The Portland daily press., 1862-10-23
Statement of Gen. Garibaldi.

The following letter from Gen. Garibaldi,
relating TO the unhappy conflict at Aspro-
monte, will be read with interest,"
''ON BOARD THE DUKE OF GENOA Sept /.
They thirsted for blood, and l wished to
spare it. Not the poor soldier who obeyed,
but the men of clique who cannot forgive the
revolution for being revolution-i. is that
which disturbs their Conservative digestion
and for having contributed to the re-establish-
ment Of our Italian family.
Yes, they thirsted for blood; perceived it
with sorrow and endeavored in consequence
to the utmost TO prevent that of our assailants
from being shed.
81 ran to the front of our line, crying out to
them not to fire. and from the center to the
left, where my voice and those of my aides-de-
camp could be heard not trigger was pulled.
1t was thus on the attacking side. Having ar
rived at a distance of 200 metres. they began
a tremendous fire, and the party of Bersaglier
who were in front of me directing their shots
against me, struck me with two balls, one in
the left thigh, not dangerous, the other in the
ankle of the right foot, making a serious
wound.
"As all this happened at the opening Of the
conflict, and | was carried to the skirt of the
wood after being wounded, could see nothing
more, a thick crowd having formed around
me while my wound was being dressed. / felt
ctiidill, uoNtNSf. lidt up W the elu vi tue line
which was at my litter, and to, that of my aides
de-camp, not musket was fired. As there
was no firing on our sde it was easy for the
troops to approach and mingle with ours, and
when was told that they wished to disarm
us, replied that the men might dsarm them
selves. The intentions of my companions werc
however. so little hostile, that | only by this
dsarmed in the crowd some officers and regu-
lar soldiers.
1t was so on our right, The Picciott, at
tackled by the regular troops. replied by fire
upon the whole line, and although the trump
cts sounded TO cease firing, there was at that
spot smart fusilade, which lasted not more
than quarter of an hour.
My wounds led to some confusion i'm our
line. Our soldiers, not seeing me. began to
retreat into the wood, SO that little BY little
the crowd round me broke up, and the most
faithful alone remained At this moment l.
learned that my staff, and Col. Pallavincino,
who commanded the regular troops. were me-
gotiating upon the following considerations:
first, that | should be free with my staff to
withdraw where pleased. Qrepld 'on board
an English vessefb second, that having ar
rived at the seashore, the rest of my coinpan-
ions should be set at liberty. Col. Pallavinci-
no conducted hins self as a valarous and intel
ligent chief in all his military movements, and
he has not been wanting in respect or co lrte-
81 towards me and my people. lie showed
his grief in having to shed Italian blood, but
he had received peremptory orders, and had
to obey them.
My arrangements had been purely defensive.
and had hoped TO avoid conflict, seeing the
very strong position that occupied, and en-
tertalnlng the hope that the regular troops had
received orders less sanguinary. Ii had not
been wounded at the outset, and ifmy people
had not received the order under all circum-
stances to avoid any collision whatever with
the regular troops, the contest between men
of the same race would have been terrible
However, far better as it is. Whatever NAV
be the result of my wounds, whatever fate the
Government prepares for me, have the con-
seriousness of having done my duty; and the
sacrifice ofmy life is very little thing lift has
contributed to save that of great number of
my fellowmen.
in the hazardous enterprise in which / and
my companions had thrown ourselves, with
heads bent, hoped nothing good from the
Government of Rattazzi. But why should |
not have hoped for less rigor on the part of the
King. having altered in nothing the old pro-
gramme, and having decided not to alter it at
any price? What affects me most is this fatal
distrust, which contributes not little to the
incompleteness of national unity. However it
may be, L once again present TO Italy serene
front assured of having done my duty. Once
more my unimportaDt iie and the more pre-
cious ones offs many generous young men have
been offered as holocaust to the holest of
causes-pure from all vile and personal inter-
ests." c. GARIBALDI