general de lacy evans is no longer with us, or he might give us an instructive account of the uncertainty and difficulty of discipline in a patriotic legion which volunteers its services without intelligently intending obedience. when i became acting secretary for sending out the british legion to garibaldi, i found no one with any relevant experience who knew what to expect or what to advise. those likely to be in command were ready to exercise authority, but those who were to serve under them expected to do it more or less in their own way. the greatest merit in a volunteer legion is that they agree in the object of the war they engage in. they do not blindly adopt the vocation of murder—-for that is what military service means. it means the undertaking to kill at the direction of others—without knowledge or conviction as to the right and justice of the conflict they take part in.
general de lacy evans being a military man of repute, and marching with his spanish legion, had disciplinary influence over them. two of my colleagues in other enterprises of danger were among the spanish volunteers, but they were not at hand—one being in america and the other in new zealand—otherwise i might have had the benefit of their experience.
the project of sending out to garibaldi a british legion came in the air. it was probably a suggestion of de rohan's, who had gathered in italy that british volunteers would influence italian opinion; be an encouragement in the field; and, if sent out in time, they might be of military service. be this as it may, the garibaldi committee found themselves, without premeditation, engaged in enlisting men, at least by proxy. it was a new business, in which none of us were experts. we knew that men of generous motive and enterprise would come forward. at the same time, we were opening a door to many of whom we could not know enough to refuse, or to trust. however, the army of every country is largely recruited from the class of dubious persons, over whom officers have the power to compel order—which we had not.
as i was the acting secretary, my publishing house, 147, fleet street, was crowded with inquirers when the project of the legion became known. many gave their names there. for convenience of enrolment, a house was taken at no. 8, salisbury street, strand, where the volunteers, honest and otherwise, soon appeared—the otherwise being more obtrusive and seemingly more zealous. among them appeared a young man, wearing the uniform of a garibaldian soldier, of specious manners, and who called himself "captain styles"—a harmless rustic name, but he was not at all rustic in mind. being early in the field, volunteers who came later took it for granted he had an official position. it was assumed that he had been in italy and in some army, which was more than we knew. his influence grew by not being questioned. without our knowledge and without any authority, he invented and secretly sold commissions, retaining the proceeds for his own use. to avoid obtruding our military objects on public attention, i drew up a notice, after the manner of dr. lunn's tourist agency, as follows:—
excursion to sicily and naples.—all persons (particularly members of volunteer rifle corps) desirous of visiting southern italy, and of aiding by their presence and influence the cause of garibaldi and italy, may learn how to proceed by applying to the garibaldi committee, at the offices at no. 8, salisbury street, strand, london.
the committee caused, on my suggestion, applicants to receive notice of two things:—
(1) that each man should remember that he goes out to represent the sacred cause of liberty, and that the cause will be judged by his conduct. his behaviour will be as important as his bravery.
(2) those in command will respect the high feeling by which the humblest man is animated—but no man must make his equal patriotism a pretext for refusing implicit obedience to orders, upon which his safety and usefulness depend. there no doubt will be precariousness and privation for a time, which every man must be prepared to share and bear.
further, i wrote an address to the "excursionists" and had a copy placed in the hands of every one of them. it was to the following effect:—
before leaving faro, garibaldi issued an address to his army, in which he said:—"among the qualities which ought to predominate among the officers of an italian army, besides bravery, is the amiability which secures the affection of soldiers—discipline, subordination, and firmness necessary in long campaigns. severe discipline may be obtained by harshness, but it is better obtained by kindness. this secret the numerous spies of the enemy will not discover. it brought us from parco to gibil-rosa, and thence to palermo. the honourable behaviour of our soldiery towards the inhabitants did the rest. of bravery, i am sure!" exclaims the general. "what i want is the discipline of ancient rome, invariable harmony one with another—the due respect for property, and above all for that of the poor, who suffer so much to gain the scanty bread of their families. by these means we shall lessen the sacrifice of blood and win the lasting independence of italy." to this address was added the following paragraph:—
"in these words the volunteer will learn the quality of companionship he will meet with in the field, and the spirit which prevails among the soldiers of italian independence."
when we had collected the legion, the thing was to get it out of the country—international law not being on the side of our proceedings. as many as a thousand names* were entered on the roll of british volunteers for italy. the great eastern railway was very animated.
when they were about to set out at a late hour for harwich, a "private and confidential" note was sent to each saying:—
"as the arrangements for the departure of the detachment of excursionists are now complete, i have to request your attendance at caldwell's assembly rooms, dean street, oxford street, at three o'clock precisely, on wednesday, the 26th instant (september, 1860), when you will receive information as to the time and place of departure, which will be speedy.
"(signed) e. styles, major."
