Giuseppe Garibaldi | Two field orders written during the Red Shirt victory, Milazzo, 20 July 1860

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Two orders and a certificate signed by Garibaldi, and an autograph letter signed by Giovanni Leparac[c]hi

i) autograph order signed, written in the field during the Redshirt victory at Milazzo, to the commander of the Frigate Tüköry, headed "Al Comandante del Veloce", ordering him to come "in faccia a noi più avanti", marked as received at 12.30pm, 1 page, octavo, written in pencil, 20 July, 1860, transcript of message written at the base, wormed (affecting a few letters of the message), frayed at edges and foxedii) order signed (written by an ADC and signed by Garibaldi) headed "20 Luglio 1860/Signor Comandante il Tukeri", ordering him, on receipt, to sail by the west of Milazzo to the back of the roadstead out of cannon range and there to communicate with Garibaldi who will be in the city itself, marked as having been received at 5pm, 1 page, quarto, 20 July, 1860, integral blank, on paper impressed "Bath", minor worming (not affecting text), foxed

ii) certificate signed, by Garibaldi, attesting to Dionisio Liparacchi's qualities, despite a momentary error made at Milazzo, Caprera, 25 October 1861

iii) autograph letter signed, by Nino Bixio to Giovanni Leparac[c]hi, referring to his brother and Garibaldi, Turin, 14 June 1861

[with] newspaper clipping

The Battle of Milazzo led directly to the capitulation of Sicily and enabled Garibaldi and the Thousand to invade mainland Italy. The steamer Tüköry played a critical part in the action. It was one of the first of Garibaldi's warships. It arrived with reinforcements from Palermo and was then sent to bombard the right flank of the Neapolitan forces. Garibaldi directed the bombardment from on board the Veloce. The bombardment broke the lines of the Neapolitans who retreated to the fortress as Redshirts entered the town. The Tüköry entered port under sail before the Neapolitan surrender.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, London, 11 November 1982, lot 120