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¦ ¦««. *«!. ' J«lv 0. 185S.1 THE LEADER....
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GERMANY. July 6th.—The battle of Solferi...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Florence, June 29th 1859. The Deplorable...
been taken when a Swiss regiment of 2 , 000 men with three pieces of artillery , under the command of-Col . Schmid , approached the city , and at twelve o ' clock they vrere already at the Ponte S . Giovanni . In this little faubourg they made a short halt and levied a contribution on the inhabitants of 2 , 000 scudi . They then sought for a certain Rossi , who a few days before had offended some Papal gendarmes who fled from Perugia on its adhering to the national cause . Rossi was absent , but they killed his servant and sacked the house . At thehouse of Francesco Angelotti , president , they did the same , killing his servant , wounding his coachman , and emptying his wine barrels . Two other individuals were killed in this faubourg and their dead bodies thrown into the Tiber . A little after two o ' clock p . m . the Pontifical column moved onwards ascending by the Strada Vecchia towards the city . Half an hour after the first shots were fired , and these became more frequent as the assailants neared the walls ; there were some killed and wounded on both sides . At about six o ' clock two companies of Papal troops , concealed behind the high hedges , wound their way unobserved close by the walls of the first line of circumference , and there choosing a spot where the wall is somewhat lower , they introduced themselves into the garden of the Cassinensi monks of S . Piero . They found in this garden a good number of armed citizens . These made an obstinate resistance until overwhelmed by the numbers of their antagonists , who continued to pour in without opposition from the other side ; they then retreated out of the city by a small door in the convent wall . Haying learnt what was going on in the convent from those who defended the post of Frontone , they made their Way . back into the city uniting with the defendants of the gate of S : Piero . It is said that a fanatic partizan of the papal party , whose name is unknown , had informed the enemy of the presence of the citizens in the convent garden . But the greatest impetus of the attack was directed against the S . Piero gate , on which the artillery was brought to bear . Meanwhile , in the borgo of S . Piero , the house of Santarelli , from which the inhabitants had escaped , was sacked and bunied ; that of Serafini shared the same fate , and the wife of the salt-merchant , Casali , was put to death . In the same borgo it is said that the dealer in wine , Basti , with his wife and a woman with a young child , were also butchered , and the inhabitants threatened with death if they attempted to extinguish the flames which spread from house to house . At about seven o ' clock the Perugini , hopeless of succeeding in their defence , and unwilling to prolong useless bloodshed , reared a white ilag on the walls opposite to Porta S . Piero ; the citizens then retired into their houses , the shops were closed and the gate was opened * The Pontijicali entered discharging their guns , and having found two custom-house oflicers ( csattori dci gabelli ) , they shot them down without further ado . A girl , who imprudently presented herself at a window , was shot tlead instantly . In the meanwhile a deputation from the municipality , preceded by a white flag , advanced to parley with the Pontifical commander . The ilag was earned by the secretary of the cotnuna ( town council ) . Not far from the Corso , and while still under the trees , the deputation was assailed by a discharge of musketry which killed the secretary , and the others were forced to fly for their lives . The city being thus taken , the work of Sacking the town began in borgo S . Piero with accompanying murder and robbery . Among the victims of the soldiery were the blacksmith Ijazzorini , with his wife and flged mother ; the tobacconist Bupnramei . and his wife ; in Casa Pollidory they killed the milliner Teri while she was imploring them to spare tho honour of the young g irls , her apprentices , one of whom was wounded . They wounded tho aged Temporini after having robbed him of 4000 scudi . Entering the inn , kept by Storti , thoy destroyed tho furniture , killed the innkeopor , tho waiter and a boy , whose bodies they flung into tho street . The wifisof StwtJ would have shared her huaband ' e fate had she not taken refuge with an American family who protooted Uor . It is said that tho cabinet-maker Fabbrotti was killed under tho eyes of his wife , and that tho young hostosa Crocmni was massacred in her hcttola ( public-house ) . Tho progress of the Pontefioi through tho piaexa and tho street of tho Corso was marked by the same murderous deeds . All appearance of discipline
