Garibaldi’s Thousand consisted of three groups: veterans of the battles of 1848-49 (the most trusted group, including Bixio, Sirtoti, Medici, and Cosenz); volunteers from the Alpine Hunters; and finally, last-minute volunteers, including many university students and wealthy members of the elite. They included 100 doctors, 100 merchants, 50 engineers, 50 naval captains, 20 pharmacists, 10 painters and sculptors, and the rest were artisans and laborers. Only one was a farmer, while three were former priests. The number of university graduates was extraordinarily high: enough to supply at least five medium-sized cities of the time. Among the Ligurians were 36 Genoese Carabinieri volunteers under the command of Antonio Mosto, armed and equipped at their own expense. They proved to be disciplined soldiers and expert marksmen. They also included 23 guides, who would be continually used by Garibaldi, eager for information on the terrain. The youngest of the Thousand is 11 years old, the oldest is 69.
