The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-20
THE ROMAN STATES.

THE ROMAN STATES.
The Journal des Debats gives the following sum-
mary of the recent events attending the last French
assault on Rome, and their subsequent entry into
the city:
A" We have details of the last acts of the Roman
Government and of the Assembly. Ii was as
will be remembered, on the Goth ut., that the French
troops carried 10y assault and by double attack the
bastlon OF the gate of San Pancrazia. 1t is ne
cessary to set forth the military importance of
this fact in order TO point out the encouragement
which was suddenly caused among the defenders
of Rome. The baston was fortified TO its gorge,
and was united by an intrenchment of the old Au-
rellan wall, which latter was defended IN the rear
by the fort of Montorio. Seven pieces of cannon,
loaded with grape, played on the mouth of toe
breach, which besides defended by deep
ditch. In the adjoining gardens, the summer
houses, and houses which hanked the inside ap-
proaches to the bastion and the intrenchment,
pierced with loopholes for muskeuy. From 1900
TO 1900 men occupied this formidable bastion and
It's accessory defences and the assailants eX-
posed 10 a cross-hre on all sides. The Romans
were Justly proud Of their positions, and regarded
them little likely to be carried. Nevertheless,
all these obstacles were attacked in 'front.' and
carried at the point of the bayonet with extraor-
binary rapldty by the two columns of attack,
composed each of three companies only, exclusive
Of the reserve which followed to support them in
case of need The bastions, the cannon and the
Entertainments were attacked and taken at day
break the loophoed houses were broken into and
taken by FIRE of point-blank musketry and the
French soldiers, exasperated by the dangers and
difficulties of the assault and by the obstinacy OF
the resistance, struck blow as terrible as was
decisive. The French musketry then poured
in on the internal defences of the San Pancrazia
gate, and by the capture of the new bastion the
eliminating point of the Ganiculo was gained pos
session Of The French soon after extended them
selves the other slde far the Portese gate,
the banks Of the lower TIber. Terrified by the bold
ness and ygor Of the assault, and by the carnage
which had taken place IN the heat Of the combat
the Roman soldiers refused to defend the Gianculo,
fearing a new assault on the following night, and
the leaders participated in the apprehensions Of
their men, At SIX in the morning that position
was therefore abandoned, and the troops removed
into the principal street OF the Quarter Transte-
we're, situated at the foot of the Ganlculo, and
strongly barricaded The civic guard had for some
days expressed great dissatisfaction at having been
indirectly disarmed on the preence of exchanging
their percussion muskets for others with flint locks
They were also much discontinued at the arrogance
of the soldiers Of Ganbaldi, who stopped them in
the streets and compelled them to 60 and work at
the ntrenchments and fire from the ramparts the
civic guard being destined particularly for the
nal service Of the city. Several battallons came to
an agreement TO openly resist the Gariuadeurs.
In one of the quarters Of Rome the civic guard
had nterdcted the entrance Of the patrols Of Carr
bald when they wished to come IN search of arms
and men.
"The feelings Of animosity at length increased so
much as to threaten TO degenerate into civil war.
IL was in the midst Of these critical circumstances
I that the Roman assembly had to deliberate on the
30th June, the very day of the assault. Some de-
putes pointed out the dreadful state Of affairs and
D 4 a ~. II.
/ triumyir, Mazzini, admitted that they had expert
enced check and that the reports Of the generals
! pointed out existing danger; but he did not, he
said think that they should be compelled TO capltu-
/ late and demanded that any decision should be
postponed at east until the next day Gen Bar
! tolucci said the soldiers, declmated by the firing
| and by the bayoDet Of the enemy, were exhausted
by the excessive fatigue they had gone through
and by the great heat Of the weather He had
read the reports Of the generals, and especially
/ those Of Garibaldi, and their tenor lef no hope
\ Of any advantage that could be gained by further
! res,stAnce Ii was necessary 20 save the. city
/ from greater disasters. The assembly visbly IN.
clined to this opinion; but Mazzini proposed that
! before coming 10 any vote, Garibaldi should b'
heard, as TO the means Of defence which still re
NAMED to him He was accordingly sent for e
the assembly At the expiration of hour hi
appeared ia the tribune, and pointed out, witt
great clearness and frankness, and IN the tone o
a man Of resolution, the chances which still re-
manned TO the defenders Of Rome According 4
this account II had been necessary 10 abandon L
the French the whole Of Mount Giancllo, as wei
as the old Aureian WALL and the position Of Mon
torio but the Romans still retained possession o
all the city beyond the TIber II was necessary
he said, for them TO retire 10 the eft bank, IN
trench themselves strongly, blow up ell the bridges
arm with cannon the basrons Of the SAINT
Splrlto: defend at the time the castle Of 81
Angelo. and the rampsrts Of the Leonine city, tina
is 10 say. the quarters Of Saint Peters and the Vat
lean il vas objected to this plan that II would re
. ouire enormous labor, and that there was no tim
for II: hat it would be TO bring on the city itself
war which had hitherto been confined to the Eau
bourgs: and that, in fine, no reliance could b
placed in barricades when the more solid bastlon
T had been unable TO Withstand the French. tn
new plan Of defence proposed by Garbaldi was
reality very sustainable; but 10 carry u INTO exect
ton Il would have been necessary to sacrifice will
: out regard both the city ,f Rome and lH mon,
ments: II besides required that the whole populao
s should be firmly determined to resist 10 the dealt
y as the chiefs had always affirmed they would d.
Every one on the contrary, both soldiers and CT
$ zens, were almost unanimous in wishing to put 0
ID end TO the struggle The assembly finished, Their
N fore, by voting the recapitulaon charging the "
n. Imvirate with the execution Of IFS decree Ma
ID zlni, however, loudly rejected such mandat
D. My conscience, he said, will not allow me
10 communicate your decree TO General OudInot
\ was charged by you, as triumvr, TO defend Ron