Page 25 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGNS 1836 - 1848 23

those two, each worthy of the other, that would last and never diminish for
ten years, until the tragic epilogue of Anita’s death, in the arms of the Hero
in 1849.
The enemy advance took place in two columns: one pursuing the Rio
Grande army retreating from Laguna and the other proceeding more to the
west through the mountainous and woodland district of the Serra, with the
idea of coming down from there on the side of the insurgents and cutting
their retreat to the south.
The proud Rio Grande population of the mountain, faced with this unex-
pected invasion and determined to oppose it, asked the help of general
Canabarro, who sent his lieutenant Texeira with a column of which Garibaldi
was part with few men on foot and on horses (among which were his sailors),
that in those days were under his command.
The heroic sailor had by now been transformed into a commander of land
troops. The clash between Texeira’s troops and the Brazilian column proceed-
ing through the mountains, happened in December 1839 in the vicinity of
Santa Vitòria with the victory of the Rio Grande army to which Garibaldi
cooperated with his men. This lucky day had suddenly very happy repercus-
sions for the Republic, because it gave it back freedom of action in the impor-
tant mountain districts of Lajes, Vacaria and Cima da Serra, which are the
key of the province of Rio Grande. In fact, the republicans immediately reoc-
cupied Lajes setting camp there.
In this way the military operations had their own main theatre of action
in the rough mountain area of Rio Grande, covered by extensive and thick
forests, crossed by few and difficult roads and paths, still in part inhabited by
semi-wild and not very safe populations; apart from the vast clearings where
the main inhabited areas are found or on the banks of the rivers that cross
that region in all directions, a typical guerrilla war zone.
Garibaldi the sailor transformed almost by magic, thanks to his eclectic
war ability, into a perfect land soldier, on foot or on horseback, began his sec-
ond activity as commander through mountains, valleys and woods that
would last for another two years through some of the more varied and ani-
mated adventures.
The imperials, defeated in Santa Vitòria, retreated in the territory of
Misiones, between the two large rivers of Uruguay and Paranà. From there,
reorganised, they advanced again this time towards the region of the great