"...and having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts."
--President Abraham Lincoln of the United States of America
“I offer neither pay, nor quarters, nor food; I offer only hunger, thirst, forced marches, battles and death. Let him who loves his country with his heart, and not merely with his lips, follow me.”
--Giuseppe Garibaldi
August 1, 1861
Brussels
It was a strange course of events that had led to this hot night in Brussels. Giuseppe Garibaldi, Hero of the Italians, rugged revolutionary, and a man of fabulous style(1) sat, eyes hooded, across from Henry S. Sanford(2), the U.S. Minister in Brussels. At the opening of the Civil War in faraway America, Garibaldi had sent a communique to Sanford, offering his services to the United States government, and citing his actions in Brazil, Uruguay, and against Austria as proof of his military talent. The Americans had offered him a commission as major general and--as he had little to do as the Sardinians continued to stall on an expedition to Rome--he had traveled to Brussels in person to refuse(3). Now, as he saw the minister's honest, hopeful face, however, he felt uncertain. These people could be convinced, he thought. Even without the proclamation of a war to end slavery(4), he could serve with these people and hopefully convince them otherwise. Even without becoming General-In-Chief, which he had come to understand was a somewhat ineffective position in the American army(5), he could serve. For one of the very few times in his life, Giuseppe Garibaldi found himself willing to compromise to achieve success(6).
The general opened his eyes wide, and, leaning on the table before him, spoke clearly to the young man before him. "I will accept your president's offer. I will serve, at his pleasure, as a major general."
And history changed.
* * *
October 14, 1861
District of Columbia
"Mio Dio! Ci sono così tanti di loro!" Colonel Gouverneur K. Warren, Garibaldi's chosen aide-de-camp(7), eyed the general with some discomfort as he spoke. In the fortnight since Garibaldi's arrival in the United States, Warren had been both offput and strangely seduced by the Italian's paradoxically humble-but-flamboyant style of speech and dress, and his lively, fearless personality. He was not quite sure whether he loved the man or hated him, but it was to at least one of these extremes that his mind leaned. It had to be said, however, that the two had become close in those two weeks. It was not for nothing that the cautious young colonel had become his aide-de-camp.
"Excuse me, sir?" Garibaldi shook his head, waving a hand at Warren. "It is nothing, mio caro figlio. It is only that it is amazing to see such a great amount of men in one place." The Army of Northeastern Virginia(8) was arrayed in military splendor along the banks of the Potomac; thousands of men, well-armed and well-supplied, but with the illusion of distant perspective hiding their fatal flaw--inexperience. Garibaldi smiled. It was perhaps applicable that such an inexperienced group of men should be entrusted to a general so inexperienced in leading such a large force. They would learn together, and be the better for it.
The general was distracted from his thoughts by the appearance of a figure below the small hill upon which he and Warren gathered their thoughts. "Who is that, mio figlio?" Warren squinted in the autumn sun, then frowned as he recognized the man. "It is Irvin McDowell, sir." Garibaldi grinned with excitement. "I have been wanting to meet this man. His strategy at...Bull Run, è corretto? It was quite creative. But not good, I think, for our newborn army here." Warren did not say anything, but continued frowning. More figures came loose from the great beast below them, following McDowell. Seeing better now, Warren said, "Brigadier General Joseph Mansfield and Major General Nathanial Banks, sir."
Finally, the three arrived at Garibaldi's tent, saluting him. He acknowledged them with a sharp salute of his own and spoke, saying, "Signori miei! It is good to finally meet you. Allow me to formally introduce myself; I am Major General Giuseppe Garibaldi, lately of the army of Italy(9)." He held out a hand, and the three shook it in turn, all introducing themselves politely. Turning away, Garibaldi clasped his hands behind his back, and continued speaking. "Firstly, my friends, we must reorganize this army. I propose a division of four corps. I will lead the first personally(10). I would like Brigadier General McDowell to lead the second, Brigadier General Mansfield the third, and Major General Banks the fourth." He turned back to them, smiling serenely. "What do you say?" While Banks bristled silently at being offered a corps so latterly-numbered, McDowell labored to prove his own incompetence at this command. "General, I am not worthy. I am only a supply officer, not a commander(11). I request formally that you allow me instead to organize supply." Garibaldi chuckled, and shook his head. "And polite too! I will not grant this request, my good sir. But if you so wish to be put back in the leadership, take the fourth corps. Major General Banks will take the second, suona bene?" The three nodded, though Banks still seemed somewhat irritated. The general nodded firmly. "Now go and begin organizing your troops. We begin drills at six tomorrow morning."
