Page 119 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

THE 1849 CAMPAIGN 117

already far away from San Marino. Marching without a break for the whole
day, at 10am they reached the sea, at Cesenatico, Found with great difficulty
thirteen small fishing boats and the small fleet sailed from Cesenatico for
Venice one hour before the Austrians reached the place.
The fragile ships tacked the whole day of August 2 nd , but at night a mag-
nificent moon rose upon the sea and set the last trap for the fugitives. A group
of Austrian warships, sailing offshore of the Po delta, saw their sails and
immediately went after them.
The unequal and dramatic fight could not last long; before sunrise, most
of the boats had been captured, among which unfortunately also those with
Ugo Bassi and Ciceruacchio, who heroically faced the martyrdom a few days
later; only three boats, followed by launches and row boats, went hastily
ashore and reached the beach at Magnavacca. Among the few lucky survivors,
there were Garibaldi and Anita, by then at the end of her strength and fever-
ish.
Ashore, a very loyal friend was waiting for them, Bonnet, citizen of
Comacchio and a sincere admirer of Masina and Garibaldi; it seemed that
fate had wanted him there, on the beach of Magnavacca, that morning, when
Garibaldi’s journey ended so tragically.
With the help of Bonnet, an old beggar called Baramoro, and Captain
Culiolo, nicknamed Leggiero and limping because of a wound he had
received during the siege of Rome, Anita was transported to the Guiccioli
farmhouse, in the hamlet of Mandriole, lost among the marshes. But the
small, sad group had just arrived there that the general’s heroic companion
died in his arms.
Only then did the strong calm that had always accompanied Giuseppe
Garibaldi abandoned him, and the general burst into long and bitter weep-
ing.
But time was pressing. Austrian patrols were already scouting the islets
scattered through the marshes and the few inhabitants already knew
Garibaldi’s identity.
The general could not even lay his beloved Anita in her grave; dressed as
a peasant and accompanied by Leggiero and a guide, he run to the pine for-
est around Ravenna and found temporary shelter there.
Then, helped by some friends from Ravenna and Forlì, he took the road
through the Apennines, and, after crossing them again with just Culiolo with