Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. Italy was astir with expectancy and preparation. Francis Joseph peremptorily demanded that Victor Emmanuel should at once disband the Piedmontese army, allowing three days for a reply. This precipitated the crisis for which all were longing. Within a week the Austrian army had crossed the Ticino and a division of the French army was in Turin. Louis Napoleon, in his dramatic proclamation, said he came to "give Italy to herself," and that she was to be free "from the Alps to the Adriatic!" With such a glorious promise what wonder that Garibaldi's volunteers drove the retreating Austrians through the defiles of the Lombard hills, and that the field at Magenta was won with an overwhelming victory I Never had Milan witnessed such a scene of wild rejoicing as when Louis Napoleon and Victor Emmanuel, with their victorious armies, entered the city adorned as for a bridal, with wreaths of flowers and gorgeous draperies of gold and silver brocade hanging from windows and balconies, the air ringing with shouts of a people rejoicing at their liberation. When the news of these victories was received, Leopold, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Francis, Duke of Modena, and the Duchess of Parma all fled to the protection of the Austrians, and the three rejoicing states immediately offered their allegiance to the "King of Italy." All the states in the papal territory which were governed by papal legates--that is, all except Rome and its immediate vicinity--in similar manner declared their desire for annexation. Nothing could have been swifter or more spontaneous than this obedience to the principle of unity in a new Italy, every freed atom at once trying to ally itself to the central authority. In three weeks after Magenta came the crucial battle of...
