The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-15
A SKETCH OF GARIRALDT

MILAN, July al am not greatly inclined to
hero-worship, and never went two steps out of NV
way to see the face of any man living; but have
just now travelled $50 miles to press the hand of
Garibaldi. heard he was at Tirauo or Bormio. in
the Valtelline, and left Milan Saturday last by
the evening train to Cameriata and Como. | en-
barked in the steamboat plying across the lake on
Sunday morning, and rode from Coico along the
broad valley Of the AIDA as far as Sondrio. At
Sondrio was told that Garibaldi's headquarters
were across the mountains at Lovere, in Val Ca
nonica the Lake of Iseo; for the General him
self he described too restless being ever to
remain stationary in any place. l. therefore, pur-
sued my journey up the Vateine as far as Ira
mezza. From the latter place walked BY moon
light over the Aprica Pass to Edolo; from Edolo I
again rode to Lovere, where found the General
was i'll in bed. | saw him.
At every step during this romantic Journey fell
in with the Chasseurs of the Alps, and both Carl
baldTs followers and the whole population had no
theme of conversation only the adventurous
hero was in quest of. At Como | found the de-
pots of the corps, body of 1000 to 5000 men,
which, IN spite OF the armistce and peace, receive
every day new recruits. At Sondrio and all along
the lower valley, the Cacciatori degli Apennini,
now united to their fellow-chasseurs of the Abs
were echelonnes. At Tramezza we were only
few hours from the Stelvio Pass, where the last
shots in this have been exchanged between
the Tyrolese Jagers and the Italian sharpshooters
The road across the Aprica Pass, from the valley
OF the AIDA to the valley of the Oglio,
still bore traces of recent conflicts. Barricades-
were thrown athwart the road on the highest
slopes, calculated to break the impetuosty of%the
assailants at the only point where rush could be
made, At Edolo, in a deep gorge jammedin by gi-
gantc green mountains, we were at the foot of the
Tonale Pass and there also the dread rifles of the
Tyrolese highanders were leveled against the bad
muskets with which Garibaldi's men have hitherto
carried on the unequal conflict, making up for the
interiority of their weapons by undaunted courage
and the lavish sacrifice of their lives All along the
road, at the different minor head quarters, con-
versed with Garibaldi's men and officers. 1t
is not rare to find in this singular corps the
mon so dier better informed and educated man
than his epauletted commander.
The charm thrown by the hero OF Montevdeo
over the whole Italian population has enlisted
young men of the highest classes artists, literary
men, professors and scholars, in his ranks rs
privates. Even the veteran Montanelli once
ruler in Tuscany, and for many years an illustrious
exile in Paris, the author of Gamma and other his
torical and literary works, quilted his wife in Tu-
rim, ana followed his only son, who had embarked
a common soldier in this periIous adventure
Among hundred Italians YOU find perhaps five or
six adventurers Of all other countries, French,
Swiss and Germans, Spaniards, Americans, of
both continents, and even Chinese and an Eng
lishman. The latter found at Turin, at the table
dhOte de Ia Grande Breidgne where he announced
To me his intention to have some sport with the
Alpine chasseurs, and asked for direction as to
GaribaldTs whereabouts. He is man of near 60,
of a tall and colossal frame mperfecty acquainted
with the language, and ignorant of most Italian
matters. He processes, L am told, the utmost in
difference to the cause he serves,
Between him and his fellow -cOmbatants there is
hardly any intercourse. Garibaldi allowed him to
follow his camp. He makes war at his own ex-
pense, and encamps apart from the corps He re-
ceives orders, asks for information as to the
Generals movements. He is indefatigable in the
march-intrepid in the fight Garibaldi numbers
80, or perhaps 100, of the best marksmen in Earope
but the Ehglishman is the deadliest shot. In the
latest encounter on the Stelvo the Tyrolese never
succeeded in winging a single Garibaldino, while
five of their numbers dropped mortay wounded
from the ramparts, from which they scarcely ven
tured to peep; two of the number fell under the un-
erring aim of the Englishman.
He is never wanting at the hour of strife; he takes
his place in some hidden nook, all alone, aoof from
the rest, squatted the ground calm and i'm
passionate, taking lesurely aim, like a sportsman
awaiting the lion or the wild boar at the brook.
