Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-06-21


tosSEspoadeacs q tie Manchester 0uardis,.l
BruLA, Nay "a, 1859.
IL was on Monday evening that Garibal.
dis Chssseurs Of the Alps arrived at Va
rsse. after prodigious march of two days.
A proclamation ives Issued By the General.
Inviting the whole Of the Vsresotto prov.
incs TO rise against their oppressors The
appeal was generally listened to, and men
OF every age and condition hasteDed to the
official residence Of Marquis Visconti, the
extraordinary commissioner sent by Count
Csvour Is the cosdjutor of the Italian gen.
eral In leA than two hours the whole Of
the surrounding country was in arms.-
Old men, children. and even women, cana
TO the Town Hall with al sorts Of weapons.
ready to help the small band (3,OOo) Of
their brethren. Verse; was soon fortified.
barricades erected, means Of defence care
fully ordered. Bands Of peasants were
pouring into the town from the numberless
hsmlets. villas, and villages, which deck
the picturesque hills Of that beautiful coun.
try-the finest in Lombardy, and, perhaps
of Europe. Garibaldi, who 10 always to be
found everywhere when danger is coming,
began to array In companies the new COM
| ers, and gave the necessary defence of the
country. as he supposed that the Austrians
posted ct Gallarate would attack him on
the next day. He was not deceived in bis
expectation, for on Wednesday morning, ct
dawn. 800 Croats and 1870 Hussars, with .
field battery. marched from Gallsrate TO
Seeto Calende, where the advanced guard
Of our Chasseurs was posted. This ad-
vanced guard was commanded by Capt
Decristofortis. young man Of great mill
tary ability, who only two months ago was
| in England, and kept first rate military
school ct Putney. After . fight, which
lasted two hours, the enemy was complete
~ defeated, leaving some prisoner In our
banda The Austrians we're Obliged to re-
tire ON Somma, and nothisg was heard of
them till next morning at four o'clock
The second attack was Of more serious
character. 1t was effected by brigade Of
5000 strong, with ten field pieces, and two
sqnadrons Of Uhians. After first discharge
Of their muskets. the Italian volunteers
assaulted the enemy with the bsyonet, and
with 30 much impetuosity that tho Austrian
center was Obliged to fall back on its left
wing, already engaged by battalion Of
our right wing. Now the fight became
general-a tremendous hand.to hand fight.
in which every inch of ground was bravely
disputed by both armies The enemy's ar
tillery was Of no more use. because Carl
baldi. having none, had ordered his men to
fight hand to hand with swords and bayo-
nets. At the report Of the musketry and
artillery. the country people fastened TO
the scene Of action with pitchforks, half
pixies, and cleavers. 1T was . dreadful
scene Of slaughter" said an .ye witness to
me. (which lasted three hours" Nothing
can give an idea of the impetuosity of those
Italians who could ct last revenge 50 many
wrongs, 30 many cruelties. 1t was almost
madness. Two brothers Strambio, enc cap
tain and another lieutenant, we're seen to
leap into the inside of hedge of bayonets,
and cut down Croats as if they had been
puppets. A Count Montauari, from Verona,
whose brother had been hanged, in 1853,
| by Raaetsky's order, was running up and
down the bloody field. striking right and
left with his powerful sword.
Att o'clock, the Austrian General was
obliged to give the order for retreat a.
his men were falling in all directions. Carl.
baldi was close at their heels till they reach
ed tho strong position of Malnate, where
they stopped to repair their losses.
| This is . short but faithful sketch of Gar
ibsldi's exploits. 1t will always be record
ed as one Of the most brilliant actions
fought in the present war, because he had
no artillery, and his soldiers were but vol
unteers, scarcely drilled, and unaccustomed
to camp life.