Page 139 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

THE 1859 CAMPAIGN 137

devices with no supplies and no news about what was happening in the war
theatre, precisely because of the difficulties in communication across Lake
Maggiore.
That venture was also referred to as a diversion planned with the Count
of Cavour to attract the Urban Division to the north, so that it was delayed
and would not arrive in time to take part in the imminent battle that took
place in Magenta on June 4: if this was the aim of the manoeuvre, it succeed-
ed as we will see.
The surprise of the fort of Laveno was well thought out and it was carried
out with a courage that was a credit to the volunteers. The night ventures,
particularly the attack on fortified structures in complete darkness and on
fairly unknown terrain are as we all know, very difficult: the smallest hitch
can make them fail, and therefore they need to be studied and prepared in
minute detail: time was short, and the relentless rain made it difficult to see
the grounds in the light, at least from afar. Night actions, apart from delays
and misunderstanding, are also often cause of inevitable acts of indiscipline,
that seem to have been present that night, so much so that Garibaldi - very
strict in maintaining the essence of discipline – while praising the Hunters for
their courage, pointed out that there had been signs of insubordination in the
corps that if continued would have resulted in the “firing squad”.
Here too, as said before, Garibaldi had counted on his courage and his
influence on the enemy who advanced to Varese, but he did not dare to con-
tinue on to Laveno and entrap the volunteers between the lake and the Swiss
mountains.

Marshal Urban, after the fast and skilled retreat of the 27 th on Monza and
Rho, had got reinforcements and, informed that Garibaldi had abandoned
Como directed to Varese, on the 30 th advanced on Gallarate and Tradate
with the entire Division composed of three Brigades.
st
On the 31 , while Garibaldi was arriving at Laveno, Urban appeared out-
side Varese and “as a just punishment for its political stance” that is, its
demonstration of Italian spirit, inflicted on it an immediate penalty of three
million Austrian lira, three thousand ox, the tobacco, cigars and leather that
were in the town. Also, as a guarantee of the satisfaction of the penalty and
public cooperation he demanded ten local landowners as hostages. After this
he bombarded the city and restored the imperial government.
st
The same evening of the 31 Garibaldi learned of Urban entering in Varese.