Page 312 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

294 GENERAL GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI

THE FRENCH INTERVENTION

As soon as an invasion of the State by the Garibaldians became a possibil-
ity, the Papal government began negotiations for a French intervention and
ordered that in Civitavecchia everything should be prepared to facilitate the
French landing.
Meanwhile, wisely, the command of the Papal troops concentrated its
forces in Rome and in Civitavecchia and ordered the blockade of the coastal
railway to Orbetello and that of Naples towards Isoletta in several Divisions.
The Garibaldians took advantage of this to occupy Viterbo, and the divisions
of the regular army to occupy Acquapendente, Civita Castellana e Frosinone.
The landing of the French Expeditionary Corps started in Civitavecchia
th
st
on the 29 . On the 1 November the entire Division is gathered in Rome;
the railway move of the 2 nd Division is taking place.
The French intervention completely changed the situation; it was no
longer a choice to plan field operations against the formidable French-Papal
contingent.
On the other hand, if the population of Rome remained indifferent, and
it could not have done otherwise against the large garrison, Garibaldi only
had two choices:
- To disband the volunteers corps and postpone the venture for a better time;
- To play for time, keeping alive the insurgency in the territory.
After some hesitation, the leader of the Mille (The Thousands) goes for
the second choice and decides to concentrate his forces in Tivoli, where as
ordered he will also find Nicotera; Acerbi will get there following the itiner-
ary he was given. It was possible to wait in Tivoli for a favourable change in
the situation, in a good defensive position, with their back covered by the
Apennines – easy way out for the manoeuvre – and an open way to Abruzzo
still within reach of Rome.
As a result of this decision the wounded Garibaldians from Monte-
rotondo were evacuated on the 2 through Passo Corese within the border of
the Kingdom; Nicotera received repeated orders to go to Tivoli.
We could ask ourselves whether it would not have been better for
Garibaldi to go with all his forces on the right of the Tiber rather than going
to Tivoli, and set up a guerrilla camp in the Viterbo area joining Acerbi and
possibly be joined by Nicotera.
Militarily speaking, the Papal territory, on the right of the Tiber, presents