The Garibaldi Guard – the 39th New York Infantry Regiment
La Figlia del Reggimento – The Daughter of the Regiment
All’armi!
They called them Lincoln’s Foreign Legion, men from all over the world who fought on the side of the Union. Of the many foreign born patriot units, none is more well known than the 39th New York Infantry Regiment, the Garibaldi Guard.
On December 20, 1860 South Carolina seceded from the Union. A house divided. The Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter commenced before daybreak on April 12, 1861. The Civil War was on. Our nation was on a course that would sorely test the Union, pitting brother against brother and expatriot against expatriot.
In Spring of 1861 Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand volunteers. Italian immigrants and men from many foreign lands reported for duty. The Garibaldi Guard was formed in New York and ultimately absorbed into other multi-ethnic regiments. Wearing their distinctive red flannel shirts and felt hats adorned with woodcock feathers, the men of The Guard served in the Army of Northeastern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac.
By the time fighting broke out, Giuseppe Garibaldi was well known in America as a defender of liberty and freedom. In fact, President Lincoln offered Garibaldi (who by this point was living on the island of Caprera) a Commission in the United States Army. It is of note that Garibaldi inquired of President Lincoln whether or not he intended to free the slaves. Garibaldi felt that without the stated intention of emancipation, this was a war no different from any other civil war. Lincoln, through his ambassador to Belgium, James Quiggle, declined to answer. In the end Garibaldi refused the commission, citing concern that accepting the commission and fighting in the Civil War might require too long an absence from