The Life of General Garibaldi: Translated from his private papers; with the history of his splendid exploits in Rome, Lombardy, Sicily and Naples, to the present time.Garibaldi, Giuseppe
History
The Life of General Garibaldi: Translated from his private papers; with the history of his splendid exploits in Rome, Lombardy, Sicily and Naples, to the present time.
Garibaldi, Giuseppe
Garibaldi, Giuseppe, 1807-1882
The Villa Corsini, placed on the highest part of the ground, commands
all the neighborhood. It is surrounded by a garden and high wall. The
position of the Villa is very strong, and the more so because wishing to
attack it without showing any preparation of approach before hand, it is
necessary, while passing the concello, which is at the foot of the
garden, to bear the concentrated fire which the enemy, defended and
covered by the hedges and vases, or within the Villa itself, make upon
that point at which the garden-walls meet at an acute angle.
The ground is also very descending; and, besides, the Villa Corsini is
very favorable to the enemy, because declining, and being scattered with
groves, and crossed by deep streets, they can concentrate their reserves
in security from our fire, when the cannon oblige them to abandon the
house.
The first attack made by the Italian Legion was against the positions
Corsini and Quattro Venti, which had been abandoned by our troops,
because surprised, betrayed, and overpowered by the great number of the
enemy. The attack was made with the bayonet, without firing a single
shot; the Legion sustained, for about three-quarters of an hour, the
whole weight of the enemy; and Colonels Daverio and Massina, and
Commandant Peralta were killed, and most of the officers wounded.
At that moment arrived the Manara Bersaglieri, who throwing themselves
into the garden, vigorously attacked the enemy, even under the walls of
the Villa. Here fell Captain Dandolo and many soldiers; and many
officers and soldiers were wounded. But from that moment the houses on
the left were ours. The enemy had stopped their progressive work, and
the Vascello, strongly occupied, poured on them a fire of grape shot.
The brave artillerymen very soon disturbed the enemy in the Villa
Corsini.
The Manara Bersaglieri, from the Casini on the left, and the Italian
Legion from the Vascello, drove the French Tiraglieurs from the garden
and hedges. Both parties kept up a very warm fire.
The enemy were no more able, although reinforced and protected by two
pieces of artillery, to take from our troops the position held with so
much valor.
The artillery fired upon the Villa Corsini so vigorously, that the enemy
were compelled to retreat, after setting it on fire; while the cannon in
the right Bastion, and Bersaglieri, thrown forward of the Vascello,
attacked with great ardor the enemy, who were in the Casino Quattro
Venti, and who occupied numerous small adjacent houses, from which they
made a very heavy but useless fire.
On the left, towards the French camp, two companies of the Manara
Bersaglieri were then sent, who went far in advance, to annoy the enemy,
hidden among the vines.
A very severe conflict continued all day, always to the advantage of our
troops, who were able, even a second time, (the Manara Bersaglieri and
Italian Legion,) to charge the enemy beyond the Villa Corsini.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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