WI: Giuseppe Garibaldi serves during The American Civil War

[Nofix]

One of the most interesting things I found out recently is that famous Italian Founding Father Giuseppe Garibaldi, at the outbreak of war, offered his service to Abraham Lincoln. To quote this

Lincoln instructed Seward to begin direct communications with Garibaldi. The U.S. minister at Antwerp, Quiggle's superior, Henry S. Sanford, was instructed to offer the red-shirt hero "a Major-General's commission in the Army of the United States, with its appointments and the hearty welcome of the American people."( ... ) "It has been a source of sincere satisfaction to the President that circumstances have rendered him able to extend to him [Garibaldi], if desired, an invitation which would enable him to add [to his already towering reputation] the glory of aiding in the preservation of the American Union." Seward also notified Sanford that he could reveal that one thousand pounds sterling had been put aside for the "expenses" of Garibaldi and his retinue.

There was just one issue, Garibaldi wanted to make this a war of Liberation for the slaves, and Lincoln didn't want to commit that early on. But what if either dropped their position? Lincoln gambling with liberation, or Garibaldi seeing that the end will be the same, regardless of rhetoric.

Could this work? Could the Hero of Two Worlds (or Hero of Three Worlds in this case) become a Union General and win for the Union? If so, what are the international repercussions? Are the US and Italy now more friendly with GG's service? How will American and Italian history unfold with a friend on either side of the Atlantic?

 

[Stolengood]

I asked this same question; suffice it to say, it did not get a good response...

 

[SlyDessertFox]

I'd imagine this would have an impact on Italy as well with Garibaldi not being there for those 4 years and all that.


Where would they put Garibaldi? In the west? Or under McClellan's command?

 

[Anaxagoras]

This would conceivably increase the chances that France would recognize the Confederacy as a sovereign state.

 

[robcraufurd]

It also got discussed here. Perhaps judicious use of the search function is in order in future.

Lincoln moving towards emancipation sooner has massive implications beyond just Garibaldi- primarily loss of support in the border states. And while Garibaldi might be tempted to fight for the slave, he won't prioritise fighting to re-establish Union dominion in the South over fighting for Italian freedom.

 

[Iori]

It also got discussed here. Perhaps judicious use of the search function is in order in future.

The most recent one is from the Summer and the other links one is over a year old, it's not like their are half a dozen threads on the topic all started in the last seven months.

 

[robcraufurd]

The most recent one is from the Summer and the other linkes one is over a year old, it's not like their are half a dozen threads on the topic all started in the last seven months.

No, but it's a topic that hasn't gone undiscussed on this board, or indeed elsewhere. Providing an OP that suggests a new slant on the topic, or indicates a personal opinion, fine. But if you happen across something on the internet, you should probably check to make sure someone hasn't found it first.

 

[SlyDessertFox]

No, but it's a topic that hasn't gone undiscussed on this board, or indeed elsewhere. Providing an OP that suggests a new slant on the topic, or indicates a personal opinion, fine. But if you happen across something on the internet, you should probably check to make sure someone hasn't found it first.

It's not like this is the most discussed topic on AH. I've seen repeats of far more discussed topics all the time since I came here and nobody complains.

 

[Darth_Kiryan]

It also got discussed here. Perhaps judicious use of the search function is in order in future.

Lincoln moving towards emancipation sooner has massive implications beyond just Garibaldi- primarily loss of support in the border states. And while Garibaldi might be tempted to fight for the slave, he won't prioritise fighting to re-establish Union dominion in the South over fighting for Italian freedom.

even though he was fighting for a United Italy?

 

[eliphas8]

even though he was fighting for a United Italy?

As far as he was concerned fighting for a united italy was fighting for italian freedom. He felt that the existing states in Italy wheren't free and the only way for Italians to be truly free (and especially free of foreign domination) was to be united inside a preferably democratic united italy.

 

[Darth_Kiryan]

As far as he was concerned fighting for a united italy was fighting for italian freedom. He felt that the existing states in Italy wheren't free and the only way for Italians to be truly free (and especially free of foreign domination) was to be united inside a preferably democratic united italy.

going by that logic you may as well have an ASB TL where he fights for the south.

 

[eliphas8]

going by that logic you may as well have an ASB TL where he fights for the south.

I don't follow?