Garibaldi's war had not yet begun, but when it did, it would be fast, brutal, and fearless. So thought Colonel Warren as he and the general walked down to meet with the troops.
Notes
(1) Look here, here, and here. Just look at the man.
(2) A rather unknown personality IOTL, so I have felt free to invent a young, honest, and thus convincing-to-Garibaldi kind of man.
(3) Our POD. Instead of sending a letter, Garibaldi travels to Brussels himself, and is convinced to change his mind by Sanford.
(4) As he demanded IOTL. I don't see that being very ASB.
(5) He demanded to be General-In-Chief IOTL, but you know, Winfield Scott didn't really dictate the war.
(6) Again, I don't see this being ASB. Garibaldi being in America gives him the opportunity to argue his point of view and prove it through military success. Will it work out that way? I do hope so.
(7) Warren, IOTL, was a very talented military officer, but too cautious for his commanders (unfortunately for him, they did not include the ever overcautious McClellan). His military career was effectively ended after the Battle of the Wilderness, where he was thought to be much too cautious. Here, Garibaldi sees his potential and uses him.
(8) The army that lost at Bull Run and Big Bethel, which later became the famed Army of the Potomac. That's right--no McClellan in the East.
(9) This was something Garibaldi often did--referring to the army of Sardinia-Piedmont as the army of Italy, before it was officially so. I like his confidence.
(10) As per usual, Garibaldi takes a field command as well as his overall command. He liked to be in among the troops, fighting alongside them.
(11) Which is what he said to Washington when they put him in charge of the AoNEV. They didn't listen. His strategy was quite imaginative, though, and he had great potential.
--President Abraham Lincoln of the United States of America
“I offer neither pay, nor quarters, nor food; I offer only hunger, thirst, forced marches, battles and death. Let him who loves his country with his heart, and not merely with his lips, follow me.”
--Giuseppe Garibaldi
August 1, 1861
Brussels
It was a strange course of events that had led to this hot night in Brussels. Giuseppe Garibaldi, Hero of the Italians, rugged revolutionary, and a man of fabulous style(1) sat, eyes hooded, across from Henry S. Sanford(2), the U.S. Minister in Brussels. At the opening of the Civil War in faraway America, Garibaldi had sent a communique to Sanford, offering his services to the United States government, and citing his actions in Brazil, Uruguay, and against Austria as proof of his military talent. The Americans had offered him a commission as major general and--as he had little to do as the Sardinians continued to stall on an expedition to Rome--he had traveled to Brussels in person to refuse(3). Now, as he saw the minister's honest, hopeful face, however, he felt uncertain. These people could be convinced, he thought. Even without the proclamation of a war to end slavery(4), he could serve with these people and hopefully convince them otherwise. Even without becoming General-In-Chief, which he had come to understand was a somewhat ineffective position in the American army(5), he could serve. For one of the very few times in his life, Giuseppe Garibaldi found himself willing to compromise to achieve success(6).
The general opened his eyes wide, and, leaning on the table before him, spoke clearly to the young man before him. "I will accept your president's offer. I will serve, at his pleasure, as a major general."
And history changed.
* * *
October 14, 1861
District of Columbia
"Mio Dio! Ci sono così tanti di loro!" Colonel Gouverneur K. Warren, Garibaldi's chosen aide-de-camp(7), eyed the general with some discomfort as he spoke. In the fortnight since Garibaldi's arrival in the United States, Warren had been both offput and strangely seduced by the Italian's paradoxically humble-but-flamboyant style of speech and dress, and his lively, fearless personality. He was not quite sure whether he loved the man or hated him, but it was to at least one of these extremes that his mind leaned. It had to be said, however, that the two had become close in those two weeks. It was not for nothing that the cautious young colonel had become his aide-de-camp.
