Page 245 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

FROM THE STRAITS TO THE VOLTURNO 243

bravely, not only did he forced the Garibaldian troops to leave the positions
they were defending, but also induced the defenders of Mount Caro to with-
draw and succeeded in taking that important position. The undertaking of
von Mechel was starting under the best auspices, although that first promis-
ing success was saddened by a mournful event: the death of his son – 1 st
Lieutenant von Mechel – serving under his orders.
These unfavourable events clearly worried General Bixio, who had
received Garibaldi’s fervent recommendations to keep a sharp watch on the
roads that from the north led to Caserta and Maddaloni; he immediately gave
the necessary orders to face the situation, and occupied Villa Gualtieri and S.
Salvatore.
But if even the courageous Bixio did not think that what had been lost could
be reconquered, Colonel Dezza (a brave soldier who, later on, in the Italian
army, reached the highest ranks) while holding the chasing enemies back,
decided to make a desperate attempt to reconquer Mount Caro and attacked
with his Brigade and with the reinforcements promptly sent by Bixio.
Without any delay, he implemented his brave plan: together with Menotti
and Taddei, he rushed to the Bavarians and the Swiss who held the mount.
As expected, their resistance was relentless from the start, since that position
was of crucial importance for the Bourbon army. But Garibaldi’s volunteers
did not give up at the first failure, and repeated their attacks with growing
strength, and if the Bavarians, fostered by positions that for their characteris-
tics were favourable to a defence, fought with great bravery, Dezza’s volun-
teers had sworn to reach the top of the Mount. And they did not hesitate
even when a Bourbon column seriously threatened their plan, since the
reserves, which Dezza had expediently kept within easy reach, were sufficient
to drive them back.
Finally, the perseverance of our volunteers received the award their brav-
ery deserved. The many and tenacious defenders of Mount Caro, despite the
support of their good artillery, were forced to leave the position they had con-
quered not long before, and meet their death, while the red shirts arrived,
preceded by their commanders who bravely marched on reconquering, with
their hats on the tips of their swords.
Von Mechel’s undertaking had failed: the Bavarians went down in groups
to the valley and then disappeared towards Dugenta. With this lucky opera-
tion, ascribed to Colonel Dezza’s bravery and initiative, the battle of Volturno
was concluded also on the right flank.