He has a doubIe-barrelled rife, sabre, but no
bayOnet, and takes no past in the melee when the
Garibaldini come to close quarters. Some people
told him he must be very strongly devoted to the
Italian cause to come out in in its support at
his time of life. He answered with a yawn, that
he was very fond of shooting, and must take part
either one side or the other. There was an &C.
centric Frenchman, also an aged man, who Joined
G8ribadi at Cuneo at the outset; but he had fancy
he could go to war in his gig; and, somehow, his
gig broke down on the first brush with the Austri
ans at Casale, and the French amateur was never
again heard Of
Most of Garibadis officers especially the staff
and those who are nearest his person. are old, we'll
tried friends, who have borne arms with him in
South America, or who have at least fought by his
side in Lombardy and Rome in 1S4SI49. Several
sea-captains, chiefly Geneese, who cruised with
him, follow his fortunes by land, as they did for
years at sea. Twas for some time in doubt whether
the secret of this extraordinary mans SWAY was
grounded on love or fear, but uncertainty re-
mains now in my mind the subject. There was
young captain, indeed, who told me he would
rather face hundred AuStrians than address even
the most necessary question to Garibad when he
appears among his men with the brim of his cap
pulled down on his brows; but, on close inquiry
| find that this terrible chieftain had as vet no
occasion to shoot single for insubord-
nation. Spies, indeed, he has caught and dealt
with them In very summary manner, but none
of his followers has ever any punishment been in
iicted, not even that most severe punishment of ALL
expulsion from the corps. 1t is the of his
tenance and the music of his voice which exercise
magnetic ascendency over these men. He asks of
them proofs of almost fabulous daring, but he is
with them at the sOrest need, always foremost
among them. The hero of hundred fights ALWAYS
distinguishabe for his tall stature, lofty bearing
and somewhat fanciful costume, Garibad was
never wounded. His followers that the Tyrolese
no longer turn their rifles towards him, as they
are convinced that the has made his bargain
with the devil and sold his soul to render his body
huet-proof. The example of the chieftain has en-
| gendered a belief among his followers that the
greatest safety lies in the utmost daring, and Carl
baldi never points to any impregnable stronghold
at which his chasseurs will not DASH whether it be
| in the power of human beings TO storm it or not
| paign; remember the encounters at Casale, at Va
| rese, Como, Montechiari, and on the Tonale and
! Stelvio consider that Garibaldi, whatever exag-
gerations fame may have allowed itself, never had
| more than four five thousand actual combatants
at any time under his orders add to this that he
had to contend wi tn the deadly sttzer of the re-
nowned shooters of the Tyrol and Stvria, while his
men, with the exception Of fifty Genoese and the
| Euglishman, were armed with muskets by the side
of which cid Brown Bess is EnneId rifle, and you
| will be able to understand what wonders enthusi-
will work when raised to its highest pitch by a
noble cause, and borne up by unlimited confidence
! in the leader.
The leader was ill in bed, as | said, when | went
| to see him at Lovere, about noon on Monday last
Garibadi is never i'll on a battle-day, and never
well during an armistice or peace. He suffers from
rheumatic fever, | was told which he can only
shake off by incessant exertion. had a long talk
with the officers of the Staff in the antechamber,
and was kept waiting for about half an hour, as
'"there was lady in the case" But, upon having
my name and errand conveyed to the General, |
| was admitted into his sleeping apartment. The
General lay in his shirt-sleeves large bed, the
| lady-rather young and good-looking person
sitting in chair at the foot of the bed She was,
believe. suior for the release of some of the
young Alpine huntsman, her relative who either
bad got tired of the game, particularly
| wanted by his friends at home.
Garibaldi was born in 1907, and is therefore 50
years old He has bright, cheerful look the color
| of his skin and hair betoken sanguine tempera-
| ment. There is not one of the busts, Autographs
| photographs, DC, which sold by thousands
throughout Italy and Europe as Garibaldi's por-
traits that gives the slightest idea of the expression
! ofthat noble countenance. There is not the least
approach to ferceness wildness about the hero's
countenance. He looks intelligent, earnest, benev-
lent, and atfable in the extreme. He is somewhat
narrow about the temple-round headed square
visaged He has fine head, but not very massive;
large, but by no means broad face. Even his
beard is absurdy exaggerated by the men who have
worked at his likeness, else he has lately been
trimming it in the excessive heat. The hair is
brown-red, and has been rich and glossy The
eve stuck me as light gray, but with tint of the
on-red in it. His voice is clear, ringing, silver.
toned. Nothing can equal the gentleness, freedom
and ofhs address. He sat up in his bed with
out the least effort, to welcome me, and, like one
free from suffering, he held out his hand, and said
he was hidden by common friend to take me BY
the hand, and would be happy to do so He then
eant on his elbow, and proceeded with my errand
which is no mans business. As | surveyed that
fine, bright face, that powerful yet elegant and
symmetrical frame, and beheld the fair plump LON
bard lady seated by his bedside, | could scarcely
attend to what was saying, as my Imagination
ran back to the in the 1alisman and fancied
saw the lion-hearted King lying his lions hides
and his lovely Queen suppliant at his feet for the
life of the Scotch knight Truly, Garbaldii is one
of natures own kings and leaders of men. 1t was
neither fair justice good taste to represent him
as truculent bandit or theatrical hero. Load
ed with stars and by more than one monarch