Two Years in the Pontifical Zouaves; a narrative of travel, residence, and experience in the Roman States, etc

Front matter

%ba §ws h i\t pontifical %amh&. Front. ROCKY CHASM NEAR ACQUAPENDENTE . TWO YEARS IX THE PONTIFICAL ZOUAVES, A NARRATIVE OF TRAVEL, RESIDENCE, AND EXPERIENCE IX THE ROMAN STATES. BY JOSEPH POWELL, Z.P. Anima mia, anima mia, Ama Dio e tira via. Motto of Julian Watts-Russell. LONDON: R. WASHBOURNE, 18a, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1871. [ Tlie Copyright is Reserved.'] TO THE HON. AND VERY REV. MONSIGNOR STONOR, THE ENERGETIC, DEVOTED CHIEF CHAPLAIN OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING ZOUAVES, THhis aHark is glcsprctfulin IJtbicatfcb, AS A PROOF OF THE SINCERITY OF THE WRITER'S ATTACHMENT TO THE GRAND CAUSE OF OUR HOLY FATHER, PIUS IX., TO THE ETERNAL CITY, AND TO THE PONTIFICAL ZOUAVES. SONG OF THE ENGLISH ZOUAVES. " Anima mia, anima mia, Ama Dio e tira via." Saint George and old England for ever ! Once more her sons arm for the fight, With the cross on their breasts, to do battle For God, Holy Church, and the right.

Twine your swords with the palm branch, brave comrades, For as Pilgrims we march forth to-day ; — Love God, 0 my soul, love Him only, And then with light heart go thy way. We come from the blue shores of England, . From the mountains of Scotia we come, From the green, faithful island of Erin, — Par, far, from our wild northern home. Place Saint Andrew's red cross in your bonnets, Saint Patrick's green shamrock display ; — Love God, O my soul, love Him only, And then with light heart go thy way. Dishonour our swords shall not tarnish, We draw them for Rome and the Pope ; Victors still, whether living or dying, For the Martyr's bright crown is our hope ; If 'tis sweet for our country to perish, Sweeter far for the cause of to-day ; — Love God, 0 my soul, love Hi*m only, And then with light heart go thy way.

Though the odds be against us, what matter 2 While God and Our Lady look down, And the Saints of our country are near us, And Angels are holding the crown. March, march to the combat and fear not, A bight round our weapons will play ; — Love God, O my soul, love Him only, And then with light heart go thy way.

Preface

. These pages are principally the work of an old Zouave, and are founded on letters and notes written in Rome and the Pontifical States. These suggested to me the idea which has resulted in the present book ; at the same time I am greatly indebted to W. C. Robinson, Esq., Z.P., both for the stimulus he has given me to carry out my idea, and for the valu able and interesting matter he has generously sent me, and which I have used in these pages, on " Life in Detachment at Bolsena," "Visit to Subiaco," " Siege of Rome," and the following chapter. I am also much indebted to Captain De la Hoyde, for his kindness in furnishing me with notes on the early history of the Corps, and the later events in connection with it. Next, I must acknowledge my obligations to the ' Tablet ' for much valuable in formation on the events and victories of 1867, related in the first four chapters.

Again, "Rome, its Churches," by Rev. W. H. Neligan, M.A., has been largely quoted in reference to the churches and monuments mentioned. Preface. X Some other works made use of will be mentioned in notes. I am indebted to " Personal Recollections of Rome," by W. J. Jacob, Esq., Z.P., for a description of the opening of the Vatican Council, and to some other kind friends for assistance. The title has been chosen as the most appropriate to the idea which originated the work, and because I belonged for two years to the Corps ; but the period of the principal events related extends over upwards of three years. Although the principal part of the book will be found to refer to the Zouaves, yet many subjects incidental to this Corps, and to a residence in Rome and the Roman States, have been introduced.

As the work may be considered one of travel and ex perience related in letters and notes, it is necessarily somewhat fragmentary in its character ; but this feature will, I hope, meet with indulgence at the hands of its readers, who may be asked to pardon the faults of a novice, now appearing in print for the first time. Much care has been taken to compare dates, narra tives, and statements of fact, and I trust that those given will be found generally correct. The miles spoken of are Roman — a Roman mile consists of 1000 paces, or 1611 English yards — thus twelve R.oman miles are nearly equal to eleven English. To the Corps to which I had the honour to belong, I beg to submit this work, hoping that it will meet with approval at the hands of my comrades in arms, and that the recital of some of the heroic deeds which Preface.

