Page 238 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

236 GENERAL GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI

the Volturno and the strengthening of the ground “by means of temporary
fortification works, in a blunt style reminded his volunteers, the valiant com-
batants of Calatafimi and Varese, that “those who shoot at night and by far
away are cowards” and exalted “the fatal bayonets of the Cacciatori delle Alpi
(Hunters of the Alps)”.
And so the volunteers, these warriors inclined to short charges and bold
and rapid fights, were seen to busy themselves, just as they were veterans in a
regular army, until the eve of the battle with the most diverse ground work:
trenches, strengthening positions and batteries. In the meantime, the main
body of the army, deployed between Caserta and Maddaloni, built outposts
along the Carditello-Castelmorrone-Valle line, and, apart from this system of
close security, deployed advance guards between the Royal Lodge, S. Maria
and S. Angelo, under the lead of General Milbitz, in turn protected by the
observation corps positioned along the Volturno and commanded by General
Medici.
Before the fight, anticipated and expected by Garibaldi, his four Divisions
– 15 th Türr, 16 th Cosenz (led by Milbitz, since Cosenz had been appoint-
ed Minister of war), 17 th Medici and 18 th Bixio, made up by elements of
different efficiency (a total of 22.000 men, 24 pieces and 1746 officers) –
were gathered in four large units with the following positions and tasks:
- a right flank, led by Bixio, watched over the communications from
Campobasso to Maddaloni and kept Monte Caro, Villa Gualtieri, the Valle
bridge and Castelmorrone;
- A central flank, to watch over the Volturno, formed by the Sacchi
Brigade, in Gradillo and San Leucio;
- A left flank, controlling all those coming from Capua, divided in two
sectors, one in S. Angelo and the other in S. Maria, the former led by Medici,
the latter by Milbitz, who also kept S. Tammaro;
- Some general reserves, under the lead of Türr, were in Caserta, with one
brigade deployed in Aversa.
The general headquarters were in Caserta.
Garibaldi awaited his enemy, since the general situation at that moment
and, most of all, the scarcity of available forces did not allow him to take the
lead in the offensive and try anything against the large enemy army support-
ed by the fortress of Capua. The Bourbon troops, after achieving their first
goal - to stop the volunteers at the Volturno – wanted to get their revenge