Lll'B OJ' G.UIB.lLDI.
91
CHAPTER XI.
Magenta-Garibaldi's Reward-Interview with the King-Austrian
Volunteers in the Valtelline--The Armistice-A Visit to Garibaldi-Ugo
Busi's Toulb-Excitement in ltaly-Aunita's Funeral-Garibaldi's Hopes
and Feal'l!.
TRB Franco ..Piedmonteae army, in order to reach Lombardy, followed
the route Gariba.ldi had so boldly traced at the commencement of the
campaign. The result was the victory of Magenta on June 4, which
opened the gates of Milan to the army of liberation. At this period
Gariba.ldi's for(!e consisted of 8,000 men, forming three infantry regiments,
with 200 guides, and 200 carbineers. His artillery consisted of fourteen
light guns, of which his Volunteers had captured six before they could be
spiked by the .Austrians. To these regular troops, must be added about
10,000 V olunte,ers, 9ardes mobiles, partizans, &c. who joined him after he
occupied Como. Their motto was " victory or death," and they remained
fnithful to it. In all the actions, Garibaldi was on horseback, at the head
of his men, and in full view of the enemy. It was wonderful how he
escaped their bullets.
AB Garibaldi is as good a sailor o.s he is a soldier, he manages, when
ever he has a chance, to distinguish himself on both elements. Thus,
while a portion of his troops pursued the enemy beyond Monza, he
coiUited along the Lago Maggiore in several vessels, disarmed the
Austrian douaniers, and carried off the treiUiury. General Urban's corps,
in the meanwhile, after a precipitate retreat from Varese, dispersed, and
most of the men were taken prisoners. This led to the publication of
the following general order :
"HEAD QUARTERS OF THE SARDINUN ABKY.
Orrler oftlie Day.
" While the allied armies were still on the defensive, General Gari
baldi, at the head of the Cho.sseurs of the Alps, advanced boldly from the
banks of the I>ora, upon the Austrian right with a movement of
extraordinary rapidity: in a few days he arrived at Sesto Calende, whence