XI have so much adorned the history of the Zouaves, may not be unacceptable to the general body, and particularly to its English and Irish members. The many friends and well-wishers of the Corps will, I hope, feel an interest in the details here sub mitted to them. To the general public I hope that the work may prove to be interesting, first, because the subject of the Pontifical Zouaves lays claim to a general interest on account of the courage and heroism they have displayed, not only in the Roman States, but also during the late disastrous war in France, where they have singularly proved their real discipline and organisation. Secondly, because the variety of sub jects introduced may have an interest for many classes of readers. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAOE I. ORIGIN AND EARLY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CORPS — VICTORIES OF 1867 . 1 II.

SECRET SOCIETIES OF THE CONTINENT — CRITICAL STATE OF ROME — COURAGE OF AN IRISHMAN — CAPTAIN DE LA HOYDE ON MENTANA . 15 HI. GENERAL KANZLER'S REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF MENTANA ADDRESSED TO THE POPE 25 IV. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE BATTLE — MGR. DUPANLOUP ON THE VICTORIES — DE QUELEN AND DUFOURNEL — EVIDENCE OF THE DISPOSITIONS OF THE ROMANS — CARDINAL DONNET ON THE POPE — HEROISM OF A LADY .... 35 V. JOURNEY TO ROME — ENGAGEMENT IN THE ZOUAVES — LIFE IN THE DEPOT — EASTER IN ROME — DISCI- PLINE OF THE CORPS . . . . 45 VI. FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI — AT MONTE ROTONDO — PROMENADE TO MONTE LIBRETTI — LIFE IN THE COMPANY AT CECCANO — PIPERNO 57 VII. MARCH TO THE CAMP OF ANNIBAL — ROCCA DI PAPA — LIFE IN CAMP — LAKE NEMI CA VIII. RETURN TO ROME — LIFE AT THE SORA — MONTI AND TOGNETTI . . . . . 72 IX.

IN HOSPITAL — LIFE IN ROME AT THE CASERMA DEL GESU — THE VATICAN — ST. PETER'S . 81 X. SANTA SABINA — FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH — JUBILEE OF THE HOLY FATHER — ST. GEORGE Contents. XIV PAGE CHAPTER MARCH TO MONTEFIASCONE — LAGO DI VICO — BEAU- TIFUL SCENERY — FEAST OF SS. PETER AND PAUL IN ROME — LIFE AT MONTEFIASCONE XI. 09 THEORY — BOLSENA AND THE MIRACLE OF THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT — ACQUAPENDENTE — FEAST OF SANTA CHRISTINA — LIFE IN DETACHMENT AT BOLSENA ...... XII. 108 FEAST OF ST. ROSE AT VITERBO — BOATING EXCUR- SION ON LAKE BOLSENA — EXCURSION TO ORTE, CD7ITA CASTELLANA, SORIANO XIII. 119 RETURN TO ROME — AT SAN MICHELE — TARGET FIRING ...... XIV. 125 132 XV. XVI. THE OPENING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE VATICAN . CHRISTMAS — PASTORAL MUSIC — A FEW WORDS ABOUT LEAVING THE CORPS — SANT' ' ANDREA DELLA VALLE — CONFESSION IN ST. PETER'S 141 THE " WEEK " IN THE ZOUAVES — PARADE — COR- PORAL OF THE WEEK — THE EXHIBITION OF CHRISTIAN ART — SANT' ONOFRIO — SANTA PUDEN- TIANA AND SANTA PRASSEDE — PRÆTORIAN CAMP XVI*. 146 XVII.

