LIFB OJ' G.lBIB.&.LDI.
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
izedbyGooglc