"Excuse me, sir?" Garibaldi shook his head, waving a hand at Warren. "It is nothing, mio caro figlio. It is only that it is amazing to see such a great amount of men in one place." The Army of Northeastern Virginia(8) was arrayed in military splendor along the banks of the Potomac; thousands of men, well-armed and well-supplied, but with the illusion of distant perspective hiding their fatal flaw--inexperience. Garibaldi smiled. It was perhaps applicable that such an inexperienced group of men should be entrusted to a general so inexperienced in leading such a large force. They would learn together, and be the better for it.
The general was distracted from his thoughts by the appearance of a figure below the small hill upon which he and Warren gathered their thoughts. "Who is that, mio figlio?" Warren squinted in the autumn sun, then frowned as he recognized the man. "It is Irvin McDowell, sir." Garibaldi grinned with excitement. "I have been wanting to meet this man. His strategy at...Bull Run, è corretto? It was quite creative. But not good, I think, for our newborn army here." Warren did not say anything, but continued frowning. More figures came loose from the great beast below them, following McDowell. Seeing better now, Warren said, "Brigadier General Joseph Mansfield and Major General Nathanial Banks, sir."
Finally, the three arrived at Garibaldi's tent, saluting him. He acknowledged them with a sharp salute of his own and spoke, saying, "Signori miei! It is good to finally meet you. Allow me to formally introduce myself; I am Major General Giuseppe Garibaldi, lately of the army of Italy(9)." He held out a hand, and the three shook it in turn, all introducing themselves politely. Turning away, Garibaldi clasped his hands behind his back, and continued speaking. "Firstly, my friends, we must reorganize this army. I propose a division of four corps. I will lead the first personally(10). I would like Brigadier General McDowell to lead the second, Brigadier General Mansfield the third, and Major General Banks the fourth." He turned back to them, smiling serenely. "What do you say?" While Banks bristled silently at being offered a corps so latterly-numbered, McDowell labored to prove his own incompetence at this command. "General, I am not worthy. I am only a supply officer, not a commander(11). I request formally that you allow me instead to organize supply." Garibaldi chuckled, and shook his head. "And polite too! I will not grant this request, my good sir. But if you so wish to be put back in the leadership, take the fourth corps. Major General Banks will take the second, suona bene?" The three nodded, though Banks still seemed somewhat irritated. The general nodded firmly. "Now go and begin organizing your troops. We begin drills at six tomorrow morning."
Garibaldi's war had not yet begun, but when it did, it would be fast, brutal, and fearless. So thought Colonel Warren as he and the general walked down to meet with the troops.
Notes
(1) Look here, here, and here. Just look at the man.
(2) A rather unknown personality IOTL, so I have felt free to invent a young, honest, and thus convincing-to-Garibaldi kind of man.
(3) Our POD. Instead of sending a letter, Garibaldi travels to Brussels himself, and is convinced to change his mind by Sanford.
(4) As he demanded IOTL. I don't see that being very ASB.
(5) He demanded to be General-In-Chief IOTL, but you know, Winfield Scott didn't really dictate the war.
(6) Again, I don't see this being ASB. Garibaldi being in America gives him the opportunity to argue his point of view and prove it through military success. Will it work out that way? I do hope so.
(7) Warren, IOTL, was a very talented military officer, but too cautious for his commanders (unfortunately for him, they did not include the ever overcautious McClellan). His military career was effectively ended after the Battle of the Wilderness, where he was thought to be much too cautious. Here, Garibaldi sees his potential and uses him.
(8) The army that lost at Bull Run and Big Bethel, which later became the famed Army of the Potomac. That's right--no McClellan in the East.
(9) This was something Garibaldi often did--referring to the army of Sardinia-Piedmont as the army of Italy, before it was officially so. I like his confidence.
(10) As per usual, Garibaldi takes a field command as well as his overall command. He liked to be in among the troops, fighting alongside them.
(11) Which is what he said to Washington when they put him in charge of the AoNEV. They didn't listen. His strategy was quite imaginative, though, and he had great potential.