New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-11-09
Hosting the Palmetto Flag.
In the Field with ear,bardI.

In the Field with GaribaIdI.
The following is a letter from venerable but
restless friend who, accompanied by Mr.. Edwin
James and other Englishmen, went to +" see the
lighting IN Italy Although, however, he is fond
OF that sight that he has had a knack Of turning
up in camps and in all quarters of the globe, to
the dissatisfaction and embarrassment of the per
sons there in authority, the reader will recognize
from what is written below, that friend is not
at all bloodthrsty person, but rather excites ad-
miration by exhibiting, amid scenes of strife and
slaughter, most pacific and retiring disposition:
On the 9th it seemed generally understood that
q battle would take place, almost Immediately,
close to Capua. We therefore started at O'Clock
(roughly speaking, the same party), arrived at
Santa Maria about o'clock A. NJ, and found all
the troops moving towards Capua-rather sorry
looking, must say, half of them mere boys. But
little fellows of ten, eleven, twelve years. fight
like little demons, stride the guns. and FIRE them
off with as much GOODNESS as old artillery men
We got to the first picket, a large archway at
the extremity Of the town, barricaded by the
trunks of trees and bushes-here was the com
mencement of the road leading directly to Capua
about three miles off. As the Neapolitans were
occasionally firing down this road, it was for each
gentleman, more especially for the amateur, to
make his own estimate of the worth while and the
value of military glory, practically speaking in
short, to consider what line lie should take toward
the beseged city, whether to go straight along the
road under fire, or to make circumbendibus
Sarsfeld, Ashley and Davidson went fast to the
front, and SO did James and your humble cores
pondent, close in their wake. James and myself
had not advanced fan on the road before we were
Joined by one of the legation-a very good -humor-
ed and humorous gentleman, much given to laugh.
ter. But his ardent mind, when under pressure,
being more bent on the honors of diplomacy than
the glories Of war, its horrors had no charm for
him. Bright would have deiied him.
shot was fred from the fort. There goes a
smasher for three or four military heroes at the
smallest computation. Military glory is a fine
thing but does not belong to my department MAY
we not pay too high price for it, Mr. Smith2 Hal
ha hal The diplomatist in continuance" They
say none but the brave deserve the fair, and SO
soldiers, who of course all brave get an undue
preference by the ladies over the civil portion of
the community; but barring libel, in my humble
opinion, were diplomatist allowed to carry hand
some epaulettes on his shoulders, the fair would
appreciate his merits more than those of the brave
man, soldier or not, without those ornaments.a
The shot and shell were firing about us in all drec
tions. Her Majesty's counsel, impatient of mac
ton and to be in the fray, proposed to leave for
nearer station. To this the diplomatst strongly
objected. confess | agreed with the latter, my
opinion that discretion is the better part of yalor
strengthening with experience. However, James
started notwithstanding, and | placed myself by
his side, the diplomatst q little behind.
We soon separated, however, the lawyer arriving
at the road before the other and myself The
great guns were sweeping all before them at this
time. James had, however, got into small car
riage with another person. trying to 60 forward-I
suppose. intending to take the place himself. /
attempted to join the party, but the fit was too
tight, and as | fell back, a grape-shot went right
through the foot-board between the two and lust
in the place where should have been seated had
been admitted-a nearer shave than that of Sir
Roger de Coyerley. The bureaucrat and myself
now thought it high time to look out for ourselves
and to fnd shelter where we could. Though there
was haystack not hundred yards off, under
which we could have found almost immediate re-
r aA1,, al,
circuit to get out of danger-proyng beyond dis
pnte how great blunder is panic. Shot after
shot came rolling along. This won't do at alln
said my companion. What won't do?" "Press
ing business demands my attention at the legation
and I'm off to Naples by the rail-"
All the party was now separated and returned
by myself to the highway, the firing down the
road from the fort continuing very sharp, and the
wounded being carried into Santa Maria in great
numbers. All at once there was cry that the
Neapolitan cavalry were coming, and we all ran
for it, some red-coats ncluded-a regular panic.
met an English officer coming up at the head Of
held Come along with me- said my friend
let us drive those panic mongers backn "What
can ~ replied, = have left my revolver be-
hind, and have only this big stick Never
mind, take my revolver; | have a sYordn | ac
cepted the revolver, but fortunately, most proba-
bly,, for my life or mbs-whether for my glory or
not depone not-my friend started eff at such
rattling pace at the head of his men that | was
back. | returned him the lethal instrument,
thanking him for the loan, and his opinion of nv
zeal and courage. In about twenty minutes he
came back, having lost ten of his men-so much
for the discretion and short wind OF your humble
servant Our hero returned with whole skin,
but think he had made up his mind if necessary,
to die gloriously. "Cheerfuly,'' l replied :. and
should fall, don't say that you sow me going
backward; l am but an amateur"
The natural consequence was the loss of MANY
officers, including one general, and SOC soldiers
Killed and wounded. This mistake was made too
late for Garibald to remedy whilst looking on dur.
ing the latter part of the fight. Such was his
modification thathe hardly spoke word except to
say, " 1t is almost time to fall back" But to turn
to our personal narrative. None of the party had
set eyes on the Queens counsel since the foot
board affair, so Captain Davidson, myself. and Bill.
ling, his servant, set out in search of him. We
looked over the ground where we had last seen
him-noWhere to be found We then went to the
hospital to which he might have been carried. Not
there either. At last, it being quite dark we con
cluded that he might have left for Naples, and we
started for that place. We had not gone three
miles before we were pulled up at an advanced
post Of the Garibaldians, when we were Informed
that We had mistaken our way and were on the
high road to Capua. Had we arrived there what
with the aid of our red-coats and other unmstake-
able Gnrbaldian insignia, we should most probably
have been subjected to summary and ingIorious
DEATH and all the pains had to the contrary dur.
ing the conflict would of course have been lost
Weretutned forthwith to Santa Maria and obtained
a pass from Gen. Eber, for the Casefta road. On
ourarrivai at Naples, we found Her Majesty 5 coun.
sci fast asleep in bed.
FATAL BOILER EXPLosIoN.-Netn Hauen, Non q
terrible accident has just occurred here. The
boilers of the factory of Dow & Brothers makers
of anrr HI