The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-31 00:00:00

THE EVENTS AT MESSINA.

The Presse publishes a letter from M. Alexandre
Dumas, describing the engagement at Milazzo, of
which he was an eye-witness. The following are
extracts

" At dawn on the 20th, all the troops were in
movement to attack the Neapolitans, who had come
out of the fort and village of Milazzo, which they oc-
cupied. Malenchini commanded the left ; General
Medici and Cozens the centre ; while the right was
composed of a few companies only, intended to cover
the centre and left wing from a surprise. Garibaldi
was in the centre, where the action was expected
to be the sharpest. The firing began on the left
from the Neapolitan outposts, concealed in a reed
bed half-way between Mira and Milazzo. A quar-
ter of an hour later the centre attacked the Neapo-
litan line and drove it from its first position. The
right meanwhile dislodged the Neapolitans from
some houses which they occupied. As the difficulties
of the ground prevented reinforcements from arriv-
ing, Bosco, with 6,000 men, turned upon the 500 or
600 who had driven him baek. The latter were at
first obliged to retire before the superior numbers
of the enemy, but, when other troops came up to
their aid, they again attacked the enemy, many of
whom were still concealed among reeds and pro-
tected by fig• trees, so that a charge with the
bayonet was impossible. Medici, while advanc-
ing at the head of his men, had a horse killed
under him. Cozens was struck in the neck
by a spent ball and fell; he was for a moment
supposed to be mortally wounded, but he was
only stunned, and almost instantly he was on his
legs again, shouting Viva l'ltalia!' Garibaldi, at
the head of the Genoese carbineers and some guides,
attempted to take the enemy in the flank, but sud-
denly came on a gun placed on the centre of the
road, and which he determined to attack. When
within twenty paces, the cannon, loaded with
grape, was fired by the King's troops. The effect
was terrible, only five or six men remained stand-
ing. Garibaldi had part of his boot and his stirrup
carried away; his horse was also wounded, and he
was compelled to alight. Major Breda and his
trumpeter were killed by his side ; Misori's horse
fell dead under him ; Statella was left standing un-
hurt in the midst of the iron storm; all the others
were killed or wounded. The gun which had done
all this mischief was taken soon after. Then the
Neapolitan infantry opened and gave passage to a
charge of 50 cavalry for the purpose of retaking
the piece. Colonel Donon's men, who had been
but little under fire, threw themselves to the sides
of the road instead of receiving the charge on their
bayonets. The cavalry came like a whirlwind, the
Sicilians firing from both sides. Thus assailed,
both right and left, the commander of the N*apo-
litan cavalry stopped and wanted to turn back, but
found the passage barred by' General Garibaldi,
Misori, Statella, and five or six men. The
General seized the officer's bridle, and cried out,
Surrender.' The officer replied with a blow of
his sabre, which Garibaldi parried, and by a back
stroke cut the officer's check open. The latter
fell from his horse. Meanwhile, three or four
sabres were raised against theGeneral,who wounded
one of his assailants with a thrust of his sabre,
while Misori killed two others, and the horse of a
third with his revolver. Statella brought down
one antagonist,while another who sprang at Misori's
throat, was killed by the fourth shot of his re-
volver. While this struggle was drawing to a
close, Garibaldi rallied his scattered men, charged
with them, and either took or killed the rest of the
fifty horsemen. Seconded by his centre, he next
charged the Neapolitans, Bavarians, and Swiss
with the bayonet. The Neapolitans fled at once,
but the Bavarians and Swiss made a short stand
before they gave way. This decided the fate of
the day."
The following letter, dated Messina, July 21,
"gives some further details :--
" I wrote you already that Bosco left this place
with a body of 4,000 men of Chasseurs a cheval,
and with part of a train of artillery. It was his
intention to go and occupy the territory between
Barcellona and Milazzo; but General Medici
thwarted his design. He had posted four of his
companies, about 400 men, on a hill commanding
the road, with the view of offering him resistance.
Bosco, however, anticipated the movement, and
making his way across the vineyards, hurried on
to Milazza almost with the rapidity of' a flight.
The danger of an attack seemed to have passed
away when the idea came into Bosco's head to
attack the handful of men still remaining on
the hills, and he despatched there a thousand
of his troops with half a battery and 30 cavalry ;
having come upon them unexpectedly, he
made 13 soldiers and 1 officer prisoners. They had
formed an outpost, but on the signal being given
our troops came up, repelled the assault, charged
the Neapolitans, killed 40, wounded 80, took I know
not how many prisoners, and very nearly got the
cannon. This happened on the 17th. About vespers
Bosco renewed the attack, with an imposing array
of troops, but ours had also received reinforcements,
and their triumph was easy, although in nume-
rical force far inferior to that of the enemy. The
details of the second attack are not yet known.
Meanwhile Bosco was demanding reinforcements,
and entreating that they might be sent as speedily
as possible. He complained of the inferior officers,
terming them asses and cowards. Major Maring
has been' put under arrest by him for cowardice.
He requested the removal of the Bth regiment of
Chasseurs in consequence of their total want of dis-
cipline—and such is really the fact, they are hope-
lessly disorganised—and concluded by asking leave
to throw up his command. This despatch, inter-
cepted by our troops, was made public and then
forwarded by the commander of Messina to Gen.
Clary. Meanwhile there arrived on the 19th at
Barcellona the illustrious General Garibaldi. His
arrival was hailed with universal enthusiasm. He
hurried to the field of action, intimated to Bosco
that he must yield at discretion, or give battle,
and yesterday morning he attacked him. I yield
to --, whose letter I have this moment re-
ceived, the honour of describing an attack most
glorious for Garibaldi, for Sicily, and for
Italy, I give you here his very words :
This morning, at six a.m., there commenced a very
heavy firing, which was kept up until evening. The
battle was most desperate. We were fighting with
bayonets whilst exposed to discharges from cannon,
most skilfully placed at points where one least ex-
pected them. The cannon were taken, but with
great sacrifices. '1 here are perfect shoals of wont-vied
and we must improvise, as we best can, the hospitals
which are wanted ; and the numbers of the wounded
are in want of all the requisite comforts and appli-
ances, for no one expected the battle, and no one
was prepared for it. The steamer Veloce took part
likewise in the attack. Finally, at about 4 p.m.,
the national troops entered Milazzo, and drove the
Neapolitans into the castle, where they surrounded
them on all sides. Casa Cassisi was destined for
quarters, but all the furniture was flung out at the
windows. From all the wine stores the troops were
supplied with wine. had received no injury
up to 2 p.m., so, at least, I am told by his wounded
companions, of whom I have seen many on their
way to the hospital. It is not in my power to seek
him, because my horses are completely done up
from constantly bringing in the wounded, who ar-
rivein every possible degree of mutilation and of
agony, so that it almost breaks one's heart to look
at them. Our losses wore serious. There had just
come in 1,000 men, quite fresh from Patti, with
artillery.' "

