A British Volunteer in the Papal Army

In 1868, Joseph Powell, a young Briton of deep Catholic faith, joined the Papal Zouaves, seeking to help Pope Pius IX defend Rome and its environs, the last remnants of the Papal State, from the threat of invasion and annexation by the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. Powell left the Zouaves a few months before Italian troops forced their way into Rome, and in 1871 published this memoir, a combination of diary entries, letters, and reminiscences, of his time in the ranks of the Papal Zouaves, which is now reissued.

We get a good deal of information about the history, organization, and routine of the Zouaves. Though not present at the Battle of Mentana (Nov. 3, 1867), Powell gives us a detailed account of the fight against the invasion of the Papal States by a large force under Giuseppe Garibaldi (which may interest mid-nineteenth century wargamers), and several other actions, including the final attack on Rome by Italian troops (Sept. 20, 1870).

Service in the Zouaves seems not to have been especially arduous. Powell tells of time spent touring the monuments and art of Rome, and of frequent treks through the countryside, unspoiled by intrusions of modernity, with commentaries on places and people. We also get to sense the remarkable Faith which motivated Powell, and his comrades.

The introduction, by Sean Brennan and Stephanie A. Longo, is disappointing. It offers some useful background, but it’s rather a political tract (e.g., Garibaldi is equated with Che Guevara). They give us no details of Powell’s life before or after his tour with the Zouaves, omit the handful of engravings in the original, and, like Powell, did not think to include a map or an index to help the reader. Nevertheless, this is an excellent read for anyone interested in the final acts of the Risorgimento and one of the most unusual military organizations of the nineteenth century.

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