Page 174 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

172 GENERAL GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI

When the royal forces sounded the retreat, Garibaldi’s soldiers heard it with
joy and surprise. They could not believe it. The retreat was protected by that cav-
alry platoon that had remained inactive on the road during the fight. But
Garibaldi’s soldiers, tired and worn out by the long fight, the heat and the thirst,
had no desire to pursue them.
There were 32 casualties, among which Montanari, very dear to the com-
mander, and 182 injured, of which only eighty in serious conditions; the
Bourbons had 36 casualties and about 150 injured, and had lost the cannon
seized by the students from Pavia. According to other sources, the casualties were
as follows: 111 among casualties and injured people out of 2300 men in the
Bourbon ranks, 127 of Garibaldi’s soldiers out of action.
As Corsi said, «the feat of arms in Calatafimi, for tactical reasons, was but a
huge, long and relentless skirmish, fought with great bravery by both parties, but
for its moral effect it really deserves the name of “battle” that was given to it”. In
fact, as Garibaldi wrote in his «Memoirs», it was “unquestionably decisive for the
brilliant campaign of the ‘60”.

May 16 th - At 7am, Garibaldi reached Calatafimi, that Landi had left, and
established a provisional committee.
He wrote to Pilo: “Tell the Sicilians that it is now time to stop all this, and
that we will stop it soon; any weapon is good for a valiant soldier, a rifle, a sick-
le, an axe, a nail on the tip of a stick. Join us or oppose the enemy around your
place, if it is more convenient for you; have fires lit on all the hills surrounding
our enemies.
Shoot as many volleys as you can at night against their sentries and outposts.
Intercept their communications. In short, trouble them in all possible ways».
La Masa, to make converts, went through Gibellina, Roccamena, Mezzoiuso,
and published proclamations, established committees, disarmed civil guards,
asked for contributions, «powder, bullets, coats, money».
Landi, who at first perhaps had wanted to stand up to them at Calatafimi and
had asked «help and immediate help» from Palermo, had then left the country
around midnight, made a short stop in Alcamo, where he arrived at 2am, and
then continued for Partinico..
There his column was violently attacked by the population, and after a con-
fused and relentless fight he abandoned Partitico leaving behind 6 casualties and
25 injured. He continued towards Montelepre, constantly disturbed during his
march, and arrived with his soldiers on foot, very tired, scattered, leaving bags