New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-13

imcultleh 10 an 1nsrrectonary army only tmper'ecty
provided with siege apparatus But holder than last
lime, the Neapolitans no oul yea he for e-s bu,
occupy the town itself. The forts alone the nights
have been abandoned as untenable.
by ketpng tie Town was possible TO concentrate
much larger numl er Of troops than would haze been
OF eIwise possible. Not ony were the garrisoos Of
rgenti, Ca'ara and Cal 4nisea concentrated there
but several thousand men likewise sent from tue
gATTieoD Of Palermo and others from the land, 50
that according 10 all accounts less than from ID 900
to 5000 men must be collected there Beside these
there Uisa garrison of $40 men ~ Melu2I, aud az
intermediate post as a converting link at Gesso.
When the taking of Palermo decided the fac VI the
alter part OF the island and the evacuation of mos
points held 10y the Neapolt,ns followed, TIE d'trics
one after another in their adhesion 10 the Provi
eiCral Government and pat them.elves under it,
orders. The province of Msssina did MT remain be-
ind. Although the capal of the rovince wa, ocsu-
pied by the enemy, and the road TO the west mp 20
Meazzo still accessible 20 him. his power md
influence extended only far his reached and
at the very outskirts OF the positions held by him the
trcolor could be seen more tDan month ago. Imiia
ting the example given by the other provinces, thu
Secret Committee of Messina sttuted itself iutO
permauet committee Of public security choosing for
ts sat Farcelora, only few miles TO the west Of
MelaZ2O. HaviI < given in the adhesion Of the pro-
vince a governor named, with the object Of regu-
biting the government, and at the same tine doing It's
best for the enlistment ard armng Of he population.
In spite Of the difficulties. something has been done
in this espect hu' of this partial effort sss'-
ed could never suffice TO drive the NeapOans from the
positions hich they occupy. Like every where else,
the North Italian element wanting 10 organize and
concentrate these efforts IL was, above all, with THIS
view that the cclunn Of General Me 'ci received the
mission proceed along the northern seashore by Ter
mini and CefslU, AT d that its commander was named
Commander General of the whole province OF Mes
siDa.
While our column made its way through the interior
and that of Brgsdier General Bixo took the southern
shores of the island Medic arrived the IL Inst at
l., 41,a bod nlyy Aafap ad nv
bslforRanized evies in small numbers. Nothing shows
tEe tinidity or want of foresight the part OF the
Neapoitsn commanders at Messina than this sag
ing undisturbed the nucleus Of formation, which
by one rapid march might have been destroyed III all
be true that hear of the garrison OF Messoa this
negligence may have been less the fault OF the con-
MAJ ders than of those who were commanded. There
can be doubt that there are strong symptoms of in
subordnation in the Eeapoltan army, especially
among the officers many of whom, be it said 70 Their
praise begin 10 understand the wre'ched cause which
they are serving. According accounts which may
be trusted there regular division into parties, one,
a very small ore, for the old state of things another
for the constitution and third Italian party co n
prisipg whatever has brsios, heart, and education.
That this state of things calculated 20 raise dscp
line and make the army capable of offensive mose-
mept need scarcely be repeated and should not won
der if it had contributed great deal TO prevent any
operations against Barcelona. | am much the more
inclined to think so as events lately past tend to con-
firm II OIiniOn.
wanting arms and organization, It msttered little
whether they al six sixty miles from Meazzo,
sure might be that they swould never attempt to
undertake anything against that position. The arrival
Of Medici column changed this state of things. In
less than days march his column could gain the main
road beyond MelazzO and thus cut off and isolate ths
advanced post II the Neapolitans stlll in the
uDdjspued poss ssOn of the sea this would be less i'm
IoItsnt for not only could they endaDger all opera
lions against MelaZzo sef but Likewise interrupt the
march of Medicis column aOOg the road close TO the
sea.
you will have heard by telegraph, changed the face of
affairs in this respect The ship had scarcely arrived
Palermo when IL set of on its first cruise, which
suited in the capture of the Duca dAlba and Elb4
steamers with troops and money for Sicily According
10 accounts brought by the last French steamer from
Naples the example of the VelOce iJ likely 10 he fol
lowed by Others while t has destroyed the illusion Of
the NapoaDs that they undsputed masters of the
sea- Thus the frigate RulmiDaBte received orders the
other day 10 escort wO French merchant full
OF troops TO Messna. When the moment of departure
arrived the off and crew went on shore protesting
that they would net escort expedition aglins. their
own brothers 1t was replaced by another crew which
made the same protest.
The twOsteamers eft. therefore, without escort but
although under the French flag they returned a f.
hours ateIwaId the commanders declaring that they
would not expose themselves 20 being captured sunk
by The V.loce.
With this deposition Of the Neapoltan feet and
with the column of Medic so close at hand it was
necessary to "a Ike resolution, and as Medci
arIrosch was known a discussion arose about what
was to lie done. The commander Cary see ns to have
been Of opinion that helaZzo shoul be LEFT 10 its fate
and The defer concentrated 20 hold Mes3Da. Colonel
Bosco, a SiCilan, who among those wh) came
from Palermo, and some others, for seudng ont
movable column 10 me t the column of Medic. Al
ready on the 10Th this view triumphed, and The column
was 10 have left the next morning at d4gD but when
on the point Of leaving, order Of Gen raj Clay
stopped it departure. There was anOth-r council Of
war In c0DseQu nee of hich the column comDosed of
five b4ttahoDs Of riemen some lanceTs and battery
Of field artillery left the morning of The 18th inst
al daw n under the command of Co Ouel Is ,sco Ie4v
ing battalion 20 gOard the position of Geese the
rest Of the column, about 600 men in all, proceeded
Oh the same day FAR SptdaforI and arrived the
EFT day-that ia, the l5th-in the DeighbOrhO)d Of
Melaz2O. Mtdici having advanced from Bir,eona
had taken mp bis position at Mir little hamlet close
to Of the email mountain torrents called the Santa
Lucia with MS OutDOss where the branch 70 I'd 10
Helgzzo strikes the ain road At the enemy's ad-
vance be drew back bis ogtposs and took up his poi
ton al Mini, along the river bank. The enemy fol-.
lowed but not thinking it wise 10 attack, he with
drew, and took mp bis position on the River NDn,O
which as the point Of intersection of the two roads
behind il.
This the stae Of things on the 10Th in the even
ing. Since then there have been rlmors of an en-
counter, which, bO viewer, have hitherto not beeu
verified. These rumors natural when tRO hostile
columns are so close 10 each other but don't think
I at anything csD take place 40 spOn. The Neapo-
iians il they really had any other obj than 10 make
q demonstration and recon- aissance toward MsazzO
have mssed their opportunity, for to-day Cozens with
at lssst one part OF his meD must be up ADD have
iOiped Medici. In one two days more the rest will
have joined likewise and then it will be time for the
NeapOltaus 10 withdraw and hasten back The mona
tar r. although high and without roads offer 10 OBJ
stace TO the march Of light troops like ours, esueiay
in summer time snd bold move wOud BE- suf ient
to comproms the retreat of the Neap oltan cou mn TO
Mpesina IL ie probable 10 provide for such case