The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-09-07
A Garibaldi Story.


Paris Correspondence of the New York Times.
An interesting story is told of one of
Garibaldi's volunteers. Two or three days
before the Dictator's departure from Paler-
mo for Melazzo, be reviewed the corps of
Major Sicoli, just arrived from Genoa. In
the ranks be observed small, pale and
beardless boy, who had scarcely strength
enough to raise bis musket to his shoulder.
Garibaldi ordered him with surprise, and q
little severity, to advance from the ranks.
He inquired his age, and the boy answered
with blush, seventeen" although in fact,
he did not appear more than fourteen, and
certainly was not the age he gave himself.
The General complained to Major Sicoli
that the Piedmontese Committee should
send him such recruits, to which the Major
replied that the Committee no doubt thought
that the patriotism of the volunteer was a
compensation for his want of age. "Oh,
yes, that's it," said Garibaldi, with humor,
"and the next thing is I shall be charged
with the abduction Of minors"
The young volunteer stood trembling,
with his eyes to the ground. "Your place
is not here" said the Dictator roughly "go
back to school!"s The volunteer blushed to
bis eyes, when Garibaldi added with more
mildness in his voice, "you see that your
gun is too heavy for your small armsLgive
it to your neighbor, we have no arms to
spare" Garibaldi gave the order that the
young volunteer should be sent back, with
some others who were found in the same
condition, by the next steamer but when
the moment of departure arrived, the young
volunteer was nowhere to be found. All
that was known of him was that his Chris
tian name was Quinto, and that he was the
son of lawyer in Milan. Nothing more
was thought of him for the moment.
On the 10th and 18th of July two partial
engagements took place between the troops
of Col. Medici and the enemy near Barcel-
Iona. 1t was then that Medici sent to Pa
lermo For Garibaldi, in anticipation of the
battle which took place Immediately after
at Melazzo. When Garibaldi arrived at
Barcelona, he first directed his steps to the
ambulance, to visit the wounded of Medici's
two skirmishes, who numbered, perhaps,
fifty persons: He stopped with surprise
before the bed Of beardless boy, whom he
recognized at once as Quinto. Gari6aldi
interrogated him as to how be got there,
wounded, after having been sent off to &C.
noa. The boy, more embarrassed than the
first time, made his confession. He had
scampered across the fields, had gained the
high road to Messina, and followed on till
be caught up with the army of Medici.
When Medici sent forward his reconnoiter-
ing party toward Melazzo, and became en-
gagged with the enemy, Quinto watched his
chance till one of the men fell he then
seized the fallen mans gun and accoutre-
ments, and bounded forward into the thick
est of the fight.
"And that's the way, you little rascal
said Garibaldi smiling, "that you have got
yourself manned. Where is your wound ?"
At this question Quinto lost countenance,
but replied, "In the back, General" "Oh
oh p said Garibaldi, with smile of pity,
"you see now, eogl,one, the war is no child's
play, hope the wound is not dangerous?" ?"
"Oh, no, only spent ball."
Garibaldi walked away with shrug of
the shoulders. In the back The poor
boy understood the insinuation only too well,
but could not find at the moment word
with which to justify himself But when
the General was gone he rolled on bis bed
of straw, shedding tears Of rage and humil.
iation.
The General had not seen the young
volunteer for the last time. The incidents
which accompanied the battle of Melazzo
are known. At the most critical moment,
when the Dictator was engaged in hand
to.hand fight in his own defence, he saw
suddenly re-appear at his side the young
volunteer he had left the evening before at
the ambulance. "What that gan,in again!''
exclaimed Garibaldi. But at the same
moment the poor boy made an effort to show
his bleeding breast, and uttering a cry
worthy OF a hero of antiquity, "this time,
General, it is the good side !" be fell dead at
Garibaldi's feet.