2-995-829 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Revolution in Sicily - the English Battalion at the foot of the round tower of the Citadel of Melazzo - from a sketch by our special artist, 1860. 'Long before you come to the coast of Melazzo you see an isolated rock, resembling somewhat that of Gibraltar, before you. On it stands the citadel of Melazzo, occupying an area of half a square mile, and falling off boldly on all sides. At the foot of it, towards the land side, lies the town, occupying about the same area, and also inclosed by substantial walls; both are connected by a narrow strip of land with the main land on the seaside of the castle...it appears that in the main the Neapolitans stood on the defensive, firing from behind walls and all kinds of covers, and were slowly dislodged, the Sicilians losing heavily throughout. The fight lasted for fourteen hours in the heat of the day. Garibaldi's force, which was about 5000 men, had 750 dead and wounded...There was a great deal of hard fighting both on and under the bridge which leads to the neck of the peninsula, and here Captain (now Colonel) Peard, with his men, did good service...The battle of Melazzo took place on the 20th of July, and on the 25th the citadel was evacuated by the Neapolitan troops'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.