New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-25
THE BATTLE OF MTNTASA.

AT llt a. OF the 81 OF tiio
march of the Volunteer Corps from Monte Rotondo
to Tiyo Two battalions of Gonoese Carbineers COM
manded by Major Burando formed tho vanguard,
followed by the engineers; next came the Mssori
Battalion, the Valsania Regiment the artillery, the
ambulance, the Fngcri Regiment, Salamone's Regi-
ment bringing up the rear-some 5000 men in all:
Three battalions commanded by Col Paggi' occupied
the Manelia2 and enc Se. commanded ~ S2
TO f their distance from the field At a m, 1900 Pa
pal soldiers issued from Rome crossed Ponte Nanen-
lana on the Teverone, and marched straight on Men
tana and attacked our van Just mile from the town
At the first shot Gen. Garibadi who entered the VII
LACE al that moment ordered me 20 advance with tho
van aud occupy the strongest position, that could
find. nj once placed company on the mound TO
tine right of the road, and another opposite on tue
left to sustain our van. Gal1bald coming up took
up his position in house situate between. the two
mounds, then ordered Major Cauzlo and myself to
reinforce the right. With the exception OF the
reserve left outside the village Of Montana, all our
forces were engaged. Our two pieces Of artillery,
posted on the left OF Montana, replied to the
cncmy's artillery. Meanwhile the Papal vanguard
advanced vigorously, aud compelled us TO fall back
on the right and lclt OF Montana, and 10 occupy the
surrounding mounds. On this Caibaldi sounded the
bayonet charge along the enernys, front, ana the
order was promptly obeyed with such ygor that all
our former positions were rotakcl ana Inc enemy
heat lasty retreat and one by one abandoned tho
hill, in front. then summoned three Of our reserve
battalons, and led them 20 our extreme lett guiding
them 20 the GcChylty OF hill on the night Hank ot
left. Two mountain pieces molGsted but diu not
hinder this movement. Already the foremost com
pancs Of the Nsi battali0ns were engaged when the
enemy rCappeaTcd IL triple force along our Inc Ihey
were the French regiments and OF once engaged
our extreme right. They amounted 20 GOO.
The fight lasted above an hour The oyerpowerng
numbers, our want Of ammunition, their Lhassenot
guns compelled 10 fall back on tho road that leads
from Montana 10 Monte RotOndo. Encouraged by
the active Intervention Of tho French, the IapI
troops took heart, and recommended the attack
along oil our line and the order was given for the
Volunteers 10 retreat. sun corps OF Volunteers,
under Salamonc, continued the combat ia the village
Of Montana, sustained by the three battelons had
led 10 the front. IL was now - o'clock. The French,
whom We nnstook for Antibon from their uniform.
occupying the nights which We had been Obliged 10
abandon. poured death aud destruction on Us until
within half o mile Of Monte Rotondo
Arrived at Monte ROt0ndo, Garbaldi caused the
strong position of the Cappuciui 20 BE- occupied and
the enemy Immediately presented himself on the
right aud left Of the city.
hG n9ie ad 10 b aaSn and nd with
the naked eye We distinguished the encinys move
ments who, after half an hours sharp firing retired.
In the evening GaTibaldi having assured himself Of
the overwhelming forces Of the enemy, the certainty
OF being shut up in Monte RotOndO and the failure of
ammunition, gathered round him his various corps,
and in perfect order commanded and led the retreat
to PassO CaIcse which retreat was elected during
the night. Our wounded and dead amounted TO $50;
those of tho enemy were far more numerous.
When we rctook our lost positions at the bayonets
point In front OF Mentana-wh hen the victory was
ours but for the arrival Of the FTcnchl saw lying
round three haysacks at least 10 Zouaves, wounded
who cried rs approached, Ne nous fuey pas shall
not attempt TO name all Of our officers who most dis
tinpshed themselves; all the members of the stalf
and Of headquarters led the different companies 10
ne bayonet Gha G GagnGt hhowever I2ss over
Capt Guonguoli, Lugli, wounded, Major Cauzio,
GuerZOni, deputy Berzzi wounded Capt Lanetti
and AdamOli. Among the commanders OF cOrpS, Col.
Menotti Garibaldi MissOn, Ella Majors Nisi and
Vantilli. These name as beheld their rare bravery
with my own eyes-nOr must my mcaRcr account be
taken fair narration. ] speak only as an eye
witness When the retreat began, Gen Garibaldi,
from PalazzO Plombino ordered me 70 sec that the
battalons Ggl and Bemer formed the rear and
that no one should be left behind IN Monte otondo;
at the same time he sent messengers TO our troops
at MaTellina and 1yol 10 retreat. Then he mounted
on horseback and bid me guard the carriage placed
at his service by q citizen OF Monte ROtondo
At 3! p ~ we gained Passo Oh Carese, and took pos
session of the little inn which he first occupied in the
Papal territory. Col Raya of the regular army, one
Of his own officers in 1900 now eommander OF regi-
ment of TenadicTs, came TO visit HIM and bring him
some food, and between them they arranged the con-
signment of the arms on the mOTrowi the soldiers
were TO hand over their muskets the officers to re-
tain sword, TevOlyers, and their own horses Carl
baldi, used TO defeat 10 victory, was rs calp nj
that hour as on the eve of victory. At Monte Ro-
tondo MS at Passo Carese his own idea 10 fight
tho enemy TO the last to sustain siege IN
with q handful Of braves and join Paga at
Marcena, Pianciani at Tiyoli. But his friends
who had stood with him throughout, opposed this
desperate resolve to reach Rome allye or dead. And
he, ever imperdtOr among his own, bowed his head
for the ilrst time 10 their imperious entreaties,
recognized their devotion, and gave way, and with
them foot crossed the bridge. Gen. Gabrizzi, who
even more than the rest insisted on this sacrifice,
remained TO the last the Papal territory TO assist
the dying struggles OF the corps Of volunteers.
The "rOyal' Col. CaTaTa put special train at
GaribadTs service. Before crossing the bridge he
said to me: You will that they will arrest me-"
ALBERTO MARIO,
Ex-Vice- Chief Of Garibaldi's staff.
On the appearance Of this French battalion, our
soldiers fired few chance shots, then the terms Of
the capitulatiOn were made known and the VOlun-
teers OF the castle declared free later 70 De accom-
panied by q French company to CaTese. On this the
french soldiers rushed on our muskes TO break them
in pieces-smal loss when we consider that their
Chassepots distributed just 20 days before at Lyons
fire eight OF ten shots a minute.
Our surgeon here records the ready help received
from tho French surgeons IN indicating the wounded
the refusal OF French officer TO permit the transport
considering them as prisoners Of war. Even those
already carried To the French ambulance would be
sent TO Rome. so would these DO later In the day.
While awaited the return Of messenger to
Monte ROtondO group Of officers round mo told ma
mat the fapal ana French troops in all amounted 10
l5O; that they bad Is cannon and had sent for re-
endorsements that Monte Rotondo was 10 be Mt
finished IN order 20 avoid boodshed and they urged
me TO do what could TO reduce the massacre to the
minimum. when the officer returned from Monte
ROtOnd0 and told me that the French were magters
OF the town j breathed freely. Garibaidi's re-
treat had been secured he had not allowed
French and Papal insoencee the satisfac-
ton Of surrounding, couquerng DESTROYING ma
Great was the modification Of the General Command.
ing the first brigade Of the First Division Of tho
corps Of operation. To messenger sent FROM Careso
10 ask lin 10 give us our wounded. he replied that
tho wounded were better of IL our hands than ia the