——i ^ B ^————— «^ M ^^^^^————— - ^ = = was gone ; the soldiers rushed about in every direction , firing off their guns , setting fire to the Cafie of Amari , and then killing a poor idiot , destroying every thing in the Caffe of Campi , and m the chemist ' s shop , which Sebastiani Bellucci had kept open in order to render succour to the wounded . In the sack of Palazzo Rameri , the porter was left dead ; two women were killed on their way to Porta jNuovn . Terrible scenes were at the same time passing in other quarters of the city . Shots were fired at the hospital , to which the wounded were carried , and this , notwithstanding that a black flag had been hoisted . A Papal deserter ( a fusilier ) , was dragged out of the hospital by force , and shot . The wounded and infirm who -were able to move , sought for safety by hiding themselves under their beds . The nig ht was now far advanced , but the work of p lunder still went on . At last came the order to cease ; but , under pretence of wanting provisions ^ the soldiers broke open the shops and carried off whatever they could lay their hands upon , without offering payment . On the following morning , the 22 nd , orders were issued for a general disarmament ; and perquisitions and arrests were made . It is said that at the instigation of the fanatic before referred to , the Pontefici returned to make fresh search in the monastery of the Cassinensi , and having found some townspeople still concealed they arrested several , and killed others , together with some of the monks , and destroyed the convent and the rich library . On the night of the 22 nd , the houses of Baron Danzetti , Baldini , and Calderoni , were sacked . Two guards at Porta Nuova were shot , and the people were kept in constant terror of perquisitions and executions . The number of persons put to death after the surrender of the city is said to exceed forty , being greater than that of those who fell in the defence . All who were able to save themselves by flight have escaped into Tuscany , and met with a brotherly reception at Arezzo , Cortona , and the surrounding villages . . ¦ . . Thus did Colonel Schmid replace Perugia under the Pontifical government . With these words the Tuscan newspaper closes its narrative . "It has been asserted by the Giornale di Roma , in extenuation of this most intolerable act of the Papal Government , that a person had been sent to Perugia from Rome , summoning the city to return to its allegiance , and that the summons was disregarded . This , however , appears to be untrue , as no formal summons to surrender was made previously to the appearance of the Papal troops . Committees have been formed at Florence , Cortona , and other cities for furnishing assistance to tho victims of this horrible calamity , the consequences of which are not likely to end here . Perugia , which had sent the flower of its youth to the battle-fields of Lombardy , and was thus exposed defenaeless to the vengeance of a mercenary and lawless soldiery , has the strongest claims on the assistance of those whose example the thoughtalas , erroneously !—she might ; , follow with impunity ; ignorant , perhaps , of the fact that subserviency to tho Papal See was the fate to which she was doomed by her vicinity to Home . An attempt will , however , he made to replace the tricoloured flag once moro on her gates . Volunteer corps are preparing to inarch from Bologna to her rescue . The swords which were unsheathed to meet the Austrians in Lombardy will not be less well employed in driving the Papal cuthroats from the scene of their infUmous exploits . The following is the proclamation issued on the 24 th of June by tho Bologna Oiunta : — " To the People Qf the United Provinces and Cities of Boloqna . " Citizens!—Perugia , after a desperate deienco , has fallen into the hands of barbaro us mercenaries , who in thoir quality of Ponti / ici have sacked the city with unheard of cruelty . Yesterday they fled when tho national banner was unfurled . To-day thoymonaoo free , cities which have risen to defend tho sacred cauae of Italy . Shall we remain helpless , indifferent spectators of tho slaughter of our brethren ? Shall wo leave tho cities defenceless which have united themselves to us ? ¦ This would bo cowardly and faithless . Let those noble youths who aro not already enrolled in tlio regular troops or among tho volunteers , follow tho impulse of their patriotism and inscribe their names wherever registers are opened . Thoy shall have commandors , arms and munition , and in a few days thoy will bo ready to march . M , . . . " The war of independence is our final nim , but our first duty is to dofend our homes . When these
