Page 291 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

THE 1866 CAMPAIGN 273

enemy’s hunters crying victory”.
But Chiassi, overwhelmed despite himself by the overflowing tide of his
men, refuses to despair yet; but when he attempts to stem the disorderly
retreat with his voice and his example and to gather around him a band of
the most determined soldiers to attempt a last and desperate counter attack,
a bullet hit him in the chest killing him on the field.
“At that moment, about 08:00, Garibaldi arrived from Tiarno. He was of
course in a carriage, and therefore forced to stay on the road, unable to
observe from a high point the entire battlefield. But what he could not see he
guessed and quickly gave his orders as if the entire situation was mapped out
in front of him. Menotti, with what he had available of the 9 th regiment to
attack the right flank of the enemy from Tiarno; Colonel Spinazzi to come
out of Molina (southeast of Lake Ledro) and to surround him on the right,
the 7 th regiment and what was left of the 5 th and the Bersaglieri to attack in
the front and all together retake at all costs Bezzecca, key of the position.
Menotti, blocked by the crooked and difficult paths, is delayed in coming to
the front line; Spinazzi, whether he received the order late or misunderstood
it, didn’t come at all; the Austrians meanwhile, not only took Bezzecca, but
already come out of the village, encircle with their artillery the surrounding
high ground and prepare a third and final attack against the extreme line of
Garibaldi. Danger was closing in: the road of Tiarno is under enemy fire, and
Garibaldi is more visible and a sought target. The bullets whistle, dart,
bounce back, and cover his carriage with dust: one of the horses is already
wounded, one of the guides on horseback (Giannini) who was escorting him
is dead, his helpers Cairoli, Albanese, Damiani, Miceli, Cariolato, Civinini,
shield him with their bodies, try to take him away from that deadly place and
save at least him if it is not possible to save the day. But Garibaldi’s face shows
the calm of tragic resolutions: the calm of Salto and Calatafimi: “In this place
one wins or dies”. Deaf to any advice, insensitive to the danger, concentrat-
ed on the vicissitudes of the battle, he orders the reserve battery to advance
at a gallop and orders Major Dogliotti, heroic in those days, to converge his
fire mainly on Bezzecca, pointing the best position…
“But it will take me more than half an hour!” shouts the good
Dogliotti…”
“Be as quick as possible – cried Garibaldi – you’ll find me here alive or
dead!”. And the eight guns, fantastically aimed by Doglotti, soon produce
their terrible effect; the enemy blazed inside Bezzecca, thrown again out on