The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-09 00:00:00

OgE IGN NOTES

GARIBALDI'S RETREAT;

The details of the battle of Mentana confirm the
reports we have already given. It is stated that General
Missori and Menotti Garibaldi took a prominent and dis-
tinguished part in the action. The head of the volunteer
column was cut off from the main body by the first attack
from the Pontificals. They proceeded on their march,
and reached a place of safety. An official report of the
affair has been published in the Riforma. It states that
Garibaldi had ordered all the troops on the Pontifical
territory to concentrate at Tivoli. Signor Crispi, the
leader of the extreme Liberals, says this was done with
the intention of withdrawing his forces. Garibaldi had
provided for the possibility of encountering the enemy on
the march. In an order of the day he gave directions to
guard against such an attack. On seeing the enemy, the
tersaglieri and Carabiniers of Leghorn were extended along
the heights which rise about half a mile from Mentana
They were received with a sharp fire from foreign Chas•
emirs and Zouaves.

The positions in front of Montana were found unsuitable
for defence. The enemy began to dcvclope a movement on
the left of the Garibaldians, who thereupon withdrew their
line into Mentana, occupying the houses and the castle. Two
columns of Chasseurs attacked in front and on the left, and
succeeded in penetrating as far as the first houses. Garibaldi
ordered the whole line to charge with the bayonet. This
was brilliantly executed, and Mentana was recovered.
Garibaldi directed from an elevation the fire of the guns.
The day seemed won. The Pontificals were losing ground
when a new and dense hostile lips appeared on the field.
Their heavy artillery and arms of precision caused a heavy
loss to the volunteers. The latter disputed every foot of
the ground, but victory was hopeless ; the Garibaldians
were crushed by numbers, and paralysed by want of ammu-
nition. It was necessary to save the line of retreat,
and the road to Monte Rotondo was secured.
The General concentrated his troops for its defence. The
enemy did not advance to the attack, though they came
within gunshot of the village. He had thus the whole
night at his disposal. Garibaldi might have employed
this time in reorganising and opposing an extreme resist-
nice in the elevated position of Monte Rotondo. But
after the French and Italian intervention, the political
situation preponderated over the military, and further blood.
shed became useless. Garibaldi perceived it, and ordered a
retreat onPasso Corese. It was executed in the course of the
evening, in presence of the enemy, and in excellent order
Garibaldi was arrested at Vigline. He demanded the
warrant, and was told there was no warrant, but an order
from Government. He denied its authority over one
guilty of no crime against the Italian Government, and
claimed his right in the character of a deputy, a Roman
general appointed by a regular' Government, and an
American citizen, and declared that he would only submit
to force. His friends prepared to defend, but he forbade
them, and opposed only a passive resistance. Crispi
telegraphed to Florence to the Government for leave to
Garibaldi to proceed quietly to Caprera, pledging himself
that there should be no demonstration ; but after an hour
had elapsed no reply arrived, and Colonel Carnozzi
ordered Garibaldi's removal. Four carabineers took him
up in their arms and placed him in the train, in which
only his family were allowed to accompany him. Italian
law allows no filibustering. To commit any act leading
to the possibility of a war with a neighbouring Power is a
crime under the Italian code.

Time was when soldat du pare was no compliment to
military men. It reminded, the hearer of Voltaire's mot,
that the Pope's soldiers always mounted guard and fought
with umbrellas, the only arms they knew how to handle.
It seems to be confessed, however, that in the battle Of
Mentana they behaved with gallantry. How far the
victory was due to General Polhes and his five French
battalions is not known. According to the Presse the
French left Rome two hours after the Pontificals, and
arrived on the scene when the defeat was accomplished.