The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-20 00:00:00

THE CATURE OF ANCONA.

The following is Admiral Persano's official report
of the operations against Ancona by the Italian
squadron :

TO lIIS EXCELLENCY THE MINISTER OF MARINE.

In the instructions which your Excellency fur-
nished me under date of Sept. 11, 1860, having
given me to understand that for the sake of order
and the good of Italy the city of Ancona must be
gained for the Government of his Majesty King
Victor Emmanuel before the end of the month, after
having in the night of the 26th attempted unsuc-
cessfully to cut the chains defending the entrance
to the harbour, I took on the 28th the resolution of
making myself master, without further loss of time,
of the batteries protecting the city to seaward, and
which, once in our power, would permit the en-
trance of his Majesty's troops into the interior of
the place. With this object in view, at one in the
afternoon of the same day, I ordered the steam fri-
gate Victor Emmanuel, commanded by Captain
Albini, to approach to 600 metres distance from the
casemated fort at the head of the mole, and there
lying broadside on it, to pour in a raking fire ;
whilst the Governolo, Commander Marquis d'Aste,
and the Costituzione, Commander Wright, anchored
west of the fortress at 500 metres distance, should
engage in a combined attack. It was hardly two
o'clock p.m. when the Victor Emmanuel and the
Governolo took up the stations assigned to them,
the Costituzione having placed herself a little
farther off. The forts of the place opened fire from
all sides on my three ships as they advanced ; more
than 80 pieces hurling projectiles of every descrip-
tion against them, but they answered the fire with
admirable skill. A strong breeze from the south
causing a heavy strain on the small anchors that
held the Victor Emmanuel by stem and stern com-
pelled her to wear—a manoeuvre th4t could not be
executed without exposing her to the enemy's fire.
I was thereupon compelled to order the Carlo
Alberto, Commander Mantica, to take part in the
action, and bring her broadside to bear at 200
metres from the mole. It was half-past 2 p.m.,
and by 3 o'clock she was at her station, without
answering the discharges directed against her. Her
commander determined to act with certainty. At
3 o'clock she tested the range by firing an experi-
mental shot; it told upon the spur of the mole with
such effect that the battery defending the upper
part was destroyed, and we could see the gunners
who had been working the guns retiring to the
upper part of the town. At the same instant the
Victor Emmanuel steamed in' and took her share in
the action, by placing herself still nearer than the
Carlo Alberto. The, precision of her fire astonished
all who saw it. The Maria Adelaide, the admiral's
ship, Commander Riccardi, kept herself in reserve
so as to be ready at need. The San Michele, Com-
mander Provana, weighed anchor, and waited for
orders,whilst the Monzambano,Commander Monale,
was in position for repeating signals. The Gover-
nolo and Costituzione kept up their fire against
the forts. The Carlo Alberto cannonaded with
admirable coolness and precision. The enemy's
fire continued. The Victor Emmanuel, driven off
by the force of the wind, not having yet let go her
anchors, was by this time out of cannon range.
The Maria Adelaide signalled tc, the Carlo Alberto
and the Governolo : " I am satisfied• with. your per-
formance." The Victor Emmanuel, desirous of de-
serving a similar distinction, steamed ahead at full
speed, and by a brilliant manoeuvre placed herself
within pistol range of the case mated mole battery,to
the marked surprise of the defenders of the bastion,
who ceased their fire, but this suspension was
only momentary ; the firing soon recommenced
with greater violence from all the redoubts. Our
ships maintained an obstinate reply in every di-
rection. There was a moment of general anxiety ;
presently we saw dense smoke bursting out from
the embrasures of the casemated fort. It was one
of our shells that had entered by one of those
apertures, where it set on fire the straw used for
bedding by the gunners who were so obstinately
defending their post. The Victor Emmanuel,
Carlo Alberto, and Costituzione followed every
movement, rivalling one another in their accuracy
of aim. The Carlo Alberto distinguished herself
by the sustained regularity of her boradsides ; the
Victor Emmanuel by the closeness of her position ;
the Governolo, by her desire to equal the Carlo
Alberto; the Costituzione, by doing her best, consi-
dering her remote position from the enemy. As a
volume of dense smoke covered all at once the mole
of the lantern .tower, it led us to suppose that the
magazine had caught fire. At this formidable
sight everything became hushed, except the Carlo
Alberto which sustained her fire with the calm she
had shown from the first, as if nothing had hap-
pened. Then the noise of the explosion, that did
not immediately reach us on account of the distance,
signalled to us the destruction of the fort. When
the smoke had passed away we saw . nothing left
but a heap of rubbish; the Faro tower alone re-
mained standing.
The destruction of these works having convinced
the enemy that his position was no longer defensi-

ble, he hoisted a flag of truce. Thereupon I ordered
the firing to cease, and a little boat brought me
proposals for an armistice. I told the messenger in
reply that as I had no power to treat, he must ad-
dress himself to General Fanti the commander-in-
chief; that, as far as I was cdncerned, I should con-
sent to nothing of complete surrender, granting
nevertheless the honours of war to the defenders of

the place, who had well deceived this favour by
their gallant resistance. The envoy, accompanied
by one of my officers, went on board the Monzam-
bano, and proceeded to find the commander-in-
chief. At the same instant I ordered the

squadron to approach the place nearer in I
close order, forming their line at 150 metres
from the harbour's mouth, whilst the Maria
Adelaide remained at anchor close to the mouth
itself, now freed from the chains previously barring
entrance, and which clearance was owing to the
sinking of the pontoons supporting them by means
of our projectiles. I caused to land the company of
the Bersaglieri, who had been on board since the
landing at Naples of their battalion ; also a party
of seamen, the detachments of marines, and the.
howitzers. The marines were under the orders of
Commander Lampo, and the seamen of Major
Carrani, both distinguished officers. having got
out on the steps of the mole they rushed on to the
esplanade of the Dome, the highest spot in the
The
tow
firingn,
lastedw h
allthey
night
gehs
tt a; bilti shednnly t
nhee a
sm
es edl v e s,
when
the
white flag was seen floating at all points.
A fresh message came on board the Maria Ade-
laide, the messenger bringing a letter from Gen.
Lamoriciere, which announced that he wished to
treat on theconditions of a capitulation, with the