While the conflict in Trastevere was going on, the Montigianis, headed
by Cucchi, Guerzoni, Bossi, Adamoli, and other brave men did not remain
with their hands folded. The explosion of the mine under the Zouaves'
barracks was arranged as the signal for their movement. The mine
exploded, and those noble fellows moved with heroic resolution at the
head of all the youths that could be assembled. As many of the agents
and mercenaries frightened by the explosion as were met running away
were disarmed by the people, and killed if they offered resistance. The
mine, however, had done little damage, though it made a great uproar.
Either the quantity of powder was insufficient, or it was badly placed.
The clerical journals, or those of the Italian Government, which are
much the same, have stated that only the band of the Zouaves, composed
of Italian musicians, had been blown up, and that the foreigners,
specially recommended to the efficacious prayers of his Holiness, had
been miraculously saved.
The Italians, it is true, have not the good fortune to be the objects
of modern necromancy's prayers; but the facts are these: A very few
mercenaries were killed, and the others, having left the barracks
and arranged themselves in order, had opened a sharp fire against the
people. Cucchi, with his lieutenants Bossi and Adamoli, had marched to
the barracks, and at their command, and animated by their example, the
Roman youths had precipitated themselves furiously upon the foreign
mercenaries. It was a hand-to-hand struggle of persons who for the
greater part were unarmed, and who struggled against trained soldiers,
from whom they endeavored to tear away their weapons. But the
mercenaries were many. Gold and the help of Bonaparte had been potent.
A great number of French soldiers, under the name of Papal Zouaves, had
crowded into Civita Vecchia for a long time previous, in readiness to
start for Rome.
The resources that the Jesuits and _reazionari_ had sent to the Pope
from all parts of the world had also been immense. Added to this, a
great number of fanatics, priests, and monks,* disguised in the uniform
of the mercenaries, mingled with the Papal troops, exciting them to
heroism and to slaughter, promising them as a reward the glory of
heaven, as well as plenty of gold on earth, and all they could
desire. Alas! poor Roman people! But whom should we reckon under this
denomination? When one has excepted all the priestly portion, Pope,
cardinals, bishops, priests, and friars congregated there from all
parts of the globe, with their women, their servants, their cooks, their
coachmen, etc., with the relations of their domestics, the servants of
their women, and, finally, a mass of the working-classes dependent on
this enormously rich rabble, what is left? Those who remain, and are
worthy of the name of "people," as not belonging to the necromancers,
are some honest middle-class families, a few boatmen, and a few
lazzaroni.
In the country, where ignorance is fostered by the priesthood, and has
struck still deeper root, the people side with the clergy throughout
Italy; but particularly in the Roman campagna, where all the landowners
are either priests, or powerful friends of the priesthood.
To return, however. While Cucchi, at the head of his men, and aided by
his brave companions, sustained a heroic but unequal combat outside
the Zouaves' barracks, Guerzoni and Castellazzi, leading a company of
youths, had assaulted the gate of San Paola, disarmed a few guards, and
succeeded in passing the court, inside of which was to be found a depot
of arms. The arms were there, truly, but guarded by a strong body of
Papal troops and police, with whom our valorous friends had to sustain
another extremely unequal combat; and, being finally dispersed, were
hotly pursued by the furious Papalini.
* Some were discovered among Garibaldi's Zouave prisoners at
Monte Rotonda.