The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-06-27
Scene of Garibaldi's Operations.

Those of our readers who have good map
of Sicily (says the Journal of Commerce)
will do we'll to consult it whilst perusing the
following notice of the country around Pa
lermo, and between that city and Trapani and
Marsha. They will then have pretty good
idea Of the scene Of Garibaldis operations
This description of that part of Sicily was
published in the Paris Monteur, and is relia
BILE and exact:
"From Marsala two roads lead towards Pa
lermo; one in good repair, following the coast
on the north to Trspani, and from Trapani
turning suddenly to the east by Mount San
Julana, crosses the degles to Catalafina, re-
descends towards the sea through Alcamo,
and then proceeds right along the splendid
valley Of Palermo. A second road, less care
fully attended to, goes from Marsha 10 Gala
tafimi Marsala only possesses small port,
and rosdstead not very deep; on the land
side it is defended by old walls fanked with
square towers. 1t is clear that troops disem-
barking at Marsha an open town, on low
shore, could not intend to remain there an
hour If the Neapolitan troops had intended
to hold the country, they would only have
had tc guard the degles, which lead to Calata
fimi and, in that case even if the insurgents
had possessed numerous artillery and regu-
lar troops, they could not have advanced more
than five miles interior. As the Neapolitans
did not defend the defile of Calatafimi, they
abandoned voluntarily or forcedly all the wes-
tern part of the Island. No obstacle pre-
venting the insurgents from presenting them
selves before the latter town, any offensive re-
turn from Palermo was impossible, or at least
very dangerous. The insurgents possessing
Calatatimi are masters Of Trapani, Marsha
Mazzara, Castet NetTano, and even Sciacca-
But let US examine an instant this western
part Of the island. Alcamo is a town Situa-
ted on plateau in the midst OF plain; it
was formerly an Arab establishment as its
name indicates, and is well chosen to com
mand several little ports, of which the near
est and most important is named MagaZinaZ-
| 20. From Palermo to Alcamo is rather more
than twenty-fOur miles, and from Alcamo to
Calatatimi about eight To go from Palermo
to Alcamo we follow one of the most admira-
bic valleys Of Sicily, in which are olive trees
centuries old, and groves of orange and citron
trees. But on passing the height which clos
es the valley to the south the scene suddenly
changes, and the approach to Alcamo is
through arid mountains. Then, entering deep
gorges we arrive at Catalafmi, town not of
ten thousand inhabitants, as stated in the
newspapers, but of four or five thousand
The town, which is of wretched aspect, is
dominated by castle now quite in ruins
From this castle an extraordinary country is
seen, the land and rocks being in confusion, as
| If tossed about by some terrible earthquake
| The Neapoiitans ought to have defended these
parts, but not having done so, they have left
| great advantage to the gueriilas. The latter,
| in fact, without leaving the mountain can sur
round Palermo, either by going to Bagaria, on
| the east, or in turning Monreale and occupy
| ing the donte Pellegrimo to the west they
can command the solitary plains Of MARSHA
and Mazzara; can possess themselves Of
Mount San Juliano, which dominates Trapa-
nj can cut off all communication by land be-
tween the town and Palermo, and can cause
the inhabitants of Trapani to suffer dreadful
ly from thirst by destroying the only aque
duct which conveys them water from Mount
San Juliano. If the insurgents be numerous
they can besides reach the rich valleys of Cas-
tel Vetrano and Campo Bello to the south
and the towns of Termini and Cefalu on the
on the north coast The place of disembark.
alton of Garibaldi's band was chosen with SC
much intelligence as to cause US to suppose
that he and his lieutenants will profit by all
the advantages which the nature of the coun.
try affords. Trapani is pretty town former
ly fortified, and has a sort of citadel which
commands the port. If it were not for the
want of water, the town could easily be de
Tended on the land side, as it IS only united
to the plain by tongue Of land cut by sal
| marshes From Calatafirni tn Tranini tht
road winds through irregular hills and OF
this road length Of eighteen miles, there il
not house, not tree, not shrub. At ;
distance Of two or three miles from palermo
and all other great towns there is scarcely
any trace of cultivation. The inhabitants ar
so borne down by taxes on all they produc
that they abandon the soil, though it is per
haps the most fertile in Italy, and the pea
SAINTS contriye to live on handful of pulls
daily"