TREATMENT EXPERIENCED BY THE SURVIVORS OF THE
SHIPWRECK—EXPEDITION OF CANABARRO TO LAGUNA—RESULTS
—EFFECTS ON MY MIND OF THE LOSS OF MY OLD FRIENDS—MY
RESOLUTION—REMARKABLE MEETING WITH ANNA—OUR MARRIAGE
—NEW LAUNCHES BUILT—LEAVE THE LAGOON—CRUISE AT
SEA—PRIZES TAKEN—FIGHT WITH A BRAZILIAN SHIP OF
WAR—RESULTS.
That part of the Province of St. Catharine where we had been
shipwrecked, fortunately had risen in insurrection against the empire on
receiving the news of the approach of the Republican forces; and
therefore we were well received, found friends, were feasted, and at
once obtained everything necessary, at least everything which those good
people had to offer. We were soon furnished with what we needed to
enable us to join the vanguard of Canabarro, commanded by Colonel
Terceira, which was setting off on a rapid march, to surprise Laguna.
And, indeed, the enterprise was very successful. The garrison of that
little city, consisting of about four hundred men, took up a forced
march in retreat; and three small vessels of war surrendered after a
short resistance. I went with my shipwrecked sailors on board the sloop
Itaparica, which had seven guns. Fortune smiled so much on the
Republicans in those first days of the revolution, that it seemed as if
Providence was pleased to grant us success. The Imperialists, not
knowing and not believing that such an expedition could be sent so
suddenly to Laguna, but having information that an invasion was
meditated by us, had a supply of arms and ammunition then on the way,
which, with soldiers and everything, fell into our hands. The
inhabitants received us like brothers and liberators: a character which
we well merited, and which we sustained during our stay among those very
kind and good people.
Canabarro, having fixed his head-quarters in the city of Laguna, called
by the Republicans Villa Juliana, (because our entrance was made in
July,) promised to establish a Provincial Representative Government, the
first president of which was a reverend priest, who had great influence
among the people. Rosetti, with the title of Secretary of the
Government, was in fact the soul of it. And Rosetti, in truth, was
formed for such a station.
At that time occurred one of the most important events of my life. I had
never thought of matrimony, but had considered myself incapable of it
from being of too independent a disposition, and too much inclined to
adventure. To have a wife and children appeared to me decidedly
repulsive, as I had devoted my whole life to one principle, which,
however good it might be, could not leave me the quietness necessary to
the father of a family. But my destiny guided me in a different
direction from what I had designed for myself. By the loss of Luigi
Carniglia, Eduardo and my other comrades, I was left in a state of
complete isolation, and felt as if alone in the world. Not one of those
friends of my heart remained. I felt the greatest possible need of them.
All the friends I now had were new ones: good, it is true, but not one
of them really an intimate one. And this change had been made so
unexpectedly, and in so terrible a manner, that it was impossible to
overcome the impressions it had made upon my feelings. I felt the want
of some one to love me, and a desire that such a one might be very soon
supplied, as my present state of mind seemed insupportable.
Rosetti was a brother to me: but he could not live with me, and I could
see him but rarely. I desired a friend of a different character; for,
although still young, I had considerable knowledge of men, and knew
enough to understand what was necessary for me in a true friend. One of
the other sex, I thought must supply the vacant place, for I had always
regarded woman as the most perfect of creatures, and believe it far
easier to find a loving heart among that sex.
I walked the deck of the Itaparica, with my mind revolving these things,
and finally came to the conclusion to seek for some lady possessing the
character which I desired. I one day cast a casual glance at a house in
the Burra, (the eastern part of the entrance of the Jayuna,) and there
observed a young female whose appearance struck me as having something
very extraordinary. So powerful was the impression made upon me at the
moment, though from some cause which I was not able fully to ascertain,
that I gave orders and was transported towards the house. But then I
knew of no one to whom I could apply for an introduction. I soon,
however, met with a person, an inhabitant of the town, who had been
acquainted with me from the time of arrival. I soon received an
invitation to take coffee with his family, and the first person who
entered was the lady whose appearance had so mysteriously but
irresistibly drawn me to the place. I saluted her; we were soon
acquainted; and I found that the hidden treasure which I had discovered
was of rare and inestimable worth. But I have since reproached myself
for removing her from her peaceful native retirement to scenes of
danger, toil and suffering. I felt most deeply self-reproach on that day
when, at the mouth of the Po, having landed, in our retreat from an
Austrian squadron, while still hoping to restore her to life, on taking
her pulse I found her a corpse, and sang the hymn of despair. I prayed
for forgiveness, for I thought of the sin of taking her from her home.
