Page 373 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

THE FRENCH CAMPAIGN 1870 - 1871 355

informed Zastrow that the bands of irregulars with whom he had clashed
«seem very badly led and can barely attempt some serious resistance against
troops of slight importance».
On the 5 th the truth was unmasked: Werder found the main body of
Bourbaki’s Army north of Doubs and, while he informed Moltke, he gave
orders for the immediate reuniting of his troops north of Vesul. Moltke, by
a sudden decision, ordered Werder to attack; the VII th Corps to gather in
Châtillon; the II nd Corps to reach the VII th and march together on the
Saône. On January 7, General Manteuffel took the command of the II nd and
th
VIIth Army Corps that, together with the XIV , from that moment formed
the southern Army.
The units of Ricciotti, Menotti and Lobbia, confronted with the advance
of such a huge mass, could but watch its movements; at the most, they could
seize some favourable occasions to attack some detached elements of some
units protecting the zone behind the front. And really Ricciotti just flanked
from very close the Prussian columns of the 13 th Division; he succeeded only
th
in surprising, on the 7 , a small detachment in Champ-d’Oiseau and in
forcing it to withdraw.
As concerned the advance of the main body, however, Ricciotti could do
nothing but avoid any contact.
A bold attempt of Ricciotti to attack a column of 2500 Prussians march-
th
ing on Crepant, on the 8 , despite the bravery shown by his 1300 volunteers
and snipers, turned out into a failure and the 4 th Brigade was nearly sur-
rounded and captured. They could barely withdraw to Flavigny in the night.
The brave activity of Ricciotti aroused in those days great apprehension in
his father, but a fine observer would have been needed to read in the Hero’s
face the slightest sign of his anxiety. To Bordone who informed him with
some embarrassment about the news of the possible surrounding of his son,
Garibaldi addressed the following words that revealed the father’s love,
although the general still kept his imperturbable calm:
«Colonel, you know more than what you say; do not fear to grieve me; me
and you, we are both exposed to the danger of receiving any moment the
news of the death of a son…..but have we not, perhaps, decided for the sac-
rifice of our lives and of those of our sons when we came here? Tell me the
truth: is Ricciotti dead or has he been taken prisoner?».
And when, the day after, Bordone brought to Garibaldi the telegram
assuring that Ricciotti had escaped the surrounding, the father prevailed over