Battle of Volturnus (1860)

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Battle of the Volturnus

Part of The Expedition of the Thousand

Scene from the battle.

Date	September-October 1860
Location	Northern Campania
Result	Garibaldine victory

Belligerents

Giuseppe Garibaldi
Kingdom of Sardinia

Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Commanders

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Giosuè Ritucci

Strength

24,000

41,000

Casualties and losses

306 casualties,
1,328 wounded,
389 prisoners

308 casualties,
820 wounded,
2,160 prisoners

Expedition of the Thousand

Calatafimi – Milazzo – Volturno – Gaeta

The Battle of Volturnus or Volturno refers to a series of military clashes between Giuseppe Garibaldi's volunteers and the troops of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies occurred around the river Volturno, in northern Campania, in September and October 1860. The main battle took place on October 1, 1860 between 24,000 garibaldines and 25,000 Bourbon troops.

After Garibaldi's Expedition of Thousand has conquered Sicily and much of southern Italy with a startling speed, entering in Naples on September 7, while the King Francis II of Two Sicilies took refuge in the powerful fortress of Gaeta, midway from Rome to Naples. In the meantime the Neapolitan army was rebuilt in Capua under marshal Giosuè Ritucci, the first skirmishes with Garibaldi's volunteers occurring on September 26 and 29.

On September 30 a Neapolitans corps crossed the Volturno at Triflisco, marching towards Santa Maria a Vologno, but were halted by two Garibaldine brigades. The following day Ritucci then decided a frontal attack with two divisions against Garibaldi's centre, which occupied a line running from Sant'Angelo in Formis and Santa Maria a Vico. After defeating the enemy, Ritucci was to reach Caserta and then Naples itself.

The two armies met on the western front, in which the Neapolitans, spurred by the presence of Francis himself, forced the Garibaldines to retreat. Garibaldi and his fellow Giacomo Medici intervened, re-establishing the situation. Harsh fights were taking place in the meantime at Santa Maria, but at 6 PM the Neapolitans were pushed back; the Garibaldines were however defeated on the hills neat Monte Tifata, Monte Vito and Castel Morrone.

Nino Bixio, who defended the road to Maddaloni, was initially defeated by the attack of the Bavarian and Swiss brigade of General von Mechel. In his support arrived colonel Giuseppe Dezza with two Bersaglieri battalions, which pushed back von Mechel northwards, up to Ducenta.

At that point the only undefeated Bourbon column was that of colonel Perrone, who was in Capua with c. 3,000 troops. The city was attacked on 2 AM by the Garibaldines and one Piedmontese rgular Bersaglieri battalion, and captured.