Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/614

 576 Readings in European History plumed and gilded agents of despotism and driving them before them like sheep ! glorious in their motley array, just as they came from their offices and workshops at the trumpet call of duty, in the student's coat and hat or the modest garb of the mason, carpenter, or smith. . . . After their successful operations in Sicily, Garibaldi led his troops to the mainland. The first of October dawned on the plains of the ancient capital of Campagna upon a hideous tumult, a fratricidal conflict. On the side of the Bourbons, it is true, foreign mercenaries were numerous, — Bavarians, Swiss, and others belonging to the nations who for centuries had been accus- tomed to look upon this Italy of ours as their pleasure ground. This crew, under the guidance and with the bless- ings of the priest, have always been accustomed, by sheer right of the strongest, to cut the throats of the Italians, trained from childhood by the priest to bow the knee to them. But it is only too certain that the greater number of the men who fought on the slopes of Tifata were sons of this unhappy country driven to butcher one another, — one side led by a young king, the child of crime, the other fight- ing for the sacred cause of their country. . . . The enemy, after an obstinate combat, were routed all along the line and retired in disorder within the walls of Capua about five p.m., their retreat being covered by the guns of that fortress. About the same time Bixio announced to me the victory of his right wing over the Bourbon troops, so that I was able to telegraph to Naples, " Victory all along the line." [The next day] the Bourbon troops, taken unawares, offered but little resistance and were driven back almost at a run, hotly pursued by the brave Calabrians as far as Caserta Vecchia. A few of them held this village for a short time, firing from the windows and from behind the cover afforded by some ruined walls ; but these were quickly sur- rounded and made prisoners. . ..