The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-04 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING.
THE CAPITULATION OF SPOLETO-OFFICIAL RE
PORT OF MAJOR O'REILLY.

The Morning News publishes the following do-
cument—the official report of Major O'Reilly, who
commanded the Irish at Spoleto—which, it asserts,
is ktelling reply to the calumnious attacks made
upon the brigade :

" 26th Sept. 1860
Sir,—l have the honour to report more in detail the
circumstances stated in my last.
" On the 13th, in compliance with the orders received
from his Excellency the General-in-Chief, I returned to
Spoleto from Foligno, with 30 men of my battalion loft be-
hind, and some Dragoon recruits ; in consequence of the
difficulty in getting waggons for the ammunitirn, which
was to be 'culled, we did not arrive until two o'clock a.m.
on the 14th.
" I immediately took steps to have the forts provisioned
and supplied with water, for which purpose I found nothing
had yet been done. My men having worked day and night
all the 14th and 15th, I succeeded in laying in a sufficient
supply of water, biscuit, coffee, sugar, bacon, oil, and a
small quantity of meat and some torches, and all the am-
munition was carried into the new powder magazine.
" On the 15th all communication with Foligno was cut
off, it being said to be occupied by the Piedmentese troops ;
and on the morning of the 16th, at two a.m., the garrison
was roused by a false alarm, brought in by some gendarmes,
that the enemy was close at hand. That day I received
your telegram, telling me to hope for no succour, and I
made my preparations for defence.
" Monsignor° the Delegate and the other functionaries
came into the citadel.

"In the night of the 16th we heard the enemy coming in
and taking up his positions all around, but, having no artil-
lery, we could not interfere with his movements. The garri-
son wero under arms at their respective posts by 4 a.m.
" I had detailed the two companies of Irish (300 in num-
ber) for the defence of the gate and walls near it, as being
the part which would be most warmly attacked. The Swiss
and Austrian recruits of the regiment 2d Estero, to the
number of 160, under the command of Second Lieutenants
Crider and Bovon, were to line the banquette of the wall
opposite the mountain, supported by one section of Irish at
the larger open breach, which had a temporary rampart of
woolpacks ; and a detachment of twelve Carabineers and
Bersaglieri, under charge of Sergeant Schooner, at the lesser
breach.
"The Franco Beige, 23 in number, were posted in a gal•

lery which commanded the approach to the gate.
" The gendarmes, under the command of Major Callum,
drelli and Captain Volta, and detachments of other Italian
regiments—in all about 150 men—l kept in reserve.
" At 6 a.m., a captain of General Brignone's staff brought
me a summons to surrender, stating that the general com-
manded a corps d'arnuc. To this summons I sent the en-
closed refusal, and the general having, like a gallant sol
dier, proposed that all women should leave the fortress-
under a safe conduct, Captain Borchan's wife, together witli
mine, left; and a little after 8 a.m., the enemy opened fire
with shot and shell from four batteries, and the Bersag-
Hai, who covered the hill above the citadel and every neigh-
bouring point, kept up an incessant fire.
"Our sharpshooters replied with considerable effect, es-
pecially on the artillery situated at about 500 to 600 yards
distance.
ghPlathye.
of truce to request us to surrender ; but as uty orders were
to defend the rock as long as it was tenable, I was obliged
to decline, and the fire recommenced.
"At 11 a.m. his Grace the Archbishop came with a flag
" At 3
ing on the gate all day, having considerably damaged the
p ef
with s n
shots o n
and y a
bayonet
et
abratlill:er
having w hiclsho
nhea dthbrPoelni
gate itself, General Brignone deemed an assault practicable,
and a column composed of two companies of Bersaglieri, and
walls rounpd.mit.,tahnedenseevnleYra'sl
two battalions of Grenadiers (commaned by the colonel of
Grenadiersand superintended by General Brignone himself,
who was on horseback at the foot of the ascent), covered by a
tremendous fire, advanced to the assault. Although re-
cannon, they pressed on gallantly to the gate and ende
voured to break it open with axes ; but it had been proppeda-
stabs through the holes.
cuepi
fromv e d w
within,it
ande
our
rg e
menof
replied ra
't Second lAieutenant Crean here re •
eetved a ball through