Page 355 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

THE FRENCH CAMPAIGN 1870 - 1871 337

es of the Morvan through which the enemy could advance, Garibaldi want-
ed to go to the offensive against Werder as soon as possible, before Werder
could receive the already announced reinforcements and, precisely, he want-
ed to launch an audacious surprise attack against the Baden Division occu-
pying Dijon. Since large Prussian forces had already been reported as march-
ing on the region of Montbard, he decided to try his surprise attack during
the night of November 25.
The attack had to be preceded by a demonstration, entrusted to Ricciotti,
who with his 800 men forming in that moment the 4 th brigade, had to lead
an audacious foray towards Montbard to create a diversion.
On November 14 Ricciotti left Autun, after receiving from his father the
following precise and clear written directions that for their importance to the
purposes of Garibaldi’s art, deserve to be quoted here in full.
«From Autun – he wrote – you have to march on Semur and Montbard
and trouble the communications of the enemy, who occupies Troyes and
Auxerre and those of the enemy who occupies Dijon. Since you can reach via
Montbard, Châtillon, Chaumont, Neufchâteau the main communication
line of our enemy stretching from Strasbourg to Paris, the operation will
become more difficult and more important.
«To achieve successfully this mission you need special troops, that is,
strong and quick men; those who are not so must remain in Autun in the bar-
racks. The men accompanying you must get accustomed to strain, hardship
and most of all they must keep a cool head in dangers, since it is superfluous
to ask for courage from French troops.
«Once you pass the northern outposts of our army, your manoeuvres must
always be carried out by night and you must sleep during the day. May dawn
always find you preferably hidden in the margin of the woods, always ready
to surprise the enemy scouts, their couriers and their provisioning and always
ready to find cover in the woods and the mountains to assure your retreat.
«Possibly do not attack overwhelming forces and do not feel ashamed to
crush those whose number is smaller than yours.
«Overwhelming forces may be troubled by using small detachments
formed by the bravest and quickest soldiers who will shoot by night and from
advantageous positions and then will withdraw to the main body of your
forces, possibly gathered in hidden or inaccessible places.
«Your soldiers must get used to the idea of not finding bread everywhere;