- — -- -.. — - j are placed in safety our steps shall next be turned to Xbmbardy . . " Bologna , June 24 th , 1859 . " Signed by L . Tanari , A . Montanari , G . Malvezzi , Giunta of Central Provisional Government . '' We subjoin the following document received from Rome t— June 21 st , 1859 . " Order of the day of the First Division of Pontificaltroops : —¦ ¦ .-. ¦ -. '¦ j . " Perugia has fallen ; the Pontifical government is re-established . yesterday at 7 p . m . your companions * my brave soldiers , entered the city after a fire which lasted for three hours without intermission A fierce defence did not intimidate them . The Frontone di S . Pietro , and the gate of the same name were taken by assault . The courage of all the troops who took part in the action , as their worthycommander , Col . Schmid informs me , was above all praise . Honour , then , be rendered to these brave soldiers and may we take them as a noble and generous example ! While I feel proud to announce this glorious fact to you I cannot conceal how grieved I am not to have shared their suffering © during seven days' forced march , and the dangers of the battle . I am , however , a soldier , and as such ,, ought to give an example to all of the sacrifice of my own will . , „ . Signed , —De Gregorio , Commander of the First Division . " Colonel Schmid has been promoted to the rank of general . Letters from Romagna describe the indignation of the people at this fresh proof of what may be expected from the Papal government . The passions , which , had . with difficulty been calmed by a sense of the paramount duty of uniting their forces in the war of independence threaten to burst out afresh . It is with difficulty that the most judicious men and those who exercise the greatest influence over popular feeling can restrain the burst of indignation which seeks for satisfaction and revenge . It is with the deepest reoret that the moderate and truly national party see the fruit of their exertions in the cause of union and forbearance threatened at the moment when . it is most necessary for the defence of the country .
¦ ¦««. *«!. ' J«Lv 0. 185s.1 The Leader....
¦ ¦«« . *«! . ' J « lv 0 . 185 S . 1 THE LEADER . 821
Germany. July 6th.—The Battle Of Solferi...
GERMANY . July 6 th . —The battle of Solferino has thrust every other question into the background , and press and people are penetrated with passionate anxiety . There is now less chance than ever of Austria ' s obtaining support from the Confederation ; as to the people , not a volunteer 18 forthcoming in her behalf . Her sins against liberal progress have been too many and too glaring , and every blow she receives only adds contempt to their rage-More and more the nation ? s coming over to the belief that Austria ' s loss is Germany ' s gain . The miserable tyrannies at present existing in Saxony , Hanover , Bavaria , and other still pettier hangers on of Austria , are doomed to full with her ; therefore , their mortal fear , and their convulsive haste to shod the blood of their subjects , and plunge all the world into confusion for her sake , The Governments of Saxony are fully aware that the vast majority of their people wish to be annexed to-Prussia . In fact , Prussia occupies now the same position with regard to Germany that Sard mm does with regard to Italy ; while Austria is to the one what Naples or the Popedom is to the other . The state of public feeling is at this moment such , that if the Regent of Prussia were n . man of genius , or even of energy and insight a little beyond tho common , lie might make himself lord of all Germany , and unite and consolidate all the nationalities into one compact , and , I should think , unconquerable phalanx . At tills momentthis golden moment—which will , perhaps , never again , occur , the Regent of Prussia has but to spook , and every German would rango himself under the banner of Prussia : not anotherTriuce or King would have a voice ,, much less dare to offer resistance . The cry from every nook and corner of tho loud is-- " Perish every appellation but that of German , and let the Prluce of 1 russla bo our leader . " Will tho Prince have the courage to venture upon this bold , though enay andI snfe , gJ Pj * think not . No German Prince will be gIftod ,. for many N ^ noleon ' s death , aiiU the revolution consequent there-SnH ^^ rtr /^ fwff ^ h ^ r &^ -sr & JisA n Lnniiot to culebrato the tenth anniversary of the batUoof KuppenhoUn , which finished the campaign * aa It is fooKy termed . Either Princes aro blfad , or thoir councilors , must l » o very slightly acquaintedi with the state of feeling around thorn . It is'tho boost of the GerKn PriEia tliat their subject , are better educated than tl » " people of other countries , but tho authorities sSk and act aa If their people were the veriest fools , M Ahoy had neither eyes to read nor ears to hear . The 3 crmftn people are to ' bo pitied } they are without loadore or odv leera , and the nation that true ** to them In a w » r
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 9, 1859, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09071859/page/17/
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