
retire every now and again. It was most fright-
fully mismanaged. General Rostoff, who com-
manded, had mistaken his orders, as it was never
intended that Capua should be attacked. General
Garibaldi merely wished Rostoff's division to show
themselves before the fort, fire a few rounds, and
then retire, so as to attract the attention of the
Royalists solely, and admit General Eber, who was
moving round under cover of the wood on the
right, to gain his position, which he succeeded in
securing, but at great sacrifice, from the blunder
Rostoff had made. Garibaldi was on the opposite
side with General Tarr (that is, on the north
side of the Volturno). Captain D— told me
at Capua yesterday that he was with him
all day, and that he was . very sulky, and did
not speak but once the whole day. Ido not be-
lieve that the enemy within the fort lost a dozen of
men, while on our side, on that bare plain in front
and no shelter, our men were easily picked off.
However well they fired, their bullets only hit
granite walls. A great many officers were killed.
A very fine young fellow, Baron Cozzo, mortally
wounded—a Sicilian, and the flower of it, and a
great favourite of Garibaldi. I forgot, I think, to
mention that the Duke of eldest son, Lord
--, joined with me, as also Captain late of
the Life Guards. We are all put on Peard's staff
together, and are presently the only officers on his
staff (Peard is to command the English battalion.)
Lord -- passes here as Captain --. We three,
not being immediately attached to any division,
went to the front, and assisted to encourage the
men and help the wounded. Indeed, had it not
been for some of us, many of the troops would have
turned tail and run ; and no great wonder, consider-
ing the fire they were exposed to, with no shelter,
and without the means of doing any good, having
no artillery, with the exception of the two six-
pounders. We fought retreating from seven o'clock
in the morning until about four o'clock in the after-
noon, with about two hours' intermission. I leave
for Santa Maria this afternoon—only returned last
night. Nothing doing since Wednesday night.
Artillery sent out, and the expectation of Capua
falling in a day or two, but nothing certain. Yes-
terday I passed outposts, but all quiet.
"News come. Two of the King's brothers in
Capua—offer of capitulation, but the terms refused
by Garibaldi."

A destructive fire, involving the almost total
ruin of Mr. Brisco's mill, at Egremont, near 'Whitehaven,
occurred on Friday evening. Independent eat t
damage
to the which will, of course, be great, though not
yet ascertained, goods and other property have been de-
stroyed to the extent of £4,000 or £5,000. Mr, Briscoe Was
;got insured.