LIFE AT SANTA GALLA AS CORPORAL — CHURCH OF SAN MARTINO Al MONTI — OF SANT' AGNESE — "VERSEMENT" . . . . . 156 XVIII. DIARY DURING HOLY WEEK — BASILICA OF ST. JOHN LATERAN — EASTER FESTIVITIES . 161 170 XIX. XX. XXI. THE VIA APPIA, COLUMBARIA, AND CATACOMBS 181 VISIT TO TIVOLI DIARY CONTINUED — BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN — SANTA CROCE — CONGE . 190 XXII. THE COLISEUM — CHURCHES ON THE CŒLIAN, ETC. — THE CAPITOL — ARA CŒLI — ROMAN FORUM ARCH OF TITUS — ST. SEBASTIAN 194 THE PANTHEON — COLUMNS — OBELISKS— AQUEDUCTS 208 xxm. XXIV. THE KIRCHERIAN MUSEUM — CHURCHES OF S. MARIA IN TRASTEVERE, SAN PIETRO IN MONTORIO, AND THE GESU — CAMPO SANTO AND TOMB OF JULIAN WATTS-RUSSELL . Contents. XV CHAPTER PAGE XXV. REMARKS ON THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF PLACES VISITED NEAR ROME . . . . 222 XXVI. RETURN TO ENGLAND — VOYAGE— MARSEILLES — PARIS — BOULOGNE — LONDON, ETC. 232 XXVII.

THE ZOUAVES AT MONTEFIASCONE — THE MASTERLY RETREAT OF LIEUT. -COLONEL DE CHARETTE 243 EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER, 1870 — DIARY OF A ZOUAVE OFFICER DURING THE SIEGE OF ROME — COMBAT OF SERGEANT SHEE WITH ITALIAN LANCERS — THE CAPITULATION — A LADY UNDER FIRE — ASSASSINATION OF A ZOUAVE OFFICER — BRAVE CONDUCT OF GENTLEMEN RETURNING TO THE CORPS . XXVIII. 254 XXIX, THE SIEGE FROM ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW — FARE- WELL OF THE ZOUAVES TO THE HOLY FATHER — THEIR RETURN HOME — ITALIAN SOLDIERS AND IRRELIGION IN THE ITALIAN ARMY 270 XXX. VISITORS TO ROME — A SAD INCIDENT — ORGANISA- TION AND DISCIPLINE . 283 XXXI. THE USURPATION — THE POPE A PRISONER— FRANCE — LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY, CONSOLA- TION, HEROISM — CONCLUSION ERRA.TA. Page 72, chapter line, for "Toqnetti" read " Tognetti." „ 110, line 32, for "in charming country'' read "in a charming country." „ 132, line 26, for " 2000 bishops" read " upwards of 800 bishops." ,, 200, ,, 12, for " Cominius" read " Cominus." „ 201, „ 28,/or"Sybil"r^-^Sjbyl."

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. rocky chasm near ACQUAPENDENTE . Frontispiece BAGNOREA page 110 LAKE OF BOLSENA . ... . . . „ 120 TIVOLI — LE CASCATELLE „ The Author has received for his work the warmest encourage ment and best wishes of the Hon. and Very Kev. Mgr. Stonor, of the Earl of Denbigh, and of Major W. F. Gordon. He also begs to acknowledge, with thanks, the support of the distinguished names which follow : — Most Rev. the Lord Archbishop of Westminster. Most Rev. the Lord Archbishop of Cashel. Hon. and Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Clifton. Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Brisbane. Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Northampton. Right Rev. the Lord Bishop or Southwark. Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Ross. Right Hon. the Lord Herries. Right Hon. the Lady Camoys. Right Hon. the Lord Petre. Very Rev. Dr. Northcote.

Very Rev. Dr. Williams, Prior Park. Very Rev. Dr. Kirner. Very Rev. Father E. I. Purbrick, Stonyhurst College. Very Rev. F. Crane, Provincial O.S.A., Dublin. Very Rev. Rector, Clongowes Wood College, Kildare. Very Rev. Rector, S. Stanislaus' College, Tullamore. Very Rev. Rector, Carlow College, Ireland. Very Rev. President, S. Vincent's College, Castleknock, Dublin. Very Rev. Canon Moore, Sedgley Park. Very Rev. Father Prior, Woodchester, Stroud. Very Rev. F. Peter Mackey, Woodchester. Very Rev. F. Gregory Kelly, O.P. Rev. Father J. Henry Bartlett, O.P. Rev. Mother, S. Benedict's Convent, Colwich. Rev. Mother, Convent of Mercy, Handsworth. Rev. Mother, Convent of Mercy, Swinford, Co. Gal way. Rev. Mother, Convent of Mercy, Ballinrobe, Mayo. Rev. Mother, S. Augustine's Priory, Newton Abbot.

