An ancient map of the port of Messina to the fort with five points on the left recognizable
General Gennaro Ferguson, hero of Messina
CASERTA - Messina is or should be, in the collective good of all South (meaning for all populations from southern Lampedusa Tronto) one of the moments of greatest pride of our spent together, to take only limited to two years 1860 - 1861 to Gaeta and Civitella. Three unforgettable moments for those who are aware of past grandeur and the wrongs suffered by our fathers in those three forts offered to the country's life. Obviously it was the true homeland (the land of their fathers) and not of the modern nation (or Jacobin) Understanding and embodied by that violent attempt to unify that after 150 years, should be commemorated by a decree law (sic). What about those men who gave their lives in the name of a world that already defeated in France in 1789, and in 1830, and in Spain in 1835, was giving way to new order liberal - even revolutionary in the Italian peninsula. Dead against the revival, this should be told that today many pundits like to say that it is mandatory to celebrate the many who died to make the drive! We do not like counting the dead, but too many were killed for opposing the expansion of Piedmont, before, during and after the bloody 1861. Among these are the faithful soldiers of the Citadel of Messina Real deal a leading role. Over five thousand who did not surrender, and on behalf of all the Sicilians remained faithful to the Bourbon monarchy (after the martyrs of Bixio in Bronte also unarmed rioters in Palermo in 1866 that historians ignore) chose to resist besieged by land and sea in the fortress. Driven by the news that the resistance came from the rest of the kingdom, where they already blew the wind of popular revolt and Gaeta and Civitella resisted and the two young sovereigns Francis II and Maria Sofia Piedmont defied the bombs were guided by a brave officer, Brigadier General Gennaro Ferguson willing respect to the death oath of allegiance to the sovereign. The fortress of Messina untamed and untamable resisted for seven and a half months. This extraordinary true story of patriotism and heroic devotion to his duty began when, July 27, 1860 the pirate Garibaldi entered Messina in 2400 with his companions venture. Francis II, beyond that which drew the criticism of the Risorgimento, it was right. Few would follow that Nice still could not take advantage of the direct support of military and brigades of riflemen Piedmont (which instead will Bourbons after the defeat in Calabria) and the order of the King was to concentrate all the troops available around Messina from where the reconquest of the island would be shared. Unfortunately, not all the officers were like Ferguson and the plan did not foresee the betrayal. The Minister of War Giuseppe Salvatore Pianell , ordered all 15,000 men concentrated in the city to abandon the island to defend the continent and, despite the protests of many officers, there was nothing to do. The field commander of the troops, General Clary, was forced to order the departure but gave Ferguson's willingness to stand with 4000 men in the fortress. To those troops then joined groups of soldiers who refused boarding, city guards to flight from the city and many volunteers who brought the number of actual orders to over 5000 Bourbon Ferguson. Committed enough to keep the partisans and to respond to employment, ineffective for failing to move reinforcements. Garibaldi embarked for the Calabria leaving his men to lay siege to the fort a little less than a month after his entrance into the city. Until December the siege was relatively "quiet" but the beginning of December the first units arrived in Sicily to Piedmont and the new Italian fleet (consisting largely on Bourbon ships that had been delivered by officers and felons Admiral traitors Piedmont Carlo Pellion Persano, of course upon payment of large sums of money) and the music changed. Even the sea started arriving in the cannon shots and the siege became more dangerous. At cannonballs joined the hunger and Ferguson asked the king for permission to leave the fortress and the wounded civilians to lighten the load of resistance. The structure of the fortress, fortified with five points, contributed to the prolonged resistance as each corner and each side of the Pentagon's defense could be defended with guns Naples. Every day, the value of the besieged was demonstrated in the field. The yield was never an option, even when the news came from Gaeta's capitulation the fortress and the departure of King, who had fled the city to avoid further deaths among the civilian population decimated by bombs and weapon and illness. On February 12, 1861 Francis II and Mary Sophia left his kingdom for ever in the direction of Terracina, a few kilometers from the border, where they eventually reached Rome for the ten-year exile in Rome. The capitulation of Gaeta was waiting for hours in Sicily. Lieutenant Colonel Guillamat had in fact left the city after Francis II had communicated its decision and, with a small ship was able to reach Messina to continue the war. Ferguson held a council of war. Fall Gaeta was worth it to stand? To Neapolitan soldier's honor is everything and no one wanted to leave the field. The biggest challenge in the second half began in February when he came to direct the siege, General Enrico Cialdini , the Executioner of Gaeta, the future of Pontelandolfo and Casalduni butcher, the man who now manages to look Gaddafi a "boy scout" for beginners. The military gallantry did not even know what it was, Cialdini, who brought with him the famous ruled that guns began to fire at full blast, without stopping. In the face of fierce animal Cialdini, Ferguson could not help but respond with its honor and dignity. He chose to continue to fight and with his brave soldiers attempted a desperate sortie in an attempt to break the siege. The attempt ended in blood, but showed once again fighting the will of the besieged and their value. The February 11, with only a few bullets and no food, opened negotiations. Not even military honors were bestowed the 5000 Messina. Bourbon lowered the flag from the fort, the Neapolitan went out the main door to go to their fate. They were unarmed paraded before the eyes of the "winners" and Cialdini, confirming its bad reputation, he ordered (the unjustified) to arrest the officers who had led the resistance. Ordered the immediate start of the whole Bourbon troops to Genoa where they were sorted in the many strong - Grande prison in Piedmont, the notorious concentration camp of Savoy. Were rescued from the diplomatic mission of Francis II, who, impressed by the prolonged resistance, he obtained the assistance of the Emperor of France, Napoleon III who managed to ensure, on French ships, the transport of the heroes of Messina Ferguson , Knights , Gaeta, Cobianchi , Granata, de Nunzio , Recco , Di Gennaro , De Martino, Lauria, Brath , Lamonica , Anguissola , Falduti , Marini, Colombo , Pagano, Guillamat, all escaped the vengeance Piedmont along with most of the soldiers who returned to their homes as private citizens. Many of these became "bandits" and continued their battle for the Bourbon king. The white flag was lowered from the fort. He began the exile of the lilies of Naples. He began the Via Crucis of the Two Sicilies.
Roberto Della Rocca
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