Page 301 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

THE 1867 CAMPAIGN 283

between Monte Maggiore and Corese, all of Garibaldi’s columns of the cen-
tre: Valzania, Caldesi, Salomone, Mosto, Frigyesy, concentrated there from
Scandriglia, Terni, Narni, Rieti etc.; Fabrizi estimates that the overall force
amounted to 14,000 men.
Vitali states that they must have been much more, and his estimation is of
16,000 men.
One thing is sure, that the desertion and lack of discipline reduced the
th
number considerably and quickly: on the 25 , at Monterotondo there were
8,000 men. And maybe the same number on the 23 rd and 24 th or a few
more, while many were still getting there.
On the 20 th Menotti is in Percile with Colonel Salomone and on the 21 st
is joined by Frigyesy with about 2,000 volunteers. On the 22 nd he goes back
to Scandriglia, reorganises his men and on the 23 rd marches on Montelibretti
and camps at the Falconieri house between Montelibretti and Monte
Maggiore; on the 24 th proceeds towards Monterotondo up to the station that
had been occupied the previous evening by a detachment of the Caldesi col-
umn that had blocked the telegraph office and the rail link with Rome and
had taken prisoner 2 telegraph operators and 4 soldiers; only one, called
Bufile managed to escape and bring the news to Monterotondo.
nd
On the 2 , in response to the news of a approaching offensive by Garibaldi,
the Papal garrison in Monterotondo received orders by General Kanzler, com-
mander in chief and deputy minister of the Papal army, to resist to the bitter end
if attacked by the Garibaldians, staying there until further orders; but surrender
if attacked by the Italian regular army and retreat to Rome.
The garrison was composed of the following troops:
2 nd and 5 th company of the Antibo legion: 159 men;
4th company Carabinieri Esteri: 85 men;
1 platoon of Dragoons (Second-Lieutenant Venieri): 26 horsemen;
1 artillery Division (2 pieces: one howitzer15 and a gun 8) (Lieutenant
Bernard de Quatrebarbes): 32 men;
1 squad of Gendarmes (Lieutenant Poccioni): 21 men;
In total 323 men (circa 370 according to Kanzler and 336 according to
Vitali).
Commander of the garrison, Captain Robert Costes of the Antibo legion
(5 th company).
Commander of the stronghold, Captain Federer of the 4 th company
Carabinieri Esteri, with Second Lieutenant Ringard as aide de camp