Page 129 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

THE 1859 CAMPAIGN 127

session of the lacustrine steamboat Ticino, and then to Ispra, to join the bat-
talion in Brebbia. This operation on the lake was unsuccessful. Major Bixio,
reporting on the fact from S. Andrea, asked Garibaldi to send the Genoese
Carabinieri to try and take the garrison of the Laveno fort by surprise. The
general agreed and in fact demanded that the action take place that night, but
later, having been informed that strong Austrian units were advancing from
Corno, faithful to the idea of keeping all the forces together, he asked Bixio
to go to Gavirate, as a possible reinforcement..
The enemy, in fact, had been aware, since May 20, of the autonomous
action of Garibaldi, but they believed him to be leading 10-15.000 men and
intending to take the bridge in Boffalora (S. Martino) on the Ticino. When,
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in the evening of the 23 , they learned instead that he was marching from
Sesto Calende to Varese – Como, with the danger of inspiring, with the pres-
tige of his name and his fast moves, a revolt of the people of Milan, they sent
against him Urban’s Division and, at the same time, sent a large and bold
detachment to Somma and Sesto Calende to the rear of the brave leader. But
when this detachment arrived in front of Sesto, it was welcomed by such live-
ly fire from captain De Cristoforis, simultaneously with major Ceroni making
his presence felt from the right flank, so that the Austrians believed that they
were being confronted with overwhelming forces and retreated to Somma.
The general, as usual, was animated by such a unwavering faith in victo-
ry and his good fortune that sure of the enemy’s retreat, stated in an orderly
book that the adversary would have posed some resistance but in vain, and
added: “…of course he will not dare to confront me!...Those who run away
usually run faster than those who do the chasing”.
While Garibaldi was speaking these words to his men, he made sure that
the troops and the patriotic population of Varese readied themselves to
receive well the adversary. With this in mind, he ordered the construction of
two successive lines of defence on the eastern margin of the town, with the
occupation divided into three sectors: on the right, lieutenant colonel
Cosenz, with one battalion, on the left, Medici with his two battalions, in the
centre, Ardoino with one battalion, while the other one of Bixio, called in
from Gavirate, was held as the sector reserves in Varese; one battalion was at
Biumo Superiore, north of Varese, as general reserves, and the Susini-
Millelire company in an advanced position in Belforte, one and a half kilo-
metres from Varese, on the road to Malnate-Como.
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It was this company that, at dawn of May 27 , very cleverly surprised