EXPLOITS OF THE ITALIAN LEGION DURING THE SIEGE —TRES
CRUCES—THE PASS OF BOJADA—THE QUADRADO—GENERAL RIVERA
DEFEATED AT INDIA MUERTA, BUT WITHOUT DISCOURAGING
EFFORTS, INTERVENTION CONTINUED—AN EXPEDITION IN THE
URUGUAY, THE FLOTILLA BEING UNDER MY COMMAND.
The affair of the island increased the fame and importance of the arms
of the Republic, although its favorable result was more due to fortune
than to anything else, and although nothing more was gained by defending
it. Thus it was, that by insignificant, or at least small but successful
enterprizes, a cause was fostered and raised up, which had been
considered by many as desperate. A patriotic and excellent
administration of the government, at the head of which was Pacheco; the
management of the war by the incomparable General Paz; the fearless and
powerful support given by the people, then purged from their few
traitors and cowards; and the arming of the foreign Legions,—in short,
everything promised a happy result.
The Italian Legion, whose formation was ridiculed by some, and
especially by the French, had now acquired so much fame, that they were
envied by the best troops. They had never been beaten, though they had
shared in the most difficult enterprizes and most arduous battles.
At Tres Cruces, (the Three Crosses,) where the fearless Colonel Neva,
from an excess of courage, had fallen within the enemy's lines, the
Legion sustained one of those Homeric battles described in history,
fighting hand to hand, and driving the troops of Ourives from their
strongest positions, until they brought away the dead body of the chief
of the line. The losses of the Legion on that day were considerable,
compared with their small numbers, but on that account they gained more
honor. That success, which seemed as if it might exhaust it, on the
contrary fostered it exceedingly. It grew in numbers, with new recruits,
soldiers of a day, but who fought like veterans! Such is the Italian
soldier; such are the sons of the despised nation, when struck with the
generous idea of what is noble.
At the Pass of the Bajada, on the 24th of April, was one of the most
serious conflicts. A corps of the army under the command of General Paz,
had marched out from Montevideo, passed by the right wing of the enemy,
proceeded along the shore of the north bend of the bay to Pantanoso,
where, joining the Republican forces of the Cerro, he intended to make a
decisive blow on the enemy's army,—who were thus drawn out of their
strong positions of the Cerrito,—to surprise two battalions, stationed
on the shores of that marshy little stream. As that operation was not
successful in consequence of a want of concert, they were obliged to go
through the Pass, involved in a very sharp action. Of the two divisions
comprising the corps, which were about seven thousand, that which formed
the rearguard was so much pressed by the enemy, that, when recovered
from surprise, they endeavored to regain their ground. This they would
have saved with the greatest possible effort, in consequence of the
extreme difficulty of the place. I commanded the division of the centre;
and the general ordered me to re-pass and support the troops in that
danger. I obeyed, but, to my surprise, found the battle a desperate one.
The Republicans were fighting bravely: but the enemy had surrounded
them, and then occupied a very strong salting establishment, (called
Saladero,) between us and the rearguard, who had exhausted their
ammunition. The head of the Italian column entered the Saladero, just
when the head of one of the enemy's columns had entered. Then commenced
a very warm contest, hand to hand; and finally Italian bravery
triumphed. At that place the ground was encumbered with dead bodies; but
my friends were safe, and the fight proceeded, with advantage to our
side. Other corps came in to support them, and the retreat was effected
in admirable order. The French Legion, on that day, going to operate
simultaneously on the line of the city, was defeated.
The 28th of March, however, was highly honorable to the Republican arms,
and to the Italian Legion. The movement was directed by General Pacheco.
The enemy were besieging the Cerro, under the orders of General Nuñez,
who had shamefully deserted to the enemy's files, in the beginning of
the siege. They showed much boldness, and several times came up under
the heavy ramparts of the fortress, threatening to cut off the
communications with the city and destroying with musket shots the
light-house erected on the upper part of the edifices. General Pacheco
ordered several corps to be transported to the Cerro, among which was
the Italian Legion. That movement took place during the night; and at
the first light it was in ambush in a powder manufactory, half a mile
from the battery. That edifice, although in ruins, had the walls
standing, and afforded sufficient space to contain the entire Italian
Legion, though in a somewhat confined situation. Skirmishing was
commenced, and afterwards something more serious. The enemy stood boldly
against their opponents, and got possession of a strong position called
the _Quadrado_, or the Square, at the distance of a short cannon-shot
from the Powder-house. A number of men had already been wounded among
the Republicans, and, among others, Colonel Cajes and Estivao, in my
opinion the best of the officers. Such was the state of things, when the
signal was given for the Legion to make a sortie, and the conflict
became serious, under the command of Colonel Carceres, who had charge of
the force engaged. I shall always feel proud of having belonged to that
handful of brave men, having always seen them on the high road of
victory.
It was proposed to attack the enemy on an eminence, behind the shelter
of a ditch and parapet. The space which it was necessary to pass, in
order to assault it, was unobstructed by any obstacle, and therefore the
enterprise was by no means an easy one. But the Legion, that day, would
have faced fiends, if they could have been conjured upon the field; and
they marched on against the enemy, without firing a shot and without
hesitating for a moment, except to throw themselves into the Pantanoso,
three miles distant from the field of battle. Nuñez was killed, and many
prisoners were taken. The Oriental corps, in company with the Italians,
fought very bravely; and, though the above-mentioned movement was
somewhat retarded, the order was given to the column on the right to
advance and place itself between the river and the enemy. And certainly
not one of the enemy's infantry was saved.
That battle reflects great honor on the skill of General Pacheco.
During the first years of the siege of Montevideo, the Italian Legion
sustained innumerable conflicts. They suffered the loss of many killed
and wounded; but in no engagement did they disgrace themselves.
General Rivera was defeated at India Muerta; but the capital was not
conquered with him. The corps belonging to it were trained to war by
daily fighting, and also gained moral advantage over the besiegers. The
English and French intervention took place, and then all parties
anticipated a happy result of the war.
A project for operations, combined by the government and the admirals of
the two allied nations, was an expedition in the Uruguay; and it was
placed under my command. In the period now past, the national flotilla
had been increased by the addition of several vessels, some of which
were chartered, like the first, and others sequestrated from certain
enemies of the Republic, and others still were prizes made from the
enemy, who sent their vessels to the Bucco and other places on the coast
in possession of the forces of Ourives. Then, between the acquisition of
the above-mentioned vessels, and of two others of the Argentine
squadron, sequestered by the English and French, and placed at the
disposition of the Oriental government, the expedition for the Uruguay
was composed of about fifteen vessels, the largest of which was the
Cagancha, a brig of sixteen guns, and the smallest were several boats.
The landing corps was thus composed: the Italian Legion of about two
hundred men, about two hundred Nationals, under command of Colonel
Battle, and about a hundred cavalry, with two four pounders and six
horses in all.
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