The passage taken from the memoirs of the Canavese leader who participated in the expedition of the Thousand at the age of 70
IVREA. In 1860 Pier Alessandro Garda was almost seventy years old (really a lot for the time), more than a few ailments and an adventurous life behind him. He could not resist one last temptation: to join Garibaldi and his expedition of the Thousand. We report a brief passage from Memory which restore both the extraordinary vitality and the prestige of Garda in the Italy that was taking place.
«For some time I had complained about certain evils that made me very sad and suggested that I go to the Acqui baths, the waters of which would restore my health. But then were the days when Garibaldi had landed in Sicily. I decided to leave as a good volunteer and lend all my possible help. The ship arrived in Palermo from Genoa after three days of navigation. Walking through the city I was lucky enough to meet an elderly colleague, deputy, named Asproni, an excellent patriot with whom I was linked by friendship and political feelings. We embarked. The ship stopped in Reggio to take another sailing boat behind it loaded with cannons, bombs, powder and all the war material to take it to Garibaldi’s army. We arrived in Naples around noon. We were at a café next to the large square where a great number of patriots generally gathered, who had arrived in the city when Garibaldi also arrived. Before getting out of the car, turning his gaze around him, he saw Asproni and I, and held out his hand. We had lunch and then headed for his home. The palace was surrounded by immense people eager to see Garibaldi. We went through all those rooms and were with the General who received them very well. “Stop, sit and stay with us”.
I was therefore the first to hear the reading of all those decrees that appeared in the Official Gazette the following day. At that time there was a Frenchman in Naples who also contributed by all means in his ability to make the Neapolitans decide in favor of Italian unity. That Frenchman was the famous Alessandro Dumas to whom Garibaldi had given a job and made a building available. Since I knew him I was to visit him. He received me in all confidence and presented me with a large book of arms which he had brought from France at his own expense to arm the partisans of Independence. Since at the age of seventy I no longer had the very good sight to read without glasses, he put his on my nose and in fact I saw many arms counts which he told me he had provided. I congratulated myself as a liberal. ‘ –
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