From: Pierluigi Rossi - Italy

pierrossi@hotmail.com

In 1860 Garibaldi, financed by the Savoy monarchy in Northwestern Italy, and British commercial group, invaded the Bourbon Kingdom in southern Italy.  Disembarked from 2 ships in Sicily with the protection of the British fleet, by treason of high placed Bourbon military leaders, provoked an uprising and defeated the forces sent against him by the Bourbon monarchy in Naples.  At the same time the military forces of the Savoy monarchy marched trough the western part of the Vatican state and invaded the Bourbon kingdom from the north.  The army went trough the northern regions of the Bourbon king, burning villages, pillaging and robbing throughout the countryside, 47621 civilians were summarily executed without any trial.  On October 14, 1860 arrived in Naples 600 British in aid to Garibaldi, with them was Chatham Roberdeau Wheat. Who had met Garibaldi in 1850 during his stay in New York City, Garibaldi welcomed him and made him a brigadier General, in charge of the British Legion, he took part in the Battle of Volturno.

In November of 1860 having been informed of the election of Lincoln as President, Roberdeau Wheat decided to return to the US, but made arrangement with the American consul in Naples; Joseph Chandler charged Captain Bradford Smith Hoskiss, ex-British army officer with the British legion to recruit and arrange passage to New Orleans of  disbanded Bourbon soldiers in order to avoid Savoy prison camps. My gg grandfather, Giovanni B. Rossi, former Sergeant of  4th Co. of the first light infantry rgt. under major Giuseppe Armenio, was among those who sailed to New Orleans on board the US Ship "Charles & Jane" which together with the ships "Utile" Olyphant" and "Elisabetta" reached New Orleans in early 1861, before the union fleet blockade. All together arrived 884 former bourbon soldiers. They were enlisted in various Louisiana military Confederate units, mainly the 10th La inf  rgt. Organized by Colonel Antoine de Mandeville de Marigny, at camp Moore in July of 1861. About 40% of the population of New Orleans were of foreign birth according to US 1860 census, of which about 1% were of Italian origin. 

Thomas Moore, governor of Louisiana expected all able foreigners to provide  military assistance to the newly created Confederacy. The British consul George Coppel and French Count Mejan strongly opposed the direct recruitment in Confederate units and agreed to a compromise.  The foreigners in the city would not be sent to service in other Southern states, therefore in November of 1861, were formed the 3  regiments of the European brigade, to provide  military police and militia duties in New Orleans, under command of General Paul Juge of Belgium. A battalion of the 6th rgt was "The Italian Guards comprised 284 men.  My gg grandfather was a Corp. in Co. F. 5th rgt cazadores Espanoles.

The European brigade was extremely important during the 5 days (April 25-30, 1862) when General Lovell was forced to evacuate his 8000 Confederate soldiers; union ships bypassed the 2 forts at the mouth of the Mississippi, and land resistance was not practical.  With the army departing and the prospect of Gen, Ben. Butler, US troops arriving any day, the city became chaotic with fear. The wharfs were set ablaze to keep goods from union hands, and many peoples were branded as spies by others to find scapegoats for the fall of the city.  The Brigade was the only armed force able to keep total chaos from enveloping the city. The European brigade was disbanded May 30th by the union authorities. My gg grandfather in group with others went north to Grand Gulf Mississippi, worked ferrying goods on both shores of the river.

After the fall of Vicksburg 89 of the former bourbon soldiers were recruited to camp Enterprise in Mississippi on August 1863 and volunteered for reformed 22nd consolidated La inf. Rgt. All placed in Company H; my gg grandfather had the rank of sergeant.  According to the diary kept by pvt. Paperi Savino of Co.F. the rgt was sent camp at Alexandria, La in October of 1863, were assigned to Thomas Brigade, Mouton-Polignac division and fought at Sabine Pass, Mansfield, under Gen. R. Taylor. September of 1864, the rgt was transferred to Camp Boggs at Shreveport. Unfortunately no records, or muster rolls of the 22nd are to be found, because Gen. Kirby Smith  burned all records including muster rolls, so as to show their service up to the time of  official act of surrender.

The regiment was disbanded May 20, 1865, 6 days before the signed act of surrender. None of the soldiers are mentioned in the parole records. The 22nd La inf. rgt has never surrendered My gg grandfather and 8 other returned to Italy in 1868. To his last days testified his devotion to the Confederate States of America, devotion still deeply felt trough the 3 generations of our family (My grandfather born1874, my father born 1906 and me. To my son have told the complete story, and told him that as gg grandfather said "the cause is neither lost or forgotten" for the 22nd La inf. rgt as yet has not surrendered. He only left a $500 Confederate war bond. Through out research, I have the nominative of almost 600 names of former Bourbon soldiers who served in Louisiana Confederated military units. With the respective units, rank and for some service records to be verified by Andrew B. Booth  records of Confederate soldiers. Most of them have the respective units in the Bourbon Army. 

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About the Pictures:

The pictures above are the commemoration ceremony for those Confederate soldiers and were taken in Civitella del Tronto, the last fortress of the Bourbon kingdom to surrender.

The pictures on the fortress were taken on the occasion of the memorial ceremony for the former Bourbon soldiers; several thousands, who in 1861, after the occupation of the bourbon kingdom, were recruited by Roberdeau Wheat for the Confederacy.  They arrived in New Orleans in 1861, before the union naval blockade. They were enlisted in the European brigades, Btg "Italian guards", in the 10th Louisiana infantry rgt (Company I was exclusively composed of ex Bourbon soldiers).  Of the 18 survivors of the 10th La Rgt was one of Ferri Salvatore paroled at Appomattox April 10 1865.  Many others volunteered to join the 22nd La inf. rgt. Co. F. reorganized in August 1863 at camp enterprise in Mississippi, moved to Alexandria, Louisiana, attached to Thomas Brigade, Mouton-Polignac division, fought at Sabine Pass and Mansfield. Unfortunately the official records were burned by Gen. Kirby Smith five days before official  surrender on May 20, 1865.  The pictures were taken at "Civitella del Tronto" the last fortress to surrender in the Bourbon kingdom where there is a museum, where there is a Confederate flag commemorating the soldiers of the 22nd La inf. rgt, the unit that never surrendered. The diary of 2 of the soldiers who returned to Italy in 1868.

Regarding the last 2 pictures: Taken on top of one of the entrance to Italy's Grand Prix, Formula one, in Monza Sept. 4th.  Now I have run out of flags, since I don't get them back, I am waiting to be supplied from SCV camp 1390, Lake Charles Louisiana, of which I am member, but since hurricane Rita swept over the area, I don't know when I'll get them.  Tried to buy them from on line store, but so far none of them are willing to ship to Italy, if you could suggest of a store, paying by credit card I would be grateful. you may share the pictures from your website, since the only contact I have is with camp 1390.

God bless you and the CSA.
Pete

pierrossi@hotmail.com