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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