ASCENDANCY OF THE BERTANI PARTY. 273

CHAPTER XXVI.

NAPLES, Sept. 30.

THE incessant intrigue and change of ministry is ending in the triumph of the Bertani party. Their chief, on being made secretary to the Dictator, proved too powerful for the immediate annexationists, but in all probability he will drive matters too hard and outdo himself.

Altogether we have a lull here, both in the civil and military world, and all eyes are turned towards the north, and the operations of the Piedmontese.

In the Government Gazette of the 21st, I find Alexander Dumas has been diverting himself in the royal preserves at Capo di Monte. It is currently reported that he is more fit for killing pheasants than presiding over public works. Of course you will all be rabid in England at his appointment, but at the same time it is as well to remember we have had mountebanks before now in our own Government.

Several northland wanderers have arrived here lately, together with a large importation of the demi

S

274

PEACEFUL PROSPECTS.

monde. Every morning they all go out by rail to the advance posts to be ready for any business that may turn up. This train is for the use of those belonging to the army who have been in Naples during the night, and has since been dubbed the "fighting train" by a mighty huntress who visited the outposts lately.

By the by, you told me to ask Garibaldi who was his authorised financial agent in England. He said Mr Ashurst of the Old Jewry. Either your subscriptions in England don't amount to much, or they have not found their way out here. I only hope the Legion will not come; the matter is pretty nearly over. We may have a pitched battle, but it will not be of Garibaldi's seeking, though I must say I should like him to wind up with a crowning victory, if it were only to blood the new levies for next spring. Piedmont will do all the work north of Volturno, and coming down in their rear, force them to fall back on the Garigliano and Gaeta; besides, this is not the place for Englishmen. One of the great features of this army is its sobriety. I have never seen or heard of a Garibaldian the worse for liquor, consequently discipline is easy. What our countrymen would be, under the great temptations of a cheap wine country, is not quite so certain.

On the 20th, the regiment Vachieri, 650 strong, was

NEAPOLITANS PREPARE TO RETAKE CAJAZZO. 275

sent off to Cajazzo to reinforce Catabene's small force of 300 riflemen, who were holding the town, and whose position was somewhat perilous. Gudafo had crossed the Volturno at Paglianello, and gained the mountains beyond, but was obliged to take up a position at Piedimonte, as a considerable force had been sent in this direction to check his advance. On Catabene's approach on the 18th, the Neapolitan column abandoned the town of Cajazzo, and fell back in the direction of Capua; but on learning the small force to which they were opposed, returned and endeavoured to retake the town. They only succeeded in driving the Garibaldians from a position outside, but Catabene took some prisoners, and altogether had the best of it; the Regi retired to wait for their reinforcements and renew the assault the next day. On the morning of the 21st, an order arrived to hold the town, unless attacked by a very superior force-one of those orders which removes the responsibility from the giver, but obliges the receiver to stand the consequences of whatever may result, and which requires a very brave man indeed to solve by not fighting.

Catabene, of course, barricaded the town, and determined to make the best possible defence he could. His own battalion consisted almost entirely of " Adolescenti"-youths of about sixteen or seventeen years of age, some younger. It has been found, both here

276

THE "ADOLESCENTI."

and in Lombardy last year, that in many cases they fight better than older troops. At their time of life enthusiasm has not degenerated into calculation—they know nothing, and consequently fear nothing. They are special favourites of Garibaldi, who has an immense idea of these young troops, in which he sees the foundation of the million of armed men he wishes to raise in Italy. How his confidence was justified will be seen from the way they fought.

At daylight the Neapolitans, who had come up from the village of Piana on the Capua road, were seen massed on the skirts of the royal preserve of Larzano. The amount of force to be employed was ludicrous-it could not have been less than 12,000 men and a numerous artillery; and prudence would have counselled Catabene to retire, as successful resistance was comparatively hopeless. However, such is the profound contempt for their adversaries amongst the Garibaldians, that I believe if the whole Neapolitan army had been coming they would have resisted. After all, it is this consciousness of superiority that has brought them here from Palermo. From paucity of numbers and want of artillery the defence was necessarily confined to the town itself, though about a quarter of a mile out of it are two convents admirably situated to oppose an attack from the direction of Capua.

STUBBORN RESISTANCE.

277

At noon the Regi advanced their first column of 5000 or 6000 men and 8 guns, two of which played on the barricade at the entrance of the main street, and the remainder shelled the town. The contest for the barricades at the entrance lasted, with little intermission, for four hours. It seems absurd that musketry could make such a defence, but the position was of great strength, every house being a fortress in itself. Had the defenders possessed two or three howitzers, they would have defied all attempts; but they were obliged also to provide for their retreat, which was threatened by another column.

Catabene and 200 men having fallen, and ammunition becoming scarce, the Garibaldians retired through the woods at the back of the town on the river, where two companies and a couple of howitzers had been sent to cover their final retreat. Wounded and dead were alike obliged to be left on the ground. Only 73 out of the 200 were found in the hospital at Capua, amongst them their leader—the rest had died fighting.

Though the prestige gained by this sturdy combat could not fail to promote the best results, one could not help wishing that these generous youths had poured out their life-blood for a more tangible result. If Cajazzo was to be disputed, a sufficient force should