Rev. C. Collingridge. Rev. P. Doyle, Dublin. Rev. W. B. Scruton. Rev. E. R. Martin. Rev. J. Canty. Rev. A. B. Gurdon. Rev. Father W. Waterworth, S.J. Rev Father M. Watts-Russell. Rev. F. Daniel, Dublin. Rev. S. W. Allen. Rev. C. Robinson, O.S.C. Rev. J. P. Brady. Rev. C. Bowen. Rev. C. Macauley, Maynooth College. Rev. Dean Hughes, Maynooth Col- Rev. F. Byrne. Rev. C. J. Monerieff Smith. Rev. J. Flanagan, Dublin. Rev. J. M. Donnell. lege. Rev. T. Seddon. Rev. A. Russell. Rev. M. Coxon. Rev. A. Peter. Rev. Father CofFey, Dublin. Sir G. Bowyer, Bart. Sir C. Clifford, Bart. Lady Pollen. Captain D'Arcy. Captain De la Hoyde. Rev. F. Loughnan, Clifton. Rev. F. Stanfield, Hertford. Rev. G. Akers. Rev. Father W. Lockhart. Very Rev. Canon Neve, Taunton. Rev. Father Faure, Leicester Square. Rev. Father J. E. Bowden, Cong.

Orat. Mrs. Leigh, Woodehester Park. Mrs. Plummer, Woodehester. Keyes O'Clery, Esq. John G. Kenyon, Esq. Joseph S. Hansom, Esq. J. R. W. Lloyd, Esq., K.S.Qr. C. C. Woodward, Esq. Arthur Coombs, Esq. Alfred F. Blount, Esq. Fauconberg De Selby, Esq. Alexander Fletcher, Esq. A. R. Saraiva, Esq. Thomas Fowler, Esq., Waterford. J. F. Maguire, Esq., M.P. J. T. Power, Esq., M.P. F. J. Morgan, Esq. Mrs. Robinson. Miss Monks. Mrs. Atkins, Atherstone. Miss Astley. Mr. M. Beakey. W. E. J. Vavasour, Esq. James Knill, Esq., M.D. Mr. J. Macken, Dublin. . Mr. C. Parker. Miss Bayliss. Mrs. Allen. J. Lennox Power, Esq., 84th Regiment. F. M. Spaight, Esq. Mr. J. Arkell. Miss Arkell. Mrs. Arkell, Whelford. Mrs. T. Arkell, Whelford. Mrs. Arkell, Loughborough. Mr. W. Arkell. W. C. Robinson, Esq., Z.P. R. Greenhalgh, Esq. A. C. Scoles, Esq. W. J. Jacob, Esq., Z.P. G. Collingridge, Esq., Z.P. J. Connolly, Esq. D. Shee, Esq., Z.P. P. Vassar Esq., Z.P. W. T. Raymond, Esq. E. V. Thornton, Esq., Z.P. Mr. D. Ricks, Z.P. Mr. H. B. Vrain, Z.P. Mr. B. Holtham, Z.P. Mr. H. Weetman, Z.P. Mrs. Elder.

Mr. R. A. lies. Mrs. W. Arkell, Frogmore Farm. Mrs. Wakefield. Mrs. Dancey. Mrs. Gibbs. Mr. Whitty. Mrs. Townley. Mrs. Alcock. Mr. S. Hughes, Liverpool. The Misses lies, Fairford. Mrs. Councer, Cheltenham. Mrs. Sargent. P. Burchett, Esq. G. Keogh, Esq. M. Brophy, Esq. F. Bowler, Esq. John Kidd, Esq. Mr. Hooker. Mr. C. Atkins, Z.P. The Lady Manager, S. James' Registry, Manchester Square. R. C. Hanrott, Esq. Miss Greame. Donat Sampson, Esq. Mrs. James. Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Chard. Mrs. Newsham, Darlington. Mrs. Coulston. Mrs. Moore. Mi-. J. Bratt. Mr. G. G. Bartlett. Mr. T. Flannery. John Hanly, Esq., Churchtown. Alexander Drake, Esq., J.P., Rathvale. Mrs. W. Boardman, Mr. Beeck. Mr. H. Phipp. Mr. M'Carthy. And other kind friends, whose names are withheld at their desire. Miss Annie White. TWO YEARS IN THE PONTIFICAL ZOUAYES.

