dmiring such
bravery, refused to cease firing, when Zappi, crushed by numbers, was at
last obliged to capitulate. For two hours longer he took pleasure in
discharging grape shot at the little town which had ceased to reply
otherwise than by exhibiting a white flag and sending messengers of peace.
Nor did this vandalic soldier show any consideration for the wishes of the
people whom he professed to have come to protect. This contempt for the
popular will was sufficiently well shown the following month, in his
despatch to the Garibaldian Commander of Molise: "Publish that I cause to
be shot all peasants taken with arms in their hands. I have this day
commenced such executions."

(M76) Lamoriciere was far from expecting to be attacked by the armies of
Piedmont. The most he could contemplate was an attack by the Garibaldians,
and the probability of some partial insurrections in the interior. He
distributed his troops accordingly in the towns and along the Neapolitan
frontier. The insolent message of General Fanti contributed to confirm him
in this idea. He had only 1,500 men with him when the message reached him.
He held himself in readiness, but without concentrating his force, which
appeared to him dangerous and premature. He learned, unexpectedly, that
the frontier on the side of Piedmont was violated at every point of attack
at the same time; that an army corps, commanded by General de Sonnaz, was
marching on Perugia; another, led by Brignone, on Spoleto; another, under
the Garibaldian Mazi, on Orvieto; finally, that Cialdini was advancing on
Sinigaglia, thence on Torrede Jesi, Castelfidardo and Loretto, and that
his object was Ancona, the only city except Rome which was capable of
making any resistance. Lamoriciere, unable to face so many enemies at
once, saw, with pain, that his scattered garrisons were lost. He was far,
however, from being discouraged. Recalling, hastily, all that were within
reach, and unfortunately they were not the most considerable, he changed
all the arrangements which he had made for another kind of contest; he
gave up all idea of opposing Brignone, De Sonnaz and Fanti, who,
nevertheless, were in a position to cut off his retreat towards Rome, and
rushed boldly to the point of greatest danger between these generals and
Cialdini, with the design of piercing the lines of the latter and reaching
Ancona before him. There he thought he would be able to hold out a week or
two, more than sufficient tim