He fell in with 3000 of the enemy; and, as soon as he came near enough, deserted to them.

One of his men had virtue enough to level a musket at him, and shot him through the arm; but the wound was not sufficient to prevent him from joining with the French in pursuit of his own countrymen.

Cannon, tents, baggage, and military chest, were all forsaken by the runaways, though they lost only forty men; for the French having put them to flight and got possession of everything, did not pursue an army of more than three times their own number.

The main body of the Neapolitans, under Mack, did not behave better.

The king returned to Naples, where every day brought with it tidings of some new disgrace from the army and the discovery of some new treachery at home; till, four days after his return, the general sent him advice that there was no prospect of stopping the progress of the enemy, and that the royal family must look to their own personal safety.
The state of the public mind at Naples was such, at this time, that neither the British minister nor the British Admiral thought it prudent to appear at court.