The Battle of Calatafimi, May 15, 1860

7/30/2019 The Battle of Calatafimi, May 15, 1860

1/3

The Battle of Calatafimi, May 15, 1860

The Neapolitans face Garibaldi and the "Thousand" shortly after their landing at Marsala,

on the road to Palermo. This battle was considered by Garibaldi to be one of his crowning

glories - not only did he beat a force twice the size of his own, thus giving his troops the

spirit to prevail elsewhere (notably at Palermo), but the ferocity of the troops on bothsides proved conclusively for him that Italians could fight.

Orders of Battle

Garibaldini

Commander: Giuseppe Garibaldi

1st Red-Shirt Battalion (500) 2nd Red-Shirt Battalion (600) Genoese Carabiniers (43)

Sicilian Picciotti (300, in two groups; 800 more did not take part in the battle) Guides [cavalry] (23) Artillery (5 smoothbore field guns)

Neapolitan

Commander: Brigadier-General Francisco Landi

Sub-Commander: Major Sforza 8th Cacciatori Battalion (1000) 1 Battalion 10th Line Infantry (1000)

1 Battalion Royal Carabinier Regiment (1000)

Platoon Horse Chasseurs (50) Battery (4 smoothbore 6# field guns)

Notes: The Garibaldini Guides were without horses at the time of this battle. The Picciotti

were Sicilians who were poorly armed, often with a type of local blunderbuss that,although fitted to take percussion caps, was not tremendously effective. Landi held three

companies of the Royal Carabiniers, three companies of the 10th Line battalion, and two

of the four guns in reserve - these units did not see action. (Neapolitan battalions had 6companies.) The Royal Carabiniers were the elite infantry formation of the Neapolitan

army.

The Garibaldini had smoothbore percussion muskets - mostly converted flintlocks; onlythe Genoese Carabiniers had percussion rifles. All of the Neapolitan infantry are armed

with percussion rifles, except for the Cacciatori and the Horse Chasseurs, who have rifled

percussion carbines. Note that Sforza commanded the active half of the Neapolitan forceduring the battle - Landi stood in reserve. For tabletop representation, you may wish to

field the half-battalions as separate units, since that is how they functioned during the

battle.For uniform information, you may wish to see the article "The Kingdom of Naples Army


2/3

Organisation and Uniforms 1853-1860" by Keith Fry, which can be accessed by members

at http://www.magweb.com. This is largely a reprint of information presented in one of

the Freikorps 15s/Ulster Imports booklets by Luigi Casale, "Red Shirts, Garibaldi'sCampaign in Southern Italy - 1860". This booklet also provides a wealth of information

about the Garibaldini

Notes on the Terrain

Although, with some exceptions, the slopes of the hills in the area were fairly smooth,

they had been terraced for cultivation, and were quite steep. These terraces offered theGardibaldini cover as they charged up the Pianto dei Romani at the Neapolitans, and

probably would impede the progress of troops moving in close-order line formations

through them. Consequently, the terrain can probably be considered "rough" on the hills.The streams would be fordable at all points.

Description of the Battle


3/3

The battle began around noon, the Garibaldini charging the approaching Neapolitans

under Sforza (8th Cacciatori, half of the 10th Line, half of the Royal Carabiniers, half ofthe artillery and the cavalry). While the Genoese Carabiniers kept up a covering fire, the

other infantry charged forward with the bayonet, pushing the first line of Neapolitan

troops back. For two hours the Garibaldini hid behind terraced walls of the Pianto deiRomani, moving forward in short rushes under the blazing sun. Finally, Garibaldi led his

men forward in a final charge, shouting that the Neapolitans were out of ammunition. The

charge carried the Neapolitan line away, leaving the field to the Garibaldini. TheGaribaldini artillery was forced to hide behind a hastily-constructed barricade by the

Neapolitan Horse Chasseurs, which moved forwad on the road, and consequently did not

get into the main part of the action until late in the day. The Neapolitan reserve under

Landi took no part in the action, for the commander decided that Sforza needed no help.Had Garibaldi lost this battle, it is unlikely that he would have conquered Sicily (at least

not in 1860 - he was a very determined man).

Scenario NotesThis is one of the battles in which Garibaldi displayed incredible force of personality. It is

realistic to give him the highest leadership ratings possible (twice as good as the opposingNeapolitan commanders). The Picciotti could have helped in greater numbers, or possibly

not at all. These forces can be used to balance out the scenario, along with the Neapolitan

reserve. Generally speaking, the Neapolitan troops were not highly motivated, whereasthe Garibaldini "Thousand" were fired with great enthusiasm for their cause. This

scenario is good for those who are building armies for other Risorgimento scenarios:

Neapolitans are good for refights of Milazzo and the Volturno, and the Garibaldini can be

used for those battles, as well as Menatana (and even the Franco-Prussian War). Figuresin 25mm can be obtained from Mirliton, an Italian manufacturer.

Documents

The Battle of Calatafimi, May 15, 1860