For Want of A Flask
October 22nd, 1862
Chiaja Hotel de Charme, Naples
Cavour came to. The clock read 10:23 in the morning. He was very tired and felt like a stiff drink. It was early, but he felt like a cannonball had hit him and reached for his flask. Suddenly, the Prime Minister remembered why he was in bed in a strange place. The previous afternoon, a gunman had tried to kill him. His flask saved his life, but Mayor Duriante wasn’t so lucky. The bullet was deflected off of Cavour’s flask into the side of the Mayor’s jaw. He died soon after but the Camillo had had the wind knocked out of him. “Hell with it,” he muttered. Cavour pulled the cord next to his bed and a servant soon appeared. “Give me some wine,” he said, “and soon.”
October 26th, 1862
Cavour’s Offfices, Turin
After a few days rest, Cavour traveled back to Naples and arranged a meeting with Minister Rattazzi, General Cialdini, and the newly appointed Minister of Justice, Sebastiano Tecchio. After a few minutes of personal discussion, the group got down to business. “Minister Rattazzi, General Cialdini, Minister Tecchio, the situation in the south has become simply unacceptable. King Victor Emmanuel will be visiting Naples in the spring and I want the trip to be flawless. The King has personally asked me to ensure his safety and end the rebellion as best I can. General, your efforts against the Bourbonist and republican brigands have been steadily driving the insurgents out of their rat-holes and defeating them. What do you need to eliminate the insurrection?” General Cialdini thought for a moment and spoke. “Prime Minister, I will need another 50,000 men. The revolutionaries are well hidden and they have the support of many of the people. I need more men to get the job done quickly. There are also rumors that a Spanish filibuster, Jose Borges is raising the Neapolitan people against their government. I need a death sentence so we can make an example of him. That is all.”
“Interesting, thank you very much General. Minister Ratazzi, do you have any evidence that Francis II, Garibaldi or Mazzini are providing assistance to this rebellion?” “Yes, your Excellency. The deposed king has been scheming to overthrow our government and restore his throne since the unification. We know that some members of his government still in the country have been working to undo the great national accomplishment, and some are doing so in direct association with Francis himself. Garibaldi is far too brazen to operate with the guerilla bands, and if he were involved, there is no doubt that he would raise an army rather than support the acts of small rebel groups. Mazzini’s organization is certainly involved.”
“Thank you, Urbano. I think we can all agree that there is a considerable Bourbon influence remaining in the South. Francis still appears to have connections and hopes of returning to power, and we need to destroy those hopes if we intend to destroy the rebellion. The republican guerillas are mainly fighting for concessions, and if we can placate those people while smashing their trust in militant victory, the issue will resolve itself. We can achieve both by cracking down on the republican and Bourbonist agitators in the south, defeating the brigandages in battle, ensuring the reception of economic assistance to the people and providing a distraction. Minister Tecchio, you are to work with the Ministry of the Interior to find anyone of republican or Bourbonist persuasion who is suspected of helping or advocating the rebellion in a leadership position. You are to sentence those who have participated or provided the insurrectionists with arms to death for treason, in absentia if necessary, especially Jose Borges. You will imprison the agitators for the crime of sedition, in absentia if necessary.” “Your excellency, if I may interrupt, these conditions are somewhat harsh. I believe they will only serve to encourage the rebellion in favor of the republicans. This may backfire.” “If you would have let me finish, your fears would have been relieved. We will provide all political prisoners with amnesty if they will swear an oath of loyalty to the King. Hopefully, with a strong military presence in the south, the insurrection will be defeated militarily and they will lose their leadership. We must also ensure that all of the people are informed about the economic assistance we are providing them, and we will require an oath of loyalty to the King for the use of our programs. The King enjoys a great deal of popularity throughout the country, and I do not believe this would be a problem, and it would provide a peaceful means to ending the brigandage. Minister Tecchio, will you be able to do as I ask?” “I believe so, your Excellency. My ministry will get to work immediately.” “Thank you very much. Wonderful.”
“I will immediately draft a levy for 70,000 troops, and we can begin to transfer some men to your army, General Cialdini. I am sure that it will take a few months, and I desire the non-military aspects of our plans to occur after General Ciadini receives his men for a renewed offensive. I do not want the oath of loyalty to appear as an act of desperation or cruelty, but as a peaceful alternative to a hopeless insurrection. I believe that this will be all. Thank you, gentlemen, and good day.” Cavour gathered his materials and began to leave. Minister Ratazzi approached him. “In regard to distracting the people, what are you planning?”
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