LIFE OF GARIBALDI.
had hitherto occupied it, to remove his head quarters to the Villa Spada,
the French troops made a fresh attempt to force their way into the city,
but a combat that lasted several hours, they were repulsed. The
...,..,_ alone, in this action, killed four hundred of the Romans. And yet,
the aefenders of the Republic were convinced that they were sustaining
pedutpa, of a few hours. Hence, they could have no other mQtive than
of ending gloriously !
At tw'l) A..ll. on June 30th, the definitive assault on the city came oft".
Fa:.-oured by the darkness, and the weakness of the advanced pos&s, the
FreDell in three close columns the various breaches formed in
the wall, and rushed into the midst of the Roman encampment. Con
fued eries, the roll ofthe drum. and appeal to arms, ..,..... heard on every
side. advanced to the sound of a popular hymn, sword in hand:
the most determined followed him, but the rest, terrified by the sudden
ness of the attack, remained behind. The French had already carried a
'barricade built before the Villa Spada : encouraged by the example of
their lea.der, the Romans formed and charged, and the barricade waa
alter:aatdy won and lost amid horn"ble carnage. At daybreak the com
bat beea:me general at all points, and was maintained for several hours.
A fi11&1 charge at the bayonet's point, repulsed the French beyond their
secoud line ; but it was the last effort of despair, and exhausted all the
remaining strength of the Romans. On July 2nd, 1849, Garibaldi sent
an aide-cie-eamp to the Assembly, to announce that any longer resistance
wu · Th e triumvirate resigned their power, and the municipal
authorities unde,rtook to trent with General Oudinot.