Page 286 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

268 GENERAL GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI

between forest rangers and Royal Carabinieri and the 5 th company of the
XLV battalion of the National Guard, formed of volunteer riflemen con-
scripted in Milan under the leadership of captain Solis (about 1200 men,
with four pieces) – restricted his action to the defence of the Valtellina: a truly
masterly defence of intuition, openness of mind, knowledge of mountain war
and utilisation of available abilities. The operation on Bagni di Bormio, in
which the volunteers of Bormio led by Lieutenant Pedranzini participated,
would deserve a more in depth description, in honour of those populations.
Here it is enough to recall the episode in which the bravery of this improvised
officer stood out, rightly receiving a military merit gold medal, and ending as
a modest secretary of his municipality.
On the 11 th of July, with daring battles, the people from Valtellina
attacked and chased the Austrians retreating to the Bagni di Bormio and
directed to the Stelvio. While more columns were advancing to surround
them, a small nucleus of riflemen from Bormio – under the leadership of
lieutenant Pedranzini, whose initiative was responsible for this action – dared
to climb, from the Uzza valley, the Reit rise, that for guides and explorers had
the reputation of being inaccessible, and then descend through the glaciers
north of the mountain, to intercept the retreat of the enemy over the road-
man’s house of the Stelvio’s road.
Pedranzini, lying in wait in the imposing cliffs of the Glondadura with 50
of the more determined men, at the opportune moment went down in free
fall from the glaciers overlooking the area called Diroccamento, and surprised
the enemy that was fast retreating from Bagni Vecchi.
“However fast the descent of Pedranzini…he could not have reached the
Diroccamento before the bulk of the enemy column had already gone past
st
the 1 roadman’s house and he was about to take shelter in the long tunnels
that covered the road for a few kilometres. The moment was decisive and
Pedranzini, continuing his descent, gave the order to open fire. The enemy’s
column divided: part went into the tunnels and part, in order to take shelter
from the fire of our men, hurled himself into the valley and following the
river bed got to a safe place.
“On this side of the Diroccamento the only thing left of the enemy was a
rearguard company: this, at first responded in a lively fashion to the fire of
st
our men, then, ran to shelter in the 1 roadman’s house, protected by that
building, showed signs of going down and the same way as the others.
“Pedranzini with admirable presence of mind and courage, refused to give