Page 294 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

276 GENERAL GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI

interpreters of the criticisms and violent controversies stirred up by the cam-
paign, printed contradictory letters, that – distorting facts – were used to pass
hasty judgements, or at least not clear, on the figure of Garibaldi, both when
defaming and exalting him.
In fact, criticism of his action was predominant; Some people found that
Garibaldi’s leadership of the campaign, was less brilliant the previous ones in
America and in Italy; some found that it had been non productive both in
territorial terms and in a balanced use of the strong mass he had available, it
was also said that, while Garibaldi had always demonstrated to be a skilled
tactician, in this campaign he had shown a not very clear concept of how to
conduct the operations, so that he was forced almost always to acts in
response to the enemy’s initiative, and never being able to have the upper
hand. And since the number of forces at his disposal was way superior than
that of Kuhn, which he fought against, these criticisms could appear – as they
did – in some way founded.
But once the main protagonists of this unlucky campaign disappeared,
and the passions it aroused were dissipated or abated, when documents that
had been for too long – and maybe not by accident – hidden came to light,
the historical criticism shed a clear light on the figure of Garibaldi.
A good leader even on this occasion, broad minded and quick acting, he
was able to manoeuvre the tool entrusted in his hands, with his usual skill.
But, as the artist needs to have at his disposal high quality material and high
inspiration to express himself and be creative, so the leader needs to have in
his hand a solid army, and most of all fit for the aim to be pursued, and it
needs to be clearly oriented and receive precise directives, so that his geniali-
ty can conceive a plan of action that corresponds to the objective aimed at
and the means available.
Today it can be said – and, in truth it has been said before – that all of this
was not made available to Garibaldi.
The uncertainties about the campaign plan, that – even on the immediate
eve of the declaration of war – divided the representatives of the Italian army;
the misunderstandings deriving from this; political suspicions, which have
been mentioned, regarding Garibaldi; the strange delay in the constitution –
although already decided for sometime - by the volunteers corps; the lack of
precise directives; the fact that Garibaldi’s most skilled leaders had joined the
regular army, represent factors that do have serious repercussion with respect
to Garibaldi’s actions.