The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-27 00:00:00

GARIBALDI'S ARMY.

(From the Special Correspondent of the _Times.)
CASERTA, OcT. 19.

There is a lull both in war and politics. In the
front, towards Capua, things have never been more
quiet ; even the cannon shots from the other side
of the river, so common before, are now quite an
event. Two nights ago there was a little excite-
ment, but it proved *quite gratuitous. Several
telegrams were sent by the Piedmontese officer in
command in St. Angelo to Garibaldi at Caserta,
informing him that the enemy seemed to make
preparations to throw a bridge across the Volturno,
between the IVlolini di Triflisco and Scafa di For-
micola. All the troops, both at Santd Marii and
Caserta, were early- under arms in consequence,
and Garibaldi, himself was off to St. Angelo before
dawn; but it turned out that the alarm was owing
to the movement of several boats on the river, which
common, almost every-day manoeuvre, was by the
patrols interpreted as concealing more serious
intentions.

But while our troops here had comparative rest
there was a collision between the. Neapolitanaand
the volunteers and National Guards of the Matese
mountains and of. the province of Molise. Yon
will recollect the expedition. of Colonel Csudafy,
with 300 men, in the direction of that range. One
of its objects was to serve as a nucleus to an insur-
rectionary movement on the flank of the Neapoli-
tans. The smallness of the force and the vicinity of
large bodies of Neapolitans cowed down the people,
although the dispositionof the better classes in town
and in the country was good enough. Partly to
punish their good intentions, although they never
had been carried into effect, but chiefly to get rid
of the national and liberal element on this dange-
rous point, by means of some of the members of the
bigh aristocracy, aided by the ignorance of the po-
pulace, a reactionary movement was got up by the
Neapolitans. A look at the map will explain the
impedance of this measure.
The province of Molise is the point of junction of
the roads from the Abruzzi, from Termini' and the
Capitanata, towards the Volturno and Naples; con-
sequently it is on the line of operations of the Pied-
montese-troops, which are approaching from north
and east; The mountainous nature of the country
and its extensive forests` increase the importance
given by the geographical position of this province,
affording, as they do, great facilities to oppose the
advance of an army.

All these considerations made it desirable for
the Neapolitans to clear the province of the many
elements which were adverse to them. They set to
work, distributed money, made promises, and
armed the populace of the towns and the peasantry
of the country, who, encouraged by some of the re-
actionary leaders, began soon to insult and threaten
those who were known to possess something and to
be favourable to the new state of things. Both at
Isernia and at Campobasso, the capital of the pro-
vince, the Liberals soon found themselves under
the pressure of the mob and exposed to lose life and
property. The common danger forced them to self-
defence, and the National Guards of several of the
chief places united to drive away these armed
bands. They were successful in several little skir-
mishes and forced the plundering mob to retire.
In spite of this success, which was gained last
week, it was easy to see that it could be only tem-
porary, and that the Neapolitans would soon send
troops to take their revenge. Nor did the people of
Molise make themselves any illusion in this re-
spect, and with the news of this success whicb was
sent to Garibaldi came likewise the request for
speedy help. It was difficult enough to accede to
this request in an efficient manner at the time. The
lines before Capua required all the disposable force,
and a large body of men could scarcely be sent off
so far without the greatest inconvenience, not to say
danger. The point where the assistance was re-
quired, besides being far off, was entirely out of our
line of operations. lf, on the contrary, a small
number of men was sent off it would have been only
exposing them to the fate of those who had been sent
over before in driblets. Under these circumstances
Garibaldi decided to send some of his trusty officers
of Guides there to organize and lead the local forces
of the National Guard, so as to enable them to
make some resistance until circumstances per-
mitted offensive operations in that direction. In
consequence, Captain Nullo, Lieutenant Yazio, and
a dozen more of those bold young men who have
acquired so fine a name as Garibaldi's Guides,
were sent across to accomplish their usual dangerons
work of forlorn hopes.
They started at the beginning of this week, and
reached their destination safely. Nor was it too
soon, for the Neapolitans were already at hand,
and the people considerably dispirited by the news
of their approach. Every one was awaiting an-
xiously the result of their mission. Yesterday
morning a messenger arrived bringing the news
that the national forces had been driven back by
the Neapolitans from the neighbourhood of Isernia.
No details are as yet known how the thing hap-
pened, although one can easily imagine that imper-
fectly armed National Guards without much orga-
nisation could not be a match for regular troops.
The defeat in itself signifies little enough, for
probably as is usually the case in such circumstances,
the resistance was not very desperate, and the
National Guards took care to cover their line of re-
treat, but the fate of those who have compromised
themselves and of their families is a more serious
consideration, and it was chiefly this which induced
Garibaldi to do sorething if possible to stay the
work of reaction in that province.
Accordingly, yesterday afternoon the Division
Medici, consisting of four weak brigades, in all per-
haps 3,500 men, received orders to start towards
Centorano, and, following the road skirt* Monte
St. Michele to the north of Maddaloni, to descend
to the Ponte della Valle, the Caroline aqueduct
which carries the waters of Monte Taburno to the
Royal gardens of Caserta. Under this latter leads
the main road to the Colore, a feeder of the Vol-
turno, and across it to Campobasso and Isernia. In
the evening and during the night the boats which
had been prepared at St. Angelo for the passage of
the Volturno passed Caserta in great haste, and
went in the same direction. This movement, which
is the evident forerunner of an offensive operation
from our right flank, was, as I showed before, pro-
voked in the last instance by the check received by
the national forces in Molise ; but probably this
circumstance only accelerated what would have
been done a day or two later, perhaps, without it.
You are aware that the Piedmontese brigade
under General Sonnax, which has landed at Man
fredonia, is advancing in the direction of t
Bene-
vento and the river Galore, which passes desc o
it. We don't know exactly whereit is
at present,
but, according to the last news, it must be' near
with
enough to make a move towards it and unite
it. As the main column of the Piedinottee is only
f
at Popoli—that is, quite forty miles from
nr'the Vol-
turno—the isolated Sonnaz brigade might be placed
in awkward position by an advance in great
.forceht,
its rI
of the Neapolitans from Campobasso,
flank. The movement, therefore, of the Medici
division in the direction of the river Galore was
advisable, not only as an indirect assistance to the
national party in the province of Molise, but like-
wise as a strategical move to unite with the Column
of General Sonnaz.
While we, on our side, have thus made an offen-
sive move, rumour does not cease to bring us news
of offensive intentions on the part of the Neapo-
litans. Yesterday the whole town of Naples was
full, I am told, of a great combined attack which is
to take' place to-morrow,- and in consequence of
which King Francis 11. is to make his entry into

