MENTA'NA, BATTLE OF, Nov. 3, 1867. On Oct. 28 and 29 a detachment of French troops, under gen. de Failly, landed at Civita Vecchia, a seaport town of Italy. Gari baldi, who was before the Roman gate of St. Jean. had defeated the pontifical troops at Monte Rotondo, 17 ni. n.w. of Rome, with 4 battalions of volunteers; and, proposing to gain possession of Rome and join the papal states to the kingdom of Italy, was intend ing to proceed there forthwith, but hearing of the approach of the French brigade he fell bac.s. to Monte Rotondo and Meutana, in order to raise defenses. Ou Nov. 2 he advanced in 2 detachments, one toward Correse and one toward Tivoli. The Tivoli column, meqing the French troops, 2,000 inen under Kanzlar and Ponies, led by 3,000 of the pontifical troops, fell back to Mentana, 13 m. n.e. of Rome; were pursued by the enemy; and Suuday, Nov. 3, an engagement of 4 hours followed, ending iu the defeat of the voluntce-s. The French in this battle rnade the first trial of the Chassepot gun; their troops wcio regulars thoroughly drilled and disciplined, and the loss on the other side was heavy and crushing. Garibaldi had undisciplined, poorly armed recruits;
infantry only. With the conquering. army in front, they crossed the Italian frontier, to tind the Italian army in the rear, which overwhelmed them, seized their arms, and took many of them prisoners; among them Garibaldi, who was arrested at Correse on his journey to Caprera, and imprisoned in the fortress of Varignano, near Spezzia, an island of Greece; and the Italian troops retired from the papal states. Garibaldi, protesting: against. this treatment, claiming the protection due to an American citizen and an Italian deputy, was set at liberty on the 26th. To commemorate this victory a medal was struck by order of the pope, in the shape of a cross, made of silver, and presented W all who took part in the battle. It bore the inscription, Fidel et Virtuti, and Bine Victoria. A monument to tbe Garibaldians who fell at this battle was dedicated Nov. 25, 1877.