Page 88 - General Giuseppe GARIBALDI - english version

86 GENERAL GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI

after sending some columns to the two sides, towards Porta Angelica and
Porta Cavalleggeri, to divide the defence forces and defeat them more easily.
But, once arrived at the walls, with their great surprise, the French saw that
Porta Pertusa was no longer there; it had been walled up long before.
They were therefore compelled to move their attack to Porta Cavalleggeri,
located at the bottom of a narrow valley, in a receding corner of the walls,
where the assailants were without cover and exposed to the crossfire of the
two sectors: the northern one, led by Colonel Masi, and the southern one,
where Garibaldi kept watch.
At the same time, according to Oudinot’s plan, another French column
headed for Porta Angelica, along narrow tracks well watched over, where they
suffered heavy losses under the fusillades raging from the hanging gardens
dominating that stretch of the walls. It was noon, and under a scorching sun
the French, clearly upset by this unexpected resistance, prepared to withdraw,
when Garibaldi, who was following the phases of the fight from above the
terrace of Villa Corsini, decided to move with his soldiers from the Gianicolo
and attack the enemies on their flank. But his vanguard, formed by two or
three hundred students, had just come down from Villa Pamphili and turned
down the narrow street connecting Porta San Pancrazio and the Aurelia road,
when they found themselves in the face of French forces greatly outnumber-
ing them. A violent fray broke out, and despite the fact that Garibaldi and
his legionnaires had immediately rushed to help, they would certainly have
got the worst of it if the Roman legion, kept as reserves, had not stepped in
under the lead of Colonel Galletti.
The moment was serious, since the French already held part of Villa
Pamphili and Villa Corsini, but the Italian and Roman legionnaires were
strongly determined to conclude that memorable day with a victory.
Garibaldi’s white poncho, while he intrepidly rode along the battlefront,
served as a banner dragging them along, into an undefendable assault and to
death; trees, statues, bushes, all were shelters for the fighters; among the blos-
soming roses of the park the last bayonet attacks were launched and victory
smiled on the Italians.
At dusk, the French were withdrawing; to increase their confusion,
Masina arrived with his group of lancers, delivering blows and taking prison-
ers. The prisoners totalled 365, among which the main part of a battalion
belonging to the 20 th regular battalion and their major, taken by Nino