CHAPTEE I. ORIGIN AND EARLY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CORPS — VICTORIES OF 1867. As this is not intended to be a history of the corps but the relation only of my own experience in connection with it, a lengthened description of its origin and early achievements is unnecessary, nor will any elaborate eulogium of many great names connected with it be attempted. I will content myself at present by saying that I esteem it a great honour to have belonged to a corps which has acted with so much real heroism in rallying round the throne of the great Pontiff, Pius IX., in defence of the rights of the oldest sove reignty in Europe, which was formed under that great general De Lamoriciere, and contains in its annals the names of such men as Gue'rin, Guillemm, De Quelen, the Dufour nels, De Vaux, Julian Watts-Eussell, and Collingridge.

I presume that a few introductory chapters descriptive of the victories and events which have shed so much lustre and renown on the annals of the corps, will not be deemed out of place before I commence my own narrative. The Pontifical Zouaves were originated by the heroic De Lamoriciere in 1860, and were known at first as " Tirail leurs Franco-Beiges," the corps being composed principally of French and Flemish gentlemen of good family and others, who, following the noble example of their general, ranged Two Years in ihe Pontifical Zouaves. themselves on the side of religion and right, to do battle against injustice, represented by the invading forces of Victor Emmanuel — who had already taken forcible posses sion of a portion of the States of the Church. Count Major de Becdelievre, an old African and Crimean veteran, was appointed to command the Franco-Beiges, and under him the little battalion, about two hundred and fifty strong, was organised at the Camp of Terni, and took part in the battle of Castel Fidardo on September 18, 1860.

General De Lamoriciere was there betrayed by false pro mises, and although the Franco-Beiges fought desperately and carried at the point of the bayonet the farm-house of Le Crocette and the hill beyond it, they were overwhelmed by numbers, and had the mortification of seeing themselves treacherously fired upon by some of the Italians on their own side. Almost every third man, it is said, was struck. De Charette received two wounds, Captain Guelton was killed, Lieut. Moncuit lost his left arm, the celebrated Gue'rin was mortally wounded, and Corporal Arthur Guil lemin received a bayonet thrust. The result of the unequal contest is well known ; but it is said the victor, General Cialdini, declared that, had all the Pontifical troops fought as well as the Franco-Beiges, the fortune of the day would have been reversed, and this notwithstanding that his own ' O forces outnumbered the Pontifical army in the proportion of nearly ten to one.

On the 1st January, 1861, the corps was reorganised by Count de Becdelievre, and it received, through his exertions, the picturesque uniform of grey with red facings and cincture, and the name of the " Zouaves Pontificaux." A "smart and successful service" was effected by Colonel de Becdelievre during the same month; he surprised and took prisoners the Italian force which had posted itself at Correse, in the Comarca and Patrimony of St. Peter. Cor rese is an important point at the junction of the two roads of Terni and Bieti, and the only passage from the Comarca into Sabinum. " The Pontifical Zouaves, favoured by the night, attacked the Sardinian volunteers at Correse. Two Sardinians were killed and six wounded, fifty were made prisoners, and were conveyed to-day to Rome."* Colonel de Becdelievre resigned the command of the corps about Easter, 1866, and Lieut.-Col. Allet, an old Swiss ■officer, was appointed its chief, De Charette being major.

In 1862 Lieut. Mousty, commanding an advanced post of sixteen Zouaves, drove back an ItaHan company, which attempted to violate the frontier on the Neapolitan side. In December, 1865, two new companies and a company of depot were added to the little regiment. Brigandage became rife in the provinces of Frosinone, and particularly in the Volscian hills, and Sezze, Piperno, and Prossedi, and other towns were occupied by detachments, and part of the regiment was employed during the spring and summer of 1866 in constant hunting after the brigands. The most remark able combat took place on November 22nd on Monte Lupino, one of the Volscians. Several bands, amounting altogether to sixty brigands, had beaten three detachments of Swiss Carbineers, when finally a detachment of twenty-seven Zouaves under Captain Adeodatus Dufournel and Lieut. De Coiiessin, fought them for four hours, and put them to flight.

On the 1st January, 1867, the Zouaves were constituted a regiment of two battalions, of six companies each ; Colonel Allet commanded, the Baron de Charette being Lieut.- Colonel, Vicomte de Lambilly and Baron de Troussures, Chefs de Bataillon. During the summer of this year several Englishmen joined the corps, which now included in its rolls two Irish officers, and men of good position and rank from many different countries. In the month of August the cholera broke out in the Eternal City. Albano had always as yet been free from this epidemic, and certain strong-minded individuals there mocked at the affliction of Rome, naming dishes of fruit of the three colours, red, white, and green, combined, piatto di colera, &c, and tried to excite the people against the coming of a proposed detachment of Zouaves, saying that they would bring the infection.

