Page 299 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

LUIGI CICCONETTI *

THE 1867 CAMPAIGN

THE OPERATIONAL PLAN

Garibaldi’s original project was to invade the Papal States from the area of
Viterbo, but this project never happened. Maybe Garibaldi gave up the idea
after the halt at Sinalunga that hampered considerably his action as leader.
However, as a matter of fact, while Acerbi from the north and Nicotera from
the south were invading the Papal territory with small groups, he decided to
act with the bulk of his men to the left of the Tiber, where the border was
closer to Rome and it was easier to attack the city from there. In this way the
operations of Acerbi in the area of Viterbo and Nicotera in the province of
Frosinone were to serve as diversions for the flanks, while the main column,
under the direct leadership of Garibaldi, from Passo Corese would aim direct-
ly at Rome through the Salaria Road.
The plan very simple in its clear concept was well adapted to the spirit and
the particular conditions of Garibaldi’s troops: although they were animated
by a great love for the homeland and spirit of sacrifice, they evinced different
kinds of moral valour, not easily amalgamated, were led by officers that were
not all of sufficient culture and professional ability, who were more often
influenced by a demagogic spirit than dominated by military discipline, they

* Luigi Cicconetti (Poggio Mirteto, 1868 – 1945) finished the Military College in 1889 with the rank
of infantry Second Lieutenant and was a teacher of military history in reserve officers’ training school.
During the Libya campaign, he distinguished himself in the battle of Assaba, and obtained his first sil-
ver medal for military bravery. He received a second silver medal for his behaviour during WWI, in
which he performed tasks as both General Staff Officer and Commanding Officer. In 1917, when he
was commanding the Lario Brigade, he received the promotion as Major General for war merits. Then
st
he was the Commander of the 61 and the 57 th Divisions and Chief of General Staff of the 8 th Army
Corps, obtaining the cross of officer of the Savoy Military Order. After the end of the war, he com-
manded large units both in Italy and in Libya and was promoted to Lieutenant General. For his mili-
tary merits he was appointed as Senator of the Kingdom of Italy in 1933. He wrote some essays on the
history of the Risorgimento and was appreciated for his volume Roma o Morte. Gli avvenimenti nello
Stato Pontificio nell’anno 1867 (Rome or Death. The Events in the Papal State in 1867), Milan, 1934.