Little or nothing of importance, after this, took place in the Lagoon.
The building of our launches was commenced; and the materials were
obtained from the remains of the prizes, and by the assistance of the
neighboring inhabitants, who were always friendly, and forward in aiding
me. Two launches having been completed and armed, the band were called
to Itaparica, to coöperate with the army, then besieging the capital of
the province, Porto Allegre. The army accomplished nothing; and the band
were unable to effect anything all the time they spent in that part of
the Laguna. An expedition was contemplated in the province of St.
Catherine; I was called to join it, and General Canabarro was to
accompany me. The two smaller launches remained in the lake, under the
command of Zefferino d'Ubrea; and I went with two others, with the
division of Canabarro, which was to appear by land, while I was to
approach by water.
I was accompanied by my inseparable friend, John Griggs, and had with me
a chosen part of my band, who had assisted in building the launches.
The three vessels which were armed, and destined to make an excursion on
the ocean, were the Rio Pardo, which was under my command, and the
Casapava, under Griggs—both schooners—and lastly, the Seival, which had
come from Rio Grande, commanded by the Italian, Lorenzo. The mouth of
the Lagoon was blockaded by Imperial vessels of war; but we went out by
night, without falling in with any of them, and steered north. When we
had reached the latitude of Santos, we met an Imperial corvette, which
chased us two days in vain,—when we approached the Island of Abrigo,
where we captured two Sumacas. This is a kind of vessel, so named by the
Brazilians, being a sort of sloop. We then proceeded on the cruise, and
took several other prizes. After eight days' sailing we returned towards
the Lagoon.
I had conceived a singular presentiment of the state of things in that
region, because, before my departure, the people of St. Catherine's had
begun to show a bad humor, and it was known that a strong corps of
troops was approaching, commanded by General Andrea, who was famous for
precipitation, and his atrocious system of warfare, which made him much
feared. When off St. Catherine's, on our return, we met a Brazilian
patachio, which is a sort of brig-schooner,—the Rio Pardo and the Seival
being together, the Casapava having parted company a few nights before,
when it was very dark.
We were discovered; and there was no escape. We therefore attacked them,
and opening a fire. The enemy replied bravely; but the action could
produce but little effect, because the sea was very rough. The result,
however, was the loss of several of our prizes, the commanders of some
of which, being frightened by the superior force of the enemy, struck
their flags, while others steered for the neighboring coast. Only one of
the prizes was saved, that commanded by the brave Ignacio Bilbao, which
went ashore in the port of Imbituba, and remained in our possession. The
Seival had her gun dismounted in the engagement, and having sprung a
leak, took the same direction, and I was obliged to abandon the prizes.
We entered Imbituba with a northerly wind, which changed to the south in
the night, and thus rendered it impossible to enter the Lagoon. It was
to be presumed that we would be attacked by the Imperial vessels
stationed at the island of St. Catherine's, because information would be
carried to them by that with which we had the engagement. It was
therefore necessary to make preparations; and the Seival's dismounted
gun was placed on a promontory which forms the bay on the eastern side,
and a battery was formed of gabions. At daylight three Imperial vessels
were discovered approaching. The Rio Pardo, which was at anchor at the
bottom of the bay, commenced the action, which was rather a singular
one, the Imperialists being in incomparably superior force. The enemy,
being favored by the wind in manœuvring, kept under sail, and gave a
furious fire, from favorable positions, all of them upon my one poor
little schooner. She, however, maintained the fight with resolution, and
at close quarters,—even carbines being used on both sides.
But the injuries done were in inverse proportion to the forces of the
two parties; for the Republican vessel was soon strewn with dead bodies,
while the hull was riddled and the spars destroyed. We had resolved to
fight to the last; and this resolution was increased by the Brazilian
Amazon on board. My wife not only refused to land, but took an active
part in the engagement. If the crew fought with resolution, they
received no little aid from the brave Manuel Rodriguez, who commanded
the battery, and kept up a well-directed and effective fire. The enemy
were very determined, but operated chiefly against the schooner; and I
several times believed, as they came up, that they were going to board
us,—and was prepared for everything, except to submit.
At length, after several hours spent in active fight, the enemy retired,
on account, as was said, of the death of the commander of the Bella
Americana, one of their vessels. We spent the remainder of the day in
burying our dead and in repairing our greatest damages.
During the following day the enemy remained at a distance, and we made
preparations for fighting, and also for escape by sailing to the Lagoon,
the wind being then more favorable.
[Here occurs a blank in our manuscript.—_Translator._]
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