Page 136 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

134 GENERAL GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI

those days was the enthusiasm, the irresistible passion with which people
flocked on the footsteps of Garibaldi or raised as if moved by a whirlwind at
the appearance of Garibaldi who, when travelling across a country, although
he did not wear the red shirt – he wore the uniform of a Sardinian general –
one would not have thought that he was a general, but the leader of a new
religion, followed by a fanatical mob. Women were not less enthusiastic than
men, in fact they brought their children to be blessed or baptised by
Garibaldi! Garibaldi used to speak to the gathered mobs with his very beau-
tiful voice that was part of his charm. Between him who was speaking and
the crowd that was listening there was a sort of magnetic energy. Even the
simplest of thing, when spoken by him had a disproportionate effect”
The advance of the Brigade resulted also in delayed communications with
the Sardinian territory, from which it received not only the ammunitions but
also weapons for the new volunteers that were organising in the Varesotto
(area around the town of Varese) and the Comasco (area around the town of
Como). Garibaldi also was expecting two sections of 12 inch howitzers from
Lake Maggiore, which were finally sent to him by the Ministry of War, and
had sent Lieutenant Griziotti to meet them with some volunteers – among
which Ippolito Nievo – in an attempt to bring them over the Lombard side
of the lake.
It was therefore necessary, before proceeding any further, to ensure better
communications that were threatened by the fort and the garrison of Laveno
and build a base on Lake Maggiore, taking advantage of a moment of calm
after the precipitous retreat of the enemy. The General, intolerant of inaction,
th
had the troops rest for the entire day of the 28 , but the following day had
no hesitation to make them tread again the 28 kilometres from Como to
Varese, and the day after continue toward Lake Maggiore and attempt to take
Laveno and its garrison that dominated the lake.
He sent a Company to Lecco in support of the insurrection and left
another one in Como together with Gabriele Camozzi, in charge of the mil-
th
itary organisation and on the morning of the 29 , without talking to any-
body about his intentions, went with the rest of his men – not more than
2,900 – towards Varese. This is where the expected mountain artillery had
arrived, but no artillerymen, mules, or transport material: Grizotti took care
to train a few volunteers and had the pieces hauled as well as he could.
The next morning, at 3am, he continued his march through Gavirate and