OFFICIAL BULLETINS OF THE BATTLE

OF MILAZZO.

The Government of the Dictator has caused the
two following bulletins to be published :
National Camp of Meri, July 20.
This morning at six o'clock an exchange of musket
shots took place; it was thought at first to be an
affair of outposts, but it soon became a general
action. The royalists had artillery ; on our side
there was none. The struggle was terrible, the
royalists being under cover, whilst our men were
fighting in the open. At one moment the position
appeared difficult, but at the magic name of Gari-
baldi our men rushed on like lions and carried the
position, and at 25 minutes past 3 our troops en-
tered Milazzo, after capturing five pieces of artil-
lery, three of which were taken in the action out-
side the walls, and the two others at the entrance.
The Veloce steamer canonaded the fort, where the
royalists shut themselves in, constantly pursued by
the bayonet; they were crowded there as in a bar-
rel of anchovies. Our men then took the first gate
of the fort and a bastion, and our flag is floating
over one tower.
We have a heavy loss to deplore ; that of the
royalists is enormous. The surrender of the fort
and of the entire column is certain. Are in force-
ment, with rifled cannon, has this instant arrived
for us. The soldiers of Spadafora are retiring upon
Gesso.

July 21.
Yesterday, at 6 a.m., the battle commenced at
Milazzo, and was not over before Bpan. The struggle
'Theregatre was fighting along the whole line.
carnage of the Bourbonists, who
Therewas ter
was rible
a g
.
fought with much obstinacy, so that it became
necessary to gain ground foot by foot render a
shower of grape. The field of battle covered with
and with baggage of
dead bodies of the enemy,
eveTy kind and five
" Lon,gruill.s WasT at last conquered,.
cries of of , t lip e Italy l" " Long live
aGmaii•dibaclid.

Our young men vied in enthusiasm with the brave
men of ge.rthahli's legion, which was the first in
the combat and the first to charge with the bayonet,
to storm Milazzo, an j also seize the first and

second redoubts of the fortress, still pressing the
Bourbonists elose with the bayonet.
Our loss has not been excessive. The legion of
Garibaldi has had a few of its men wounded ; our
young men have also suffered very little, but the
ions of the continental soldiers has been considerable.
Enormous loss, enormous damage has been inflicted
upon the enemy, who in flying was driven into the
redoubts, and from them into the rest of the Or'
tress. He was pursued thither, and the water cow
duits were cut off.

This morning, the 21st, the hero Bosco presented
himself to the Dictator, and requested leave to quit
with the honours of war. " No," replied Garibaldi,
" you shall leave disarmed, if you please."
Fabrezzi and Interdonato have marched to Gesso,
by order of the generalisimo. The enemy occupying
that position withdrew immediately to Messina.
The Dictator, in a cavalry engagement at Milazzo,
cut off with a blow of his sabre the sword-arm of
the major of the Neapolitan corps. that was pursu-
ing him ; after which the Neapolitan cavalry were
dispersed and destroyed—a just punishment of
their fratricidal obstinacy.
Long live Italy ! Long live Victor Emmanuel
Gen. Sirtori, the pro•dictator of Sicily during
the absence of Garibaldi from Palermo, issued the
following proclamation :

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OP SICILY.
Citizens,—The Dictator having gone away for'
some days from this generous capital has charged
me to take the reins of state in his absence. Al-
though the mission is beyond my strength, I hail
accepted it without hesitation, certain. as I am to
find in you honest co-operation, submission to the
laws, and those self-sacrificing virtues without
which no liberty can be founded, no state can be
powerful. The Dictator goes to put himself at the
head of our army which is operating in the province
of Messina. I have the firm conviction that the
conqueror in all the combats that he has hitherto
engaged with the enemies of Italy is destined to
achieve new and signal triumphs. Although grieved
that I cannot share with him the dangers of the
coming battles, I find a consolation in the thought
that I am devoting myself to the well-being of your
country, which both for its new and old glories ,
love with the affection of a child. Render my task
easy by showing me that devotedness which 37011
show to the man whom I am proud to have for my
chief.
Palermo, July 18. SIRTORI.