* i have preserved all letters of application for curiosity
and conjecture. they might be of interest in the future.
some joined personally.
by this times the "captain" had blossomed into a "major." owing to urgency the committee had to acquiesce in many things. garibaldi being in the field, and often no one knew where, it was futile to ask questions and impossible to get them answered.
the government no doubt knew all about the expedition. captain de rohan, or, as he styled himself, "admiral de rohan," was in command of the "excursionists." he marched up and down the platform, wearing a ponderous admiral's sword, which was entirely indiscreet, but he was proud of the parade. by this time he had assumed the title of "rear" admiral. de rohan was not his name, but he was, it was said, paternally related, in an unrecognised way, to admiral dalgren, of american fame. of de rohan it ought to be said, that though he had the american tendency to self-inflation, he was a sincere friend of italy. honest, disinterested, generous towards others—and the devoted and trusted agent of garibaldi, ready to go to the ends of the earth in his service. when the english committee finally closed, and they had a balance of ￡1,000 left in their hands, they were so sensible of the services and integrity of de rohan that they gave it to him, and on my introduction he deposited it in the westminster bank. he was one of those men for whom some permanent provision ought to be made, as he took more delight in serving others than serving himself. in after years, vicissitude came to him, in which i and members of the garibaldi committee befriended him.
as our legion was going out to make war on a power in friendly relation to great britain, lord john russell was in a position to stop it. the vessel (the melazzo) lay two days in the harwich waters before sailing. there were not wanting persons who attempted to call lord john's attention to what was going on, but happily without recognition of their efforts. no one was better able than lord john to congeal illicit enthusiasm.
mr. e. h. j. craufurd, m.p., chairman of the committee, myself, my brother austin,—who was unceasing in his service to the committee and the legion—w. j. linton, and other members of the committee, travelled by night with the legion to harwich. mr. george francis train went down with us and explained to me vivaciously his theory, that to obtain recognition by the world was to make a good recognition of yourself. train did this, but all it gave him was notoriety, under which was hidden from public respect his great natural ability and personal kindness of heart. when i last met him, i found him—as was his custom—sitting on the public seat in a new york square, interesting himself in children, but ready to pour, in an eloquent torrent, the story of his projects into the ear of any passer-by who had time to listen to him.
it was early morning when we arrived at harwich. as the ship lay some distance out, it took some time to embark the men, and it was the second day before she set sail. to our disappointment de rohan did not go with the troops, which we thought it was his duty to do, but suddenly left, saying he would meet them at palermo. he alone had real influence over the men. no one being in authority over them, feuds and suspicions were added to their lack of discipline.
the vessel was well provisioned, even to the pleasures of the table. there was that satisfaction.
it may interest readers who have never sailed in a troopship to read the regulations enforced:—
1. the men will be allotted berths and divided into messes, regularly by companies, and their packs are to be hung up near their berths.
2. with a view to the general health and accommodation of the men, they will be divided into three watches, one of which is to be constantly on deck.
3. a guard, the strength of which is to be regulated by the sentries required, is to mount every morning at nine o'clock.
4. the men of each watch are to be appointed to stations.
5. the men not belonging to the watch are to be ordered below, when required by the master of the ship, in order that they may not impede the working of the vessel.
6. in fine weather every man is to be on deck the whole day.
7. the whole watch is to be constantly on deck, except when the rain obliges them to go down for shelter.
8. great attention is to be paid to the cleanliness of the privies. buckets of water are to be thrown down frequently.
9. the bedding is to be brought on deck every morning, if the weather will permit, by eight o'clock, and to be well aired.
10. the men are to wash, comb, and brush their heads every morning.
11. at sunset the bedding is to be brought down, and at any time during the day on the appearance of bad weather.
12. at ten o'clock in the evening, every man is to be in his berth, except the men on guard and of the watch.
13. the chief of the watch is to be careful that no man interferes with the windsails, so as to prevent the air from being communicated.
14. the men are strictly forbidden sleeping on deck, which they are apt to do, and which is generally productive of fevers and flushes.
with a view of preventing accidents from fire, a sentry will be constantly placed at the cooking place or caboose, or one on each side, with orders not to allow fire of any kind to be taken without leave.
1. no lights are to be permitted amongst the men except in lanterns. all are to be extinguished at ten o'clock at night, except those over which there may be sentries.
2. no smoking on any account to be permitted, except on upper deck.
3. no lucifer or patent matches to be allowed.
4. the officers are strictly charged to trace when going their rounds between decks, and to report instantly any man who shall presume either to smoke there, or to use any lights except in lanterns.
every possible precaution is to be taken to prevent liquor being brought on board ship.
regularity and decency of conduct are peculiarly required on board ship. it is the duty of those in command to repress, by the most decided and summary measures, any tendency to insubordination, to check every species of immorality and vice, and to discountenance to the utmost of their power whatever may disturb the comfort of others, or interrupt the harmony and good understanding which should subsist on board.
we had trouble in london. one day at a committee, held at my house, an applicant, who was contracting to supply 900 rifles, attended to show certificates of their efficiency. the legal eye of the chairman (mr. craufurd, m.p., one of the prosecuting counsel of the mint), detected them to be forgeries. on his saying so, the applicant snatched them from his hand. the chairman at once seized the knave, when a struggle ensued to obtain the false credentials. as it was not prudent in us to prosecute the presenter and have our proceedings before a court, we let him go.