The detachment was delayed, * Tablet, January, 1861. 1—2 as part of the company had to .be sent to Velletri, where some disturbances had arisen. When the other part of this company were on the march to Albano they met crowds of fugitives ; the cholera had broken out the night before. The visitation was sudden and awful, and about eighty persons are said to have died the first night ; the authorities fled, the natives in crowds took to the woods. The neighbouring town of LAriccia formed a cordon of its inhabitants on the approaches, threatening to shoot any fugitives who attempted to enter it. Lieut, de Resimond made an appeal to the good will of his Zouaves, and every one of the forty re sponded to it : he himself was the first to carry off a dead body. The Zouaves were for two days the only nurses, doctors, or gravediggers of the town ; they organised the burial service as best they could.

Three men were victims of their charity. Cardinal Altieri, the Bishop, came out at once with a staff of doctors, Sisters of Charity, and infirmarians ; he also died a victim to his zeal. The royal family of Naples were there in villegiatura ; the Queen Dowager and Don Gennaro, her youngest son, died of the epidemic; their fune ral was attended by Zouaves, and their remains carried to the tomb by officers, sergeants, and others. Lieut.-Colonel de Charette came out several times to encourage his men. In Rome the cholera made itself severely felt amongst the troops ; every Sunday the officers, headed by the colonel, visited the hospital, and this had a good effect on the morale of the sick. Albano suffered fearfully for about three weeks after which the mortality decreased ; the inhabitants, num bering about nine or ten thousand souls, were decimated, a number estimated from six hundred to eight hundred havino died.

Lieut, de Resimond was decorated with the Cross of Pius IX., and that of Francis I. of the first class, by the King of Naples. Several others were also decorated by the Holy Father and the King, both of whom thus recognised the heroic conduct of the Zouaves at this trying emergency the privates receiving gold medals of bene merenti. In the end of September, and commencement of October 1867, began the Garibaldian invasion of the Pontifical States, which was connived at, more or less openly, by the Itaban Government, as it is certain that the latter permitted many of its regular soldiers to enter the Garibaldian army. The Garibaldians entered the States at four points, viz., Grotta San Stefano, on September 29th ; Acquapendente, Canino, and Valentano on September 30th. The sixteen Pontifical gendarmes, who occupied Acquapendente, retired before the superior force of the enemy, towards Montefias cone, and the Garibaldians advanced, and took possession of the town of Bagnorea, which is a strong position, on a rocky height surrounded by deep defiles.

I copy the following authentic account of the action of recovering Bagnorea, from the Tablet of October 26th, 1867. " Here they — the Garibaldians — were attacked on Octo ber 3rd, by a detachment of the Papal forces, who were repulsed, being unable with their numerical inferiority to make head against the enemy. But General de Courten arrived from Rome with two pieces of artillery and twenty horses, and setting out from Montefiascone at seven a.m., on October 5th, with 170 Zouaves and 150 Romans of the line, attacked Bagnorea at eleven a.m." A letter from a Pontifical Zouave to his sister, dated Bag norea, October 6th, says : — " On receiving the order to attack, we advanced at the pas gymnastique. The enemy occupied the heights round the town, but retired before our skirmishers and abandoned the position.

"We had scarcely gained the heights when a shower of balls rained upon us. The Garibaldians were under shelter in the vineyards, and we were exposed ; so, crying ' Vive Pie IX. ! En avant les Zouaves ! A la Baionette !' we charged and dislodged thertb and got among the vineyards under the ramparts. The Ga ribaldians took refuge in a convent, and kept up a sharp fire on us from the windows and from the clock tower. We attacked the gate with the butt-ends of our muskets, our lieutenant, though wounded in the arm, dealing formidable one-handed blows with an axe. As soon as the gate was forced we.rushed in with levelled bayonets. The Garibaldians threw down their arms and surrendered. We took fifty six of them, and several officers in the convent. As they still held the town, our commander had the cannon pointed at the gate.

