Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-10-24

HEROIC CoNDUcT OF THE PoPE's IRISH
BRIGADE.-There cannot have been much more
than roo or 800 men, if 80 many, in Spoleto
while the attacking force was at least $4,000
or 20, 900 men, A council was held aud. of
course, instantaneous surrender was propos-
ed by some as the most military course in
the lace of such odds. O'Reilly. at least, for
the Irish in the garrison, 1.-TWO companies,
26O men, utterly declined to be party to
any such proceeding. and declared that the
man who would take upon himself to even
announce such step to his meu, would run
er was violently distracted on the point of
capitulation or no capitulation, but ultimate
ly an express was sent of to Rome, to the
minister Of war, announcing that it was re-
solved to defend the town as best they could
and that come what might, the Irish COM
panies were resolved to hold the citadel till
the courier returned, or blow it into frag-
ments. In the morning the Irish, at dawn,
went to mass, and believe every individual
man among them approached Holy Commun-
ion In an hour or two afterwards they were
called upon to meet the foe. The Ssrdinians
poured in through two of the chief streets.
attempting at first nothing of csnnonade,
and evidently confident of carrying the place
against such mere handful Of men at the
bayonet's point. They reckoned rashly; for
hours they were held at bay. Little, Of
course, could be done in the streets by such
small body against 10000 or $4,000 men:
and, at last, pressed on every point, o. Reilly
threw himself into the citadel to make the
last stand for life or death; alone might for
death say-for when the outer gate crashed to,
rs the last wounded but undaunted defender
passed into the quadrangle. there was not a
man in all the little band who cid not feel
that he had taken his stand there to die.
They threw themselves upon the walls, and
from the tattered loopholes rained the leaden
hail with deadly effect upon the besiegers.
But those old walls proved miserable defen-
ces, and the enemy after brief but deadly
struggle of the kind, soon, with cries that
rent the air, dashed at the old gate. A crash,
roar-a petard blows it into frsgm tents.
Then the struggle commenced indeed. In
poured the besiegers into the outer yard,
which should mention does not appear to be-
long to the citadel proper. However, bloody
reception met them there. The Irish had two
guns, loaded with grape, planted inside in
DOSi1lou SAio ShsAohSSt ei~~ ~
sooner were the Picdmontese columns seen
through the smoke of the gateway than
murderous fire was opened, moving them
down literally like corn before the sickle.
Again, again, again the besiegers dashed
through the gate; again, again and again
perfect hail of grapeshot from the two pieces
in the yard, and the musketry from the cita-
del walls behind met them from the Irish in
side; while shouts that would stir many a
heart at home in Ireland, plainly told that
the brave fellows felt but too well the honor
of Ireland was on the awful stake OF the day.
1t was mid day, and the outer yard was still
uncarried, and the citadel itself behind un-
touched; but all this was not fated to last
much longer The piedmontese brought up
q piece or two themselves and after the first
discharge poured en- masse through the gate.
Ny informant asserts that of the heroic
Irishman who fought those guns inside, not
one man escaped. Subsequently, O'Relly and
his men, after further desperate resistance,
surrendered themselves as prisoners OF war.
= Correspondence of the Dublin Ne,cs.