The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-13 00:00:00

LET TER FROM NAPLES.

• The following is from the same pacific friend who
favoured us (the Scotsman) with a communication
from the same quarter two or three days ago :
" Naples, Oct. 2, 1860.
" There has been so little doing in the military
line in this direction since the abortive attack on the
• fort on Wednesday last, that I have little or nothing
to record on that score. (This, as will be seen from
the sequel, was written previous to the battle of the
Volturno.) Skirmishing there certainly has been,
with no other result than the useless sacrifice of
the lives of individuals on both sides, and I must say
that neither party gains much credit by these fruit-
less efforts. Whilst the Neapolitans are throwing
random shells in every direction, our men are pick-
ing off stragglers with their rifles from behind rocks '
and hedges. The King, if he be entitled to the ap-
pellation, ventured out of Capua the other day, and
an aide-de-camp was killed by his side. His Majesty
did not wait for a second chance, but galloped back.
On Saturday and Sunday a great many were killed
at the camp of St. Angelo to the right by shots from
the Fort, There is no end to the " shaves," as they
are termed, which are circulated here every hour.
The chief engineer—Bordone, a Frenchman—in-
formed me 10 ten days ago that the city must sur-
render in four or five days at farthest ; but one thing
is certain, that Garibaldi seldom, if ever, communi-
cates his plans to anybody. One day he observed
that if his red shirt knew what were his intentions
he would burn it. Upon comparing, however, the
best authenticated reports, it can hardly be denied
that the Neapolitan army in Capua is reduced to
great straits either from the bad spirit of the troops
or from want of provisions, and that some of those
high in command are growing desperate. On Mon-
day last I think it was, a Neapolitan general, being
suspected of Garibaldiau tendencies, was summarily
crucified against one of the gates of the city. Of
course there are endless speculations assuming to
account for this delay on the part of the Garibaldians,
so apparently mischievous. Some demand why does
not the general bring up the great guns, of which
there are so many in St. Elmo and elsewhere. They
reply to this that there are no carriages for them ;
moreover, as the Piedmontese troops are coming up,
as also the long expected English volunteers, it is
better to wait for them. What the real cause of the
delay of the latter force is, is not very intel-
ligible, unless upon the supposition of something
worse than mismanagement by some parties at
home, who have attempted to impose, in more than
one way, upon Garibaldi's simplicity and misplaced
confidence. The numbers originally reported to be
coming here from England has been reduced from

1500 to about one-third of that number. Ido not
vouch from my own personal knowledge 'for the
truth and justice of the insinuations conveyed in
the reports and queries here circulated on this sub-
ject. I only state what I hear from those whose
veracity and honour may be implicitly relied on.
" I have no doubt whatever that ultimately the
city will be taken, and that all will go well. I
cannot but think, however, that the rapid success
which has followed the great man hitherto has
made him too confident, and that he expected to
take Capua, a strongly fortified town, with the same
facility as he entered Naples. This slight check, if
the campaign is to be protracted, may possibly do
some good by rendering the generals more cautious.
" Though the Sicilians en masse have fought well
from the commencement, yet it is possible that the
hot weather and other circumstances may have
somewhat relaxed the energies of individual. For
instance, at the last skirmish a Sicilian officer rushed
frantic into Santa Maria, crying aloud, I have
saved the honour of the regiment; I have brought
away the flagr—a novel mode of saving honour by
running away. A lady, the Countess della Torre,
seeing some of the men upon the trot the wrong
way, struck them with her sword, calling out, ' Go
back, you cowards,' and she drove them back. This
lady is indefatigable at the hospitals, whatever may
be said to her disparagement.
" As far as Garibaldi himself is concerned, he
seems- to unite in his own person more great and
good qualities than has ever before fallen to the lot
of one man. He makes time for everything and
everybody—whether it be for the army, for diplo •
macy, or for the care and interest of individuals. His
patience and kindness are inexhaustible, On Sunday
night about 30 countrymen of the middle class went
into Caserta and demanded an audience of the gene-
ral for the purpose of offering him some good ad-
vice. He admitted them all, although in bed after
a hard day's work, and heard them with a patience
which might possibly have been better bestowed. A
volunteer, a Sicilian, informed one of our party
that he had lost his father and three brothers in
the war, and that he still wished to continue in the
service, but Garibaldi hearing of the circumstances,
would not permit it. A lady of my acquaintance
went up to Caserta a few days ago, with her two
daughters, to inquire after a friend ; Garibaldi was
passing by at the time, and asked if he could assist
her. She replied she wanted a guide to take her to
the hospital. He immediately invited the party into
the carriage and tool them over the hospital, con-
versine with, complimenting, and consoling the
sick and wounded in their beds. In this way he
spent an hour and a half with the lady, telling her,
in conclusion, that she should have free admission
to the hospital and the palace whenever she
wished. I must however add that the lady is hand-
some, and that the general has an eye for good looks,
as all good generals have.
"Yesterday, Monday, about one o'clock p.m.,
news arrived of a great battle having been fought.
The Neapolitans took up their position about four
o'clock under the walls of the city, and commenced
the attack upon the Garibaldians about five o'clock,
encamped about St. Angelo to the right. They had
worked their guns up to the Santa Maria side of
the river ; and, as my facetious informant expressed
it, some very pretty play took place between the
opposing artillery. The fight then extended along
the whole line, and lasted up to about three o'clock
with various success, when the Neapolitans were
finally driven back with great slaughter. Nor did
our sidle escape scot free. Col. Dunne and Major
Wyn dham were wounded, but not seriously. Seve-
ral thousands were engaged on the side of the
enemy. Five or six guns were taken by some British
tars on leave of absence for 48 hours. They dragged
them triumphantly into Santa Maria. The dead
and wounded were lying in heaps of 20 and 30 about
the fields near Santa Maria.

"Two o'clock,Tuesda,y.—This morning a gentleman
has just arrived from Caserta, bringing some broken
but unsatisfactory intelligence. About 11 o'clock
there was a general panic among the people and
soldiers in the square before the palace. There was
a general rush for the train which was just starting
for Naples. My informant was already in it. An
officer came riding up sword in hand, commanding
the carriages to be off immediately, and away they
went; otherwise, there is no doubt, many of the
brave Neapolitans in the Liberator's service would
have fled by it. The officers were endeavouring to
drive them back in every direction, and partially
succeeded. Such are the sudden changes of war.
The Neapolitans on both sides are cowardly alike ;
to-morrow the King's troops may play their wre iched
master the same trick. lip to this moment there is
no further intelligence as to the immediate cause of
the panic, nor its results. Think, however, of the
miserable disputes at such a critical moment going
on between the followers of Victor Emmanuel and
the
vt Red
o frontier. Republicans. The English volunteers.
arrived, and General Cialdini is hesitating
n a Bertami has, however, left hoGari-
baldi,oh which is something gained.
" Three o'clock.—Last news--The Neapolitans
have been beaten. back. All is right, and prisoners
are coming in.--I am, &c.,
" W. ADAMS SMITH."

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