The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-11 00:00:00

THE BRITISH LEGION.

(FROM A MEMBER OF THE LEGION.)
SALERNO, Nov. 29.
The departure of the English Legion from
Caserta has been expedited by an occurrence of a
somewhat unexpected nature, some of the Italian
regiments stationed there havingjoined in an attack
upon the members of the brigade, which began to
assume a very serious aspect, so much so that it was
necessary to separate the belligerents and transport
the Legion to some distance from Caserta. The
affair commenced on the evening of Tuesday, the
27th instant, and, so far as I can learn, would
appear to have originated in some dispute which
occurred at a café, between the English and a
party of the Italian volunteers. The precise man-
ner in which the quarrel commenced is unknown,
but it resulted in an attack being made upon the
English, who were only some half-dozen or so
in number, and were armed merely with their
bayonets. They were driven out of the café into the
street, but managed for some time to defend them-
selves successfully, until the number of their
assailants had very considerably increased. At
this period I happened to be returning to the bar-
racks through the square where the affray com-
menced, and can record its result from personal
observation.
An immense crowd of Italian volunteers was
assembled in the centre of the square, and in the
midst were the English. Both parties appeared
to be scuffling together, the mob surging to and
fro amidst a scene of deafening shouts and cries.
The English were borne into the An barracks,
but contrived to fight their way out. A body of their
opponents, amounting at least to 50 or 60, then
rushed from their barracks, armed with drawn
swords, heavy sticks, &c., and made an indiscrimi-
nate attack upon the English, who were compelled
to retreat somewhat precipitately. Ono man who
was standing a few paces from me, and who had
not taken any part whatever in the affray, was
struck to the ground by a blow on the head from a
heavy stick, and his assailants gallantly surrounded
and knocked him about until he was insensible.
The whole body then rushed down the street lead-
ing to the English barracks, brandishing their
swords and crying "Down with the English."
The latter made the best of their way to their bar-
racks, with a view of rousing their comrades and
returning with assistance, as it was known that
several of the English volunteers were about in dif-
ferent parts of the town, and if they met any of the
Italians in the infuriated state they were in it was
feared, as most of the former were unarmed, they
would be cut down without mercy. The fear was,
to some extent, realised. as several of them who
were returning to barracks by twos and threes
were a good deal knocked about and bruised, but
escaped without serious injury. In the meantime
the great body of the Italians rushed up to the
English barracks, pushed past the sentries, who
were unable singly to oppose any resistance, and ran
up the steps leading to the officers' quarters,
clamouring for the English commandant. The
English volunteers who had escaped from the melee
ran up to their own quarters, and the cry of " Fix
bayonets" resounded from room to room. Most of
them had retired to bed, but in less than five
minutes upwards of 100 were up, dressed, and down
in the courtyard, with bayonets fixed to repel any
further attack, and to render any assistance to
their comrades that might be required. Major
Smelt, the officer in command, whose privacy had
been rather suddenly invaded by the Italians,
came down and procured the assistance of General
Zacchi and ofseveral other commanding offigers, who
endeavoured to pacify their men, who appeared to
be satisfied with nothing less than the total and im-
mediate extirpation of the entire English brigade.
The English officers also hurried down, and fortu-
nately met the body of their men, which was coming
down at the" double," in time to prevent an actual

collision, which in a few moments more would have
undoubtedly occurred, the number of the Italians
having increased to between 400 and 500. For a
long time the English refused to retire, a report hav-
ing got afloat that several of their number had been
killed, and they were gradually becoming as noisy
and bellicose as their opponents. Major Smelt at
length made his appearance, and comparative order
having been obtained, he stated that he had seen
Gen. Zacchi, who had promised that the whole matter
should be investigated in the morning. There was
no doubt that violence had been committed, but he
(Major Smelt) gave them his word of honour that
he would see that justice was done. He would ask
them as a personal favour to go quietly to their
beds, and they might rest satisfied that a thorough
investigation would be made in the morning.
The major's assurance had the effect of partially
allaying the storm, and the English went to their
rooms, the Italians having been at the same time
got rid of by similar means. A strong patrol of
the National Guard then went round the town to
pick up all the English stragglers, who were
ordered into barracks, the gates of which were also
entrusted to their care. Several Englishmen were
shortly afterwards brought in, some of them much
hurt and bruised. Sergeant Clark of the 10th com-
pany, was killed, having received a bayonet thrust
through the chest, and similar wounds in other
parts of the body. Another volunteer named
Lockhart, a private in the sth company,
seriously wounded by b ayonet thrusts, and now
was also
lies at the hospital at Caserta in a very precarious
condition. Immediate attention was paid to the
men who were hurt,
Major Smelt having go,certain how many were
through the rooms to_as
c,
in
injured, and also with the intention of calming the
men, who were a state of great excitement, and
could not be persuaded to go to their beds. The
Italians did not escape entirely scot-free, as
man of them were a good deal knocked about ;
wthoapat
trivanyes
of them have re-
y.
inthe Hungarian
regiment, one of whom
butcei v
eldhave s
erio
unsoitn learnedjury.
T
reg was mixed up in the corn-
, triencement of the affray, sided with the English,
and, armed with heavy stones, delivered one or two
good knock-down blows.
In the morning the 1. Ita ians assembled in crowds
round the hissing, groaning, and throwing stones
at every Englishman who presented himself ; being
only kept from ten ering the barracks by the efforts
of a detachment of the National Guard ; but more
difficulty was experienced by our officers in keep-
ing their men in than the others out, they being as
anxious as their opponents to resort to the arbitra-
ment of arms.

THE MIDLAND AND LANCASHIRE AND YORK-
SHIRE RAILWAYS.—Rumours of an intention to amalga-
mate these companies have for some time been prevalent,
and have exercised some influence on the value of their
respective shares. We can state, on the most positive autho-
rity, that these rumours are without foundation, and hat
no proposal of such a nature has been made,
or even dis-
t
cussed, by the directors. The rumour has probably arisen
from the fact that negotiatians have been taking
place for some alterations and improvement in the traffic
arrangements between the two companies.— _Leeds Mercury,
CONFESSION OF THE WYBERTON MURDERER.—
Thomas Richardson, who was found guilty at the Lincoln
assizes, on Saturday last, of wilfully murdering the police-
constable M‘Brian, has confessed the crime, and stated to
the governor of the castle, Mr. J. Foster, that he is justly
punished for the crime he has committed. As the evidence
adduced at the trial was for the most part circumstantial,
though of the very strongest character, there was a doubt
whether he really was the murderer, and theerrsetfaonrd, is fe
e the con-
fession of the man will be received with satisfactien. by ther
public. we
castle, and he evincesna
quent T
ly
vishite unedubnyfotrhtechatae man,
rlainof the
an earnest desire to make his peace with the Almighty.
The execution will, we believe, tale Dlace at noon on Fries
day, the 21st inst,

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