Page 350 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

332 GENERAL GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI

This warning shows what a great captain Garibaldi was, perfectly focused
on the situation and, guessing its further developments, demanding that
unity of command that is the chief condition of all success at war.
The events of the 27 th and 28 th showed that Garibaldi was fully right in
considering as disastrous the idleness of the French commanding officers.
Also the request made to the commandant of the stronghold of Auxonne had
remained unanswered. That general replied that he did not have troops for a
sally, whereas Garibaldi had been informed by the Delegation of Tours that a
Corps of regulars had arrived in Auxonnes with 3500 men and some pieces
under the lead of Colonel Fauconnet destined to operate on the Ognon.

Werder’s occupation of Dijon – General Werder, in the meantime, gathered
his troops north of Besançon, and observed that stronghold; the forward
detachment from Pesme on the 23 rd was sent to Dôle and had taken contact
with Menotti’s outposts. Werder, thinking that the attack against Besançon
could have an uncertain outcome, decided to march westward, cross the
Saône in Gray and on the north and then head for Dijon. On the 26 th the
vanguards that had crossed and were on the right bank of that river clashed
with the forward units of Dijon mobile troops, Lavalle’s and colonel
Fauconnet’s Corps, and drove them away southward; they occupied
Essertenne, took by surprise a column of mobile troops in Talmay, and cap-
tured it. The impression produced by these events on Lavalle, who was an
improvised general, was such that he ordered the withdrawal to Axonne, after
destroying the bridges of Pontailler and Lamarche, a withdrawal that was car-
ried out in a general disorder.
The Prussian advance on Dijon continued on the 28 th and on the 30 th
Garibaldi, informed of the situation, thought for a moment to rush to the
defence of Dijon, but was forced to give up this idea because of the destruc-
tion of the bridges on river Saône, since he did not have bridge equipment
and the Saône was in flood.
The inhabitants of Dijon, however, outraged for the inopportune retreat of
Lavalle and willing to oppose resistance against the enemy, forced Fauconnet to
push forward his troops, who opposed a first strong resistance north of the city
against Werder’s 12.000 Baden troops who were advancing. Fauconnet, howev-
er, found his glorious death in that fight and his death caused the people of
st
Dijon to abandon any idea of further resistance. On the 31 , Dijon opened its
door to the Baden troops who occupied it and kept it for about 2 months.