llUE 01' G.llUll..t.LDI.
CHAPTER V.
Gnribaldi's Volunteers-Attack on the Neapolitans-The Battle of Vellctri-Fligh t
of the Xing-Rocca d'A.rco-M. de Lesseps-Advance of the Fren<:h-Thc
Final Attack on Rome.
THE Jtomans; having the Austrians still some diStance off, and disdain
ing to fight the Spaniards, who were marching upon Upper Umbria,
deliberated about attacking the Neapolitans, who, 20,000 strong, under
the command of the kiug, were advancing on Rome. Garibllldi, with a
small corps oflight troops, amounting to 3,000 or 4,000 men, was ordered
to recot1noitre their positions. He halted first at Palestrina, and, in
conformity with his favourite system, sent detachments in every direc
tion to explore the country. Cntting their way through the villages
occupied by the eapolitans, putting their detachments to flight, and
taking n:umy prisoners, the Romans acquitted themselves to the satisfac
tion of chief in their first trial of this novel mode of warfare.
Garibal(Li confidently awaited the morrow, foreseeing that a division of
?',000 encamped at Palestrina would advance to attack him. His
hopes were not deceived ; on the morning of May 9th, the Neapolitans
were seen to be marching in good order on the Romans, bnt they had
hardly come into collision than they broke their ranks, and, despite their
great numerical superiority, in less than three hours were entirely de
feated. This easy victory wa principally attributed to the terror the
name of Garibaldi inspired in the Neapolitans; prisoners confessed
that he was generally Pnpposed to be a devil, and not a man. Ever.r
thing in the superstition of this people contributed to favour such an
absurd ildea; and the scarlet tunic, worn by the and his
legionaries, was regarded as an em'blem of the alliance with the powers
, of darlmess.
We already given a portrait of Garibaldi as drawn by Pisacani;
here ie another, extracted from a work specially devoted to the Guerillero,
and whic!h relates to the period of which we are now writing :
" Of middle height, with deep chest, and large shoulders, Garibaldi is
cast in a mould of iron, combining activity with strength. There is
u. i zedbyGooglc
