Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-08-12
MISCELLANY Y.
Exploits of Garibalars Hunters.

When the history OF the recent Italian
war is written, the most exciting and ro-
mantle chapters will be those that tell the
daring exploits of Garibaldi and his little
band of volunteers-the Hunters, as they
call themselves. A private letter from one
of the corps is thus translated -
When the troops of Urban, driven from
st Formo, Pra Pasque. the suburbs of vi
co, etc, retreated towards Camerlata, Zone
OF the railroad stations between Milan and
Como,) some of the hunters pursued them
step by step, while the other portion of
5 their band traversing the semcircle of hills
) rround Como and the lake, arrived at Cam
erIata before their comrads As the vol
unteers really fight voluntarily, it generally
happens, especially in the bayonst attack
and in the pursuit of the enemy, that an
audacious minority, swift Of foot aud strong
OF will, commence the combat bef1re the
rest come up, and this without any refer
ence to the enemy's numbers. From the
very elements of which the corps is com.
posed naturally result miracles of audaci-
ty which seems fabulous; victories of ten
over one hundred, which, while you listen
to them, seem as if they must have issued
from the Imagination of Aristo-neverthe-
less they are true. Garibaldi's march
from Varese to Costenedolo, and thence to
Treo, the valley of the Oglio Tonale, the
valley of the Adda, and TO the Stelvio, if
ever it is to be fully described, will aston
ish the world as no feats of modern times
have ever done. The utter scorn of death,
of the ordinary calculations as to the prob
abilities of victory, expose the Hunters Of
course to fearful loss, but not without pro-
ducing CORES Sponding results. During the
first quarter OF an hour the combats are
nearly always between those foremost few
and the bulk OF the enemy; repulsed on
every side, they ever return TO the attack,
! pretending not TO hear the signal for retreat !;
fighting like lions, nearly always winning,
but paying dearly for their victory before
their companions come up. But whether
they live or whether they fall by this mode
of warfare, so foreign to all established
rules, the volunteers have inspired the Aus
trians with such terror that they prefer
fighting any number of regulars TO these
'devils incarnate," as they call them; and
> in like proportion have they inspired the
people with enthusiasm for the national
cause and confidence in its triumph, so that
where one volunteer falls, six arise 10 fill
his place.
!. To cite but one of their deeds of valor
. take the case of Giuseppe Basel, a Milan
ease. simple soldier. Lame and rather
/ awkward ia appearance, he suddenly came
alone upon four Austrians; among them
10 php
with musket, an5ther with pistol, the
third fed and then duel commenced be-
tween him and the captain Bassi with hi:
. bayoneif, and the captain with his sword
Bassi, slightly wounded, succeeded il
plunging his bayonett into the neck of the
Austrian. Before the rest of the Hunter.
i came up. Urban had sent off his battery
n towards Mariana, and this was the sigma
for precipious fight, his troops leaving
!. the greater portion Of their baggage at tn,
d railway station. Bass took from the deat
captain his sword, revolver, a portfolio
and purse containing 1000 forins, AM
carried the whole to Garibaldi. The gen
&c eral retained the papers for the family 0
= the dead. but the money was deposited il
the cash box of the troops, to save it iron
IN the hazards of war for the benefit of Bass
and of his family. Two days after, Bass
with his company formed part Of tbs de
tachment which attacked Levano withou
sucess. Together with comrade h
climbed ~ The wall of the fortress, whe
tha commander. seeing that a surprise wa
impossible, gave orders for retreat. Th
wall was high very difficult to scale, an
m impossihle to descend. The enemy ad
rs, yanced; in a moment Bassi's resoluio
Of was taken he gave spring, and fallin
IT. on a heap of stones dislocated his ankle
as as His companion, less audacious, could nc
make up his mind TO do the same, and erie
na ao out 10 Bassi to know how high the wa
was, and whether he was hurt. Repress
- ING his eroans, he encouraged his friend
= make the attempt, as TO remain was certai
death he succeeded, and he helped ava
poor Bassi until some peasants took ldr
and concealed hin until he could join hi
as company.
Bronzelti. Tyrolese, who greatly dis
tingnisbed himself at Rome in 1919, con
ld ld Quoted himself so well at Como and Wares
If that he was raised from the rank OF cap
= tain to that of major. He was at Rizzat
= with two companies of his battalion on tn
Y 10th of June, and hearing that an Austria
battalion had advanced TO Firle be hastene
6 thiiher, and putting them TO fight, purSue
Is them as far as AIolnetto, where a secen
SS battalion Of Austrians came to the rescue
= These also he chased along the road tha
90 crosses the railroad from Brescia 10 Lonat.
e entered Civilaghe and drove them toward
90 s. Glianomo, and arrived at CaStenedolt
- - in tie very center of Urbans camp. III
had already been twice wounded, but sii
headed his men, crying "onward onward
with an audacity as admirable as II wa
imprudent, for he was surrounded by !;
- 600 Anstrians. He then ordered a retrea
s and his men obeyed slowly, and constantl
returning to charge ON the enemy directl
ov fresh hunters came up. In one OF thes
or encounters. with the word coward on n
/, lips. he received his death wound. foa
I soldiers we're killed in bearing hini fro;