LIY.S Oll' . GA..BIBJ.LDf.
t& the number of about 2,000.
Pisaca.ni, a superior officer o£ the Romaa
republic, gives us the following account of him, while thus engaged:
" was stationed at Rieti with the rank of ·colonel. His
refusal to conform with the regulations to which the whole army was
subjected, rendered him a stumbling block to the partizans of the old
system, who considered him more injurious than useful. But, being
gifted with that ·peculiar genius, found in so few men, of keeping straight
in difficult circumstances, and knowing how· to utilize every element,
Garibaldi was regarded as an unique and precious being, if employed in
such a way as not to be removed from his own sphere of action. The war
committee were convinced of this truth, when during the formation ofthe
army and dividing it into two camps, they declared Garibaldi's corps, a
partizan band, independent of the army. Personally brave and of most
agreeable character, continually on the field of battle, making his arrange
ments with the utmost calmness, this chief was extremely .dear to his
soldiers. His handsome appearance, his peculiar way of dressing him
self, all his habits, in a word, had surrounded him with an extraordinary
prestige."
Though scarce recovered from his recent illness, Garibaldi allowed
himself no rest in the efforts he made to accustom his troops to endure
fatigue and encounter dangers. He might be seen traversing the adjacent
mountains, during the depth of winter, for several days in succession, in
order, by his example, to encourage the volunteers in enduring cold
and hunger without complaining. Forced marches, open air encampments,
paucity of provisions, nothing was -wanting to· harden the men. With the
exception of an excursion to Roni.e, to greet the proclamation of the
r.epublic, Garibaldi spent in this way the first months of 1849, while
the condition of Italy was daily 'becoming worse and more alarming.
Sicily, left to its own resources, was still engaged in a violent struggle
with N'aples ; Venice continued her defence, while never ceasing to
implore the aid of Piedmont and the French Republic; under
the strictest martial law, with powerful garrisons in every town, with
her richest and most worthy citizens ruined and proscribed, was wrapped
in the gloom of a hopeless slavery; Charles Albert was on the point of
seeing the foreigner overthrow his heroic efforts on behalf of an oppressed
.people ; the Austrians were advancing to subdue Bologna and the
Marches of Ancona; the King of Naples threatened to invad.e.the RolllAD.
Stntes; Spain had,promieed her·support to the Pontiff, and the envoys
of Fr!tllce, demanding no serious guarantee from Gaeta, e11gaged their