We got in. The enemy fled. The inhabitants cried, ' Viva Pio Nono ! ' ' Evvivano i Zuavi ! ' White hand kerchiefs waved from the windows, and the doors were all thrown open. They clasped us in their arms and called us their liberators. The women wept for joy and gave thanks to the Madonna. The action had lasted four hours, and they had not ceased praying for our victory. The Garibaldians had thirty killed and fifty wounded. We made 130 prisoners, They were 70S strong ; we were only 340. If you knew the sacrileges they had committed in the Benedictine convent I They smashed the altars, flung down the sacred relics, and stabbed at the sacred images with their bayonets. They stole two ciboriums, sacked the seminary, and burned the town registers and the Papal arms. Pray for me. If the powers do not intervene, some of us will be in heaven before the year is out.

We shall be glad to give our blood for the Holy Father and the Church." On October 11th a detachment left Subiaco to explore the neighbourhood of Cervara and Camerata. A strong band of Garibaldians, profiting by their absence, came down from the mountains and occupied the town. The few gendarmes left there were obliged to fly. Lieutenant-Colonel de Charette, on being informed of what had passed, divero-ed from his march on Nerola and moved upon Subiaco ; but before his arrival, the detachment, which had left in the morning, had returned, and an obstinate engagement ensued in the town. The Garibaldians were completely beaten, fifteen pri soners were taken, several were wounded, and three were killed, among them one Emilio Bressio, of Milan, their com mander. A correspondent of L'Univers, gives the following account of the action at Monte Libretti, on the 13th of October : " Monte Libretti is a fortified village with o-ates.

(Its natural position flanked on either side by ravines is a stronom- Two Years in the Pontifical Zouaves. 7 one.) Some two hundred yards from the gate is a wide and deep ditch, crossed by a stone bridge. It was guarded, and the ninety Zouaves commanded by Lieutenants Guillemin and de Quelen received the enemy's fire at this point and carried the bridge in an instant. They took here ten pri soners, and rapidly ascending the slope towards the gate received the fire of three hundred Garibaldians concealed amongst the vines to the right and left of the road. Charg ing them with the bayonet, the Zouaves dislodged them and entered the village, but the fire in the streets from the windows was too hot, and they had to retreat to the gate, where an obstinate fight took place. The Garibaldian Major Faseri and his aide-de-camp animated their men, who vastly out numbered the Pontificals ; both of them were wounded and dismounted.

" The brave Zouave, Lieutenant Arthur Guillemin, was one of the first killed at the gate of Monte Libretti. Ser geant de la Bergassiere received a bullet in his arm, another bullet carried off his kepi, which he replaced by the red and green kepi of the fallen Garibaldian Major. A Zouave from Marseilles had a wound in the head, a bullet in each 'arm, and lost two fingers of the right hand. He had slain several of the enemy before he retired from the front. In the hos pital he said next day, ' I don't understand these Garibal dians. At the first ball they drop. I have had four, and here I am.' An English corporal named Collingridge per formed prodigies of valour. He was killed after being seen with his back to the wall defending himself desperately against six Garibaldians. His brother joined the Zouaves the week before.

A Belgian corporal (Mercier, from Namur) is named as having distinguished himself extraordinarily. He is among the wounded. A Roman bugler, called Mimi by his comrades, had one hand shattered by a ball ; he con tinued throughout to sound the charge, holding his bugle in the other hand. Sergeant-Major Bach, a German Swiss, was particularly conspicuous. He was bathed in blood, but it was the blood of the enemy. He himself did not receive a scratch. Two Years in the Pontifical Zouaves. "The Dutchman De Yonghe, a gigantic Hercules, was slain after killing fourteen Garibaldians. Bareheaded, and with his uniform torn to ribbons, he was seen dealing fearful blows with the butt-end of his musket, until, breathless with fatigue, though unwounded, he fell upon his knees and was pierced by a dozen bayonets.

Two other Dutch Zouaves, brothers, were also slain. The Sous-Lieutenant de Quelen fought till the last, in worthy emulation of his friend and brother officer Guillemin. He was killed at the end of the action. The fight began at half-past five p.m., and at eight p.m. the Zouaves still held their ground in front of the gate. The night was beautifully calm, and a full moon lit the scene of so much valour. " At eight p.m., the Garibaldians inside the village closed the gate, leaving a number of their comrades outside who were slain by the Zouaves under command of Sergeant-Major Bach, who kept his ground until four a.m. next day, when, just as he was about to retreat upon Monte Maggiore with his prisoners and wounded, the inhabitants opened the gate, announcing that the Garibaldians had retreated through the opposite gate making for Nerola."