LIFB OF G.l.BIB.lLDI.
33
of infantry and a battalion of apied; the second of a r egiment
of mounted chn.aaeura and a regiment of dragoons. The second division,
commanded by General Boatolan, was formed of two brigades, earh of
two infantry rE1gimenta ; while the third brigade, commanded by General
Gueawiller wa:s also composed of four infantry regimente. The engi
neers, with rn: companies of aappers, . were under General Vaillant.
The artillery, of four field and one siege batteries, was directed by
General Thierry. Somewhat later, the army was reinforced by four regi
ments of infantry, one 12-pounder battery, a company of aappera and
one of pontomliers. General Oudinot had then under his orders forty
four infantry battallions, eight squadrons of cavalry, thirty-six field-guns
and thirty siege-guus; altogether about 36,000 men of all apna, with
sixty pieces of artillery.
The Romans had seventeen battalliona of regular infantry, amounting
to 9,400 men; 6,600 irregular infantry, divided into twelve corps; 890
cavalry ; 1370 miners, aappers and artillerymen; forming a total, with the
atafF and hol}>ital train, of 18,670 men; and of whom 16,465 were
Romans, 1875 Italians, and 828 foreigners. There were in Rome 108
guns, of which eleven were of heavy calibre, thirty-four of average
calibre, and fifty-two light field-pieces, about eleven howitzers, and not
a single mortar·. Of this artillery, more than thirty pieces were unfit for
service, and twenty others in a bad condition. Such were the forces to
defend Rome, 'whose walls are twenty miles in circuit.
According to a communication from General Oudinot, either badly un
derstood, or not quite clear, the Romans did not expect the attack till the
4th of June at the earliest, but it took place on the 3rd. On Sunday, at
three in the morning, the Roman picquete at the Pamphili and Corsini
Villas, outside the San Pancrazio Gate, were surrounded while asleep and
made prisoners by two French battalliona. A.t the same time, in an oppo
site direction, IL French brigade surprised Ponte Molle, where it met a
Yigorous, thoUErh useless resistance. A.a on April :JOth, the bella almost
immediately ga.ve the alarm signal, and the drums called to arms. The
people hurried to the baatious ; Garibaldi's legion and the brave band of
Lombard Volunteers, rushing to the gatea, soon found themselves vigor
ously engaged in a desperate struggle. Thrice were the contested poai·
tions taken and lost. Though greatly inferior innumbers, and unable, like
the French, to bring up fresh reserves, the Romans auatained the battle for
sixteen hours. Both friend and foe agreed in recognising that Garibaldi
displayed the moat heroic courage during this terrible combat. At one
moment a battalion to a bayonet charge, at another rushing to
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