V almonte, wlwe the fourth brigacie, with the cavalry and artillery, was held
in reserve at the latter place. On the morning of the 20th the vanguard
marched on V elletri, but the centre, owing to various obstacles, was
delayed longer than it should have been, and remained too far in the
rear. The ·va-nguard, commanded by Colonel Marochetti, and with
which was G1u-ibaldi, took up a position a mile from V elletri, to await the
rest of the troops, but theNeapolitans did not give them time to come up.
A squadron of cavalry and an infantry column left the town and came to
attack the republicans, but were so warmly received, that they fell back
in spite of their numerical superiority, after losing a large
number in killed and wounded, and leaving several prisoners in the hands
of their advex"Saries. A few hours later the Roman cavalry arrived, and
after them tlh.e third brigade, commanded by Colonel Galetti. The city
waa invested by the republicans, but it was surrounded by a wide and
deep moat, the Neapolitan artillery kept up a brisk fire from the
Capuchin heights, situated above the camp. After a vain attempt at
assault, night put an end the combat.

About two the morning, some volunteers, sent out to reconnoitre,
glided beneath the ramparts. The complete silence that prevailed
astounded them; they climbed the gates, and found the city apparently
deserted. Some laggards were taken prisoners, and soon afterwards the
inhabitants gladly emerged from their houses. They narrated the details
of the sudde'n withdrawal. The Neapolitans had commenced their
retreat, we 11hould say their flight, just after nightfall. The vigorous
pursuit of th.e morning had thrown the troops into such a panic, that no
exhortation could persude them to face once again the terrible Garibaldi.
A pressing dnnger for Ferdinand II. sprang from this refusal, for we are
told that he would have fellen into the hands of his enemies, had he delayed
his retreat for an hour longer. This gallant exploit cost the Romans about
one hundred killed and wounded, and the enemy's loss was much more
considerable. But the principal result of the victory was that, two days
later, the whole N capolitan army had re-crossed the frontiers. Ferdinand
thought to gain an easy victory over the young militia ofthe Republic,
but he only obtained the disgrace of a defeat, in spite of his superiority
of numbers.

Garibaldi set out in pursuit of theNeapolitans, but they fled so hurriedly
that, for all his agility, he could not catch them up. He then re·joined
his column, one half of which returned to Rome, while the other half
proceeded to the provinces of Frosinone of the armed bands of one
Zucchi, a mont zealous adherent of the papal government. The applause

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and blessings which welcomed the soldiers of the Republic, would have

convinc,ed the moat incredulous of the repulsion the pontifi.cial subjects

felt for the government ofthe priestl. At Rocca d'Arco, a strong position,

situated on a scarped mountain, the republicans found, what was far from

usual , that the garrison fled precipitately on their approach, lea ring theroad

atrewnlrith haversacks and great coats. They were no less surprised. to

see that the inhabitant. of the adjoining village had deserted their houses.

Such a want of confidence was an insult to the soldiers, but, owing to

Garibalcli's wise warnings, and the excellent exhor.tations of Father. U go

Bassi, chaplain to the legion, their indignation had no disastrous results

for the place. Not an act of pillage was committed, nor a single door

forced. The men, who were in want of billet., piled their arms, and sat

down in a circle in the market place. Soon, however, the inhabitants,

who hacl retired to the surrounding heights, remarked this admirable
spirit of order and restraint: they at once returned, opened their shops
and houJies, and in a few momenta the village had re-assumed its wonted
activity. The republicana then learned that the flight ·of the good people
was owing to the superstitious fears spread by the Neapolitans.

Pursuing his march with constant successes, and rapidly approaching

the Neapolitan frontier, the Guerillero was apparently meditating the

invasion of that State, where he hoped to arouse a popular insurrec­

tion, when he was recalled to Rome in aU haste.

Dispu1tes, whose real cause it would be a delicate matter to explain.
had kept M. de Leaaeps and General Oudinot estranged almost from their
first interview. Unforttmately for the Roman Republic, this dissension
caused the military man to act in a manner diametrically opposed to the
diplomatist. M. de Lesseps had succeeded in making rather satisfactory
terms with Mauini, when he received information that the government
of the Flrencb Republic had put an end to his mission, and that the troops
were uncler orders to advance at once. With a vigorous protest, M. de
Lesaeps ]left Rome and the operations commenced.

On Jllme 12th, General Roselli asked General Oudinot for a truce of
a few days, that the Romans might have time to act against the Austrians,
who, aftE,r occupying Tuscany, were assembling at Foligno, apparently to
march along the valley of the Tiber and join the Neapolitans by
the routE<S through the Abruzzi. General Oudinot replied on the same
day that the orders of his government were that he should enter Rome as
soon u }I>OBsible. The French army waa composed of three divisions.
The first, commanded by General Begnaud de St. Jean d'A.ngely, was
com}I>Oie<l of two brigades ; the first, composed of four battalions was

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