LII'.B OJ' CU.BIULDI.

with its course he suddenly found himself' aground on a aand bank, and

aimultaneow1ly in the presence of' the Brazilian fleet of' six ships.

Powerful minds reveal themselves in moments of great danger. Far

from being rendered desponding by his terrible position, Garibaldi kept

the enemy at bay for three whole daya. At last, when ammunition failed

him, he cnt up all his chain cables ·and iron instnunents, and employed

them as proj<ectiles. When these new resources were exhausted nothing

was left him ; hllnce he ordered his men to take to the boats, and, re­

maining the last on had recourse to his favourite system of blowing

up. He gained the shore in safety, after which he drew up his men in

line, charged the troops sent to out off his retreat, and succeeded in

accomplishing his retreat.

Despite the ill fortune of his expedition, the intrepid Guerillero was
anxiously eXJ[>ected at Monte Video. He reached that town by a round­
about route and was heartily welcomed. The town at that moment was
threatened lli.th a siege by the terrible Oribe, and the consternation was
excessive, for the French legion, though so brave, coald not be every­
where at once. Garibaldi was ordered by the government to equip some
vessels to re11air the late losses, while the Italian residents appointed him
commandant of a corps of 800 volunteers they had raised among them­
selves. Th1111 was the Italian legion created, and from this moment
Uruguay ha<L two legioDR of brave men to oppose to the devastators of'
the country. The naval operations which followed the formation of the
Italian legion, ol!i.ng to the want of' sufficient resources, were necessarily
limited to wa.tching the movements of the blockading squadron, facilitat­
ing the entrance of vessels bringing np provisions, and the occasional
capture of merchantmen laden with stores for Oribe's army. Still, so
great was Garibaldi's impatience to deal some decisive blow, that one day
he boldly advanced to the entrance of the port with his insignificant
flotilla, which only mounted eight guns, and offered battle to Rosas'
vessels , mow1ting forty-four. The roofoJ and verandahs of Monte Video
were crowded with spectators, the masts and yards of the neutral vessels
anchored in the port were thronged with English, American, and French
sailors, all w1Liting pantingly for the result of this audacious challenge.
But the Buenos Ayrians, probably aware that Garibaldi built his hopes

OIIL grappling and boarding, judged it prudent to decline the

fight.

Let us no·w pass to the legion so promptly organized by Garibaldi.

The Italians have just cause to feel proud of it, for with the aid of the

SeDt ofF a dinanoe of 300 leagaea to dislodge the enemy from 8 pro­
't'i.nce whioh their presence ditturbed, Garibaldi, with. 184. legion8rie&,
&ud a of homemen, fought for eight hours ag&m.t l,liOO mea,
without yielding 1111 inch of ground. When nigllt fell, the Guerillero'a
little band wu reduced to half ita original 35 were killed, 50
aerioualy -.vmmded. The BU.rrivors exhausted by fatigue, and in 11"8D.t of
food, seemed eearce strong enough to drag themaelvee to Salta, where
Garibaldi bad eetabliabed his head quarters. :&t to leave the wounded
at the me'rcy of the :

AyriaDB, already ao irritated by their defeat,
could enw tile mind of such 8 CCPDlDnder. The wounded were
placed and threes on all the honea that could be collected, ud
taeir CODll'ades, though 110 uhauated, -.vere obliged to support them on
eiihersid•e. BytumsenootlNging,

andpraimlg, Garibaldi, after
a wearyi:rJLg aaroh, which luted no leas than three bonn, had the bappi­
ne• of seeing all hill eomracles in glory sheltered behind the walla of
SaUa. The nelnl of this 1'8Dl8l'kable retreat, as well as of an action in
wmch tJae, eDe1DJ loet more than 500 killed and woliDded, produced BD
isteule e1lthuiaam atMonte Video. The government orderedthatthe date
of the b&We, February 8, &hoold be inscribed in letters of gold on
tbe Sag ofthe legion, while the French admiral commanding at Rio sent
8letter of'c<mgratulation to Garibaldi, declaring " that such exploit. would
have eut fNeh luatre even 0:11. the soldiers ofNapoleon's grand army."

In the autumn of 184.6, Garibaldi returned to Monte Video, after
aoaompliahing his million to the entire aawfaction of Uruguay. .Aa a
reward his br:illimt achievement., the government oonferredon him tae
raDk of g•meral. The Guerillero at firat declined thia honour, but public
10lioitatiom at length induced him to accept it. But it wu otberwiae
with his refuaal of estates and herda for himeelf and his legionariea.
Eatreaty and advice-all was powerleaa to lhalce hill determination. He
protested that the Italians of lloate Video bad taken up arms only "to
obey tae appeal of liberty and aot thNugh ambitious viewa ofprofit or
promotio!L.'' Ally persilltance, after 10 clear a deelaration, would baTe
wounded his pride. This refuaal on Garibaldi's part waa the more
meritori01:u, when it wu known, at a later date, t1u.t at the moment he
gave it, hill family aad himtelf were reduced to live OD 1W ratione, and aa
these did not include amdles, the general' a house wu Dever illuminated

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