there being no legal power to enforce order was the cardinal weakness of the british legion. a competent commander should at least have been appointed, and an agreement of honour entered into by each volunteer, to obey his authority and that of those under him, on penalty of dismissal, and a certain forfeiture of money. these conditions, though not of legal force, would be binding on men of honour, and place the turbulent without honour at a disadvantage.
at the queenwood community, in robert owen's day, no contract of this kind was thought of, and any one who declined to leave could defy the governor, until he was ejected by force—a process which did not harmonise with "harmony hall."
de rohan met the excursionists at palermo on their disembarkation. "captain styles" was prudently absent, and no more was heard of him. the spurious commissions could not be recognised, and commotion naturally arose among those who had been defrauded. captain sarsfield, colonel peard, known as "garibaldi's englishman," de rohan, captain scott, and others on the spot, with colourable pretensions to authority, took different views of the situation. appeals were made to the committee in london, on whose minutes stormy telegrams are recorded. mr. craufurd, though he had the prudent reticence of his race, would sometimes fall into impetuous expressions. yet the second statement of his first thought would be faultless. this quality was so conspicuous that it interested me.
the first man of the legion killed was young mr. bontems, only son of a well-known tradesman in the city of london—a fine, ingenuous fellow. he was shot by the recklessness of a medical student of the london university, as bontems stood in a mess-room at palermo. it was said not to be the first death caused by the criminal thoughtlessness of the same person. mr. southall, another london volunteer like young bontems, was a man of genuine enthusiasm, character, and promise. he became an orderly officer to garibaldi, by whom he was trusted and to whom he gave the black silk cravat he wore on entering naples.*
* southall forwarded it to me. a revolver and case was sent
me by request of a soldier who died on the field.
when garibaldi retired to his island home, he sent to england the following testimony of the services and character of the excursionists:—
"caprera,
"jan. 26, 1861.
"... they [the british legion] came late. but they made ample amends for this defect, not their own, by the brilliant courage they displayed in the slight engagements they shared with us near the volturno, which enabled me to judge how precious an assistance they would have rendered us had the war of liberation remained longer in my hands. in every way the english volunteers were a proof of the goodwill borne by your noble nation towards the liberty and independence of italy.
"accept, honoured mr. ashurst, the earnest assurance of my grateful friendship, and always command yours,
"g. garibaldi."
allowing for garibaldi's generosity in estimating the services of the legion, it remains true that the majority deserved this praise. many were of fine character. many were young men of ingenuousness and bright enthusiasm, prompt to condone lack of military knowledge by noble intrepidity in the field.
the legion cost the italian government some expense. claims were recognised liberally. the men were sent back to england overland, and each one had a provision order given him to present at every refreshment station at which the trains stopped. count cavour was a better friend of italian freedom than even mazzini knew. it was only known after cavour's death, how he had secretly laboured to drag his country from under the heel of austria. cavour had the friendly foresight to give orders that the members of the english legion were to be supplied on their journey home with double rations, as englishmen ate more than italians. the cavourian distinction was much appreciated.
the sums due to the men until their arrival in england were paid by the sardinian consul (whose office was in the old jewry), on a certificate from me that the applicant was one of the legion.
a request came to me from italy for a circumstantial history of the legion and such suggestions as experience had furnished. the story made quite a book, which i sent to dr. bertani. when after his death i was in milan, i learned from a member of his family that no one knew what had become of it. and so i briefly tell the story again, as there is no one else to tell it bertani was the confidant and favourite physician of mazzini and garibaldi. no one knew so well or so much as he who were the makers of italian unity. what has become of his papers?
among friends of italy who appeared at our council in london was captain sarsfield, the son of the duke of somerset. pallid, with an expression of restrained energy, handsome beyond any face i had seen, it might have been carved by a grecian sculptor. his high breeding struck me before i knew who he was. he took out for me an important letter to garibaldi, who had then no postal address. on sarsfield's return home, he took, as was his delight, a furious ride in a high wind. washington did the same, and it killed him, as it did captain sarsfield. difficulty of breathing ensued, and it was necessary that dr. williams should be called in to perform an operation—all in vain. the duchess of somerset lay all night on the carpet-floor by the dead body of her son, for whom she grieved exceedingly. in her distress she said dr. williams had been wanting in promptness or in skill. his great reputation could not be affected by an accusation made in agony, and his own explanation would vindicate him. but he took the brutal course of dragging the distressed and distracted mother into the law courts. in consequence of remarks i published upon this unfeeling and egotistic outrage, the duchess sent me a letter of thanks, and requested me to call at her residence. so much for the two men who mainly made italy a nation. what castelar said to the italian patriots in general, he might have addressed to garibaldi and mazzini individually:—
"that which julius ii. could not effect with his cannon, nor leo x. with his arts, that which savonarola could not make a reality by giving himself to god, nor machiavelli by giving himself to the devil, has been done by you. you have made italy one, you have made italy free, you have made italy independent."