I don'ethink pedantry will go so far this year,
for the blindest must see what advantages might be
derived from this volunteer element, and even the
most obdurate official red-tapeism cannot very well
xefrtae-to-recog.lArttarnominatiomrof'Olrittttttn
exchange for the Kingdom ot the Two 6' icilies. But,
nevertheless, if Garibaldi should retire, little or no-
thing will remain of this force. The affairs of Italy
are not quite so settled that she can afford to lose
this potent auxiliary ; hence, I should not be sur-
prised if efforts were made to keep Garibaldi.
Indeed, I have good reasons to believe that such
efforts will be made. If they are successful, which
I rather doubt, then there is a good chance of Gari-
baldi having by next spring an army of 50,000
volunteers.

As for the questions which Austria or any other
Power might raise, it would be strange if Italy
alone were prevented from employing a means of
increasing her army which every other State more
or less adopted, and if she alone, of all States, were
restricted to the resource of conscription. _ _

OCTOBER 20.

All is bright and fair, and still and quiet It
seems the King of Gaeta and Capua has deferred
his intentions as to Naples.
Yesterday afternoon the Piedmontese General
Mignon() went to Maddaloni to confer, with Medici,
who has pushed on to the little river Lsebero, a
feeder of the Calore, Sonnaz, with his brigade, can
come down by Ariano and Avellino to join in our
rear, or he can go to Benevento and 'thence either
by the Valle Caudina to Maddaloni, or by the valley
of St. Agata de Doti (supposed by many to be the
true site of the defeat of'the Romans) to join Medici
on the right, or else he may come down .by Voltu-
rara and Campobasso to the Calore. The. position
which we hold now enables' us to unite with him
speedily, from whatever side he comes.
The Aosta Brigade is expected to arrive at Naples,
so that three brigades will operate on this side
against the Neapolitan position. According to.the
last accounts from the north, the column of General
della Bona, which entered the Neapolitan territory
by Rieti and Aquila, had united on the 18th with
the main body under the command of the King at
Popoli.
It is difficult to conjecture what will be the tactics
of the Neapolitans to face the storm which is ap-
proaching from all sides—whether they will try
and oppose the advance of the main column in one
of the many favourable positions which are on the
road, or whether, leaving Capua as an advanCed
work, they will defend the approaches of the Garig-
liano and of Gaeta, on which, we are told, they have
expended a great deal of labour. You probably
know that the Powers will not recognise the
blockade of Gaeta. This, and the occupation of the
direct roads by Terracino, and Frosinone by the
French, are rather advantages than disadvantages,
'for they leave an issue to those at. Gaeta.

THE ENGLISH VOLUNTEERS AT CAPUA.
(From the Special Corresponelcut of the Daily News.)
GARIBALDI'S HEAD QUARTERS,
CASERTA, OCT. 20.
Fighting has been kept up for the last three lays
between the outposts of the two armies, but nothing
like a serious struggle has occurred. The day before
yesterday the Piedmontese Brigade del Re was
attacked in-its position of Casa Bianca, at the right
of Sant Angelo, but the enemy was Vioroughly
beaten by the brave bersaglieri. Two of these
splendid soldiers have fallen prisoners, and it is '
reported they were immediately shot. I.have been
Assured that the Piedmontese, having pushed a re-
connaissance under the walls of Capua, found one
of the bersaglieri whose eyes had been torn from
their sockets.

Yesterday it was the turn of our countrymen.
The English regiment, commanded by Colonel
Peard, was sent as the outpost-towards the right,
and had hardly taken up its position when it was
attacked by a Neapolitan brigade. The fire lasted
five hours, with an interruption of two. The Eng-
lishmen fought bravely to the last ; the first and
third company charged the Neapolitans more than
once, and thoroughly beat them. Colonel Peard
lost six men, and had about twenty men wounded.
Captain Tucker, an artist, who had long resided in
Naples, was killed on the spot at the battery of the
left.

• This evening I came here for news, and heard
that the Piedmontese are advancing fast. A divi-
sion under the command of Gen. De Sonnaz having
landed at Manfredonia on the 14th, is coming
through Piedimonte towards Maddaloni. This
explains why the Neapolitans of Cajazzo have
moved in all haste to Sant Agata de Goti to oppose
the advancing march of their enemies. The King
will by this time have reached Popoli, where the
concentration of The army will be effected. To meet
Victor Emmanuel General Scotti d'Arragona has
been sent to Isernia to strenthen the small army of
the Abruzzi, which General Klepi de la Grange
commands. The whole of this force is not much
below 14,000 men, and may beside reckon upon the
armed bands of the Sanfedisti peasants, who are
the worthy descendants of Cardinal Ri:ffo—cruel
ruffians.

If the Neapolitans get beaten in the Abruzzi
they must, fall on the Garrigliano, in whose plains a
pitched battle will, perhaps, be fought by concen-
trating the whole of the force Francis 11. can dis-
pose of, about 50,000 men. But such being the case,
Garibaldi will in his turn attack Capua in the
front, cross the Volturno, cut off the communica-
tions of the Neapolitans, and by turning their
positions threaten•their rear.
BathuLrife'
iiigYetswteordoafyoumrocronuinngtryl hmaedn,xttherp.
AlelalseunrAo o. f presentt-
M.P., -and Captain Keith Fraser,
of
thteGuards, to General Garibaldi.
break-
fast 'when Captain de Rohan, Wjuestvit_t_erei
tifurrl telescope
London, presented him with a beau
gentlemen.
Sent to the general by some litefrare Y
it, and said to
Garibaldi was delighted to re%
your great and
us, " All what is sent to me
able value • I shall
liberal country has an
inestimable
them." 'He then
write to these gentlemen to thank.
hing about the authors
could, and he was pleased.
asked me to tell him something
telescope.
d on the I
Ced from
1 wsahtiossfieednahmimesawswereell engraved gir ave

Maria,
in which we
The Paris Presse contains a letter from the head-
quarters of General Bixio, dated Santa
near Capua, the evening of the 19th,

rea 'svere
attacked;
to-
day o
battalions was Yesterday
attalions from Capita, they not only defended
themselves with bravery but thrashed the Royalists
in such a manner that they will never forget the
steel of the Enfield bayonets. The English regi-
ment had eight men killed and thirty wounded.
tthuornP oieldmthoen English.tese
This is not very much, but considering this is the
first time they have been under fire, they have
certainly paid their tribute." •

A recent II umber of the Bydney _Herald contained
a computation that the produce of wool from the flock of
alpacas introduced into Australia by Mr. Ledger, will, in
50 years, at Ihe ordinary rate of increase of these animals,
attain a value equal to £6,832,000 per annum. It will
hardly be credited, however, that the advices by the same
mail state that the result to Mr. Ledger of the long and
arduous effort s which ended in the successful importation
of the first flock from Peru, has been personally ruinous.
Ile safely landed them in 1858, after having devoted eight
Years to the task of collecting them and 'studying their
habits and management. 'They are now "in magnificent
order and thriving wonderfully." But the fleece is not cut
till it has attained a three years' growth, and the expenses
' attendino• the enterprise are stated to have entirely ex-
hausted his moderate resources. In a letter to one of the
aldermen of London, dated Arthursieigh, Berrima, Nsw
South Wales, 20th June last, he says—" If pecuniary ad-
vantages have not attended my untiring efforts to inti:
that valuable animal the alpaca into these colonies, I 4
aria
.„
ri„cd,
achieved a name that posterity will honour. I am
mustiiteturn to
my children penniless." It is a question
after eight years of absence from my family, i
for
consuram
manufacturers whether they should permit this 1
together to
our wealthy
tion to be recorded in history, or take cowls()
afford Mr. Ledger some relief.