Calatafimi. Some companies of Neapolitan Cacciatori, thinking they could easily route the bandits, began to descend from the “Pianto dei Romani” hill, shooting. When they reached the valley between the two hills, they had their first surprise: they heard a trumpet sound. Ragged rebels usually didn’t have trumpets! Accurate fire from the Genoese carabinieri followed by a bayonet charge. The Bourbon troops hastily retreated. Then the impetus of some units of the Thousand was such that Garibaldi was forced to give the general order to attack. The hill featured several terraces that had to be conquered one at a time with bayonet attacks. The final assault, to the summit with all the enemy units waiting, seemed hopeless. Bixio asked the general if it wasn’t time to retreat, but Garibaldi replied, “Here we make Italy or die.” Finally, the summit was conquered and a cannon was captured. In the final stages of the battle, the Sicilian picciotti, who had previously remained waiting on a nearby hill, moved towards the Bourbons, causing them to fear an attempted encirclement.
