Page 344 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

326 GENERAL GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI

«Despite all the tactical modifications dictated by the perfectioning of fire
arms, the compact and well led masses are those who have decided until now
the great battles; as a consequence, since we do not have these organized
masses, we must have recourse to the partisan warfare until the national army
can face the adversary with favour.
«9. – What follows is what I ask to my militia:
«A) A strict discipline, more severe that that of regular troops, without
which no military force can exists. By discipline I do not intend only the obe-
dience to the leaders, but also the relationships between a «party» and anoth-
er «party»; that is, the brotherly cooperation that must exist among them; the
younger must obey to the older and to those of higher rank.
«Moreover, the «parties» must exchange the information they have and
combine their movements so to avoid dangers, so that they can concur to the
common purpose that is to cause the greatest possible damage to the enemy.
«The leaders of the «parties» must inform in the most precise way the
nearby command about the enemy’s movements, its forces and their nature;
and therefore each «party» must always have some men on horseback to
quickly bring this news and to go scouting.
«The leaders and officers must be convinced that without failing to
observe the discipline they can and must treat their soldiers with honour and
consider them as their children.
«B) An unshakable perseverance in facing dangers and difficulties until the
Homeland is free.
«C) A well-tried courage and an irreproachable behaviour to gain the love
and respect of the populations, the respect of property, also among the hard-
est privations, is the first virtue of the soldier.
«D) The absolute disregard for the enemy’s cavalry. It would be a shame
and a betrayal to fear it; it would be even a greater shame to feel panic in front
of it, and this would increase the boldness of the enemies.
«I conclude by reminding you that the defence of Montevideo, against
18.000 well-trained troops lasted 9 years; that city had 30,000 inhabitants
then, and among them there were English, French and Italian merchants,
who all contributed to its defence and were fortunate enough to assist to the
triumph of their adoptive Country. However, Montevideo ceded its palaces,
its temples, its present and future customs rights, unearthed its old cannons
that were used as kerbstones in the streets, forged lances to replace the lack-
ing rifles, while the women gave to the Homeland up to the last of their jew-