Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-09-05

An interesting story Is told of one OF Gar
ibaldis volunteers. Two or three days be-
fore the Dietator's departure from Palermo
for helazzo, he reviewed the corps Of Major
Sicoli Just arrived from Genoa In the
ranks he observed a small, pale and beardless
/ boy, who had scarcely strength enough TO
raise bis nnsket to his shoulder. Garibal-
di ordersA I'm with surprise, and little Of
severity. ~ Vance from the ranks. He in-
quired his age, and the boy answered with
| blush, seventeen, although, in fact, lie did
| not appear more than fourteen, and certainly
was not the age be gave himself The Gen
erll complained to Major Sieoli that the Pied
montese Committee should send him such re-
cruits, TO which the Major replied that the
Committee no doubt thought that the patriot
ism Of the volunteer was a compensation,
for bis want of age. "Oh, yes, that's it,
said Garibaldi, with humor, sand the next
thing is ! shall be charged with the abduc-
ton Of minors"
The young volunteer stood trembling, with
bis eyes to the ground. "Your place is not
here, said the Dictator roughly; "go back
TO school - The volunteer blushed TO his
eyes, when Garibaldi added with more mild
ness in his voice, ''Y on see that your gun is
too heavy for your small arms-giye it TO
your neighbor, we have no arms to spare
Garibaldi gave the order that the young vol
unteer 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 Christian name was
QuintO, and that he was the son of a lawyer
in Milan. Nothing more was thought of him
for the moment.
On tho 18th and 18th July two partial en-
gagements took place between the troops OF
Col. Medici and the enemy near Barcelona.
Il was then that Medlci sent to Palermo 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. Garibaldi interrogated him as 10
how he got there, wounded, after having been
sent of to Genoa The boy, more embar-
raised than the first time, made his confess
sion. he had scampered across the fields
had gained the high road to Messina, and fol-
lowed on till be caught up with the army OF
Medici When Medici sent forward his re-
connoitering party towards Melazzo, and be
came engaged with the enemy, Quinto
watched his chance till one of the men fell;
be then seized the fallens mans gun and ac-
coutrements, and bounded forward into the
thickest 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" "Ohl
oh l' said Garibaldi, with a smile Of pity
"You see now, eogLiOHe, that war is no child's
play. / hope the wound is not dangerous
''Oh, no, only spent ball"
Garibaldi walked away with q shrug of the
shoulders. In the back The poor boy un-
derstoOd the insinuatiou only too well, but
could not find at the moment a word with
which to justify himself But when the Gen
eral was gone be rolled on his bed of straw
shedding tears of rage and humiliation.
The General had not seen the young vol
unteer for the last time The incidents which
accompanied the battle of Melazzo are known.
At the most critical moment when the Die
tator was engaged in hand-to- hand fight in
his own defence, he saw suddenly reappear at
his side the young volunteer he had left the
evening before at the ambulance. 'What
that 9aHlin again p exclaimed Garibaldi-
But at the same moment the poor boy made
an effort to show his bleeding breast, and ut
tering a cry worthy of antiquity, "This
time, General, it is the good side" he fell
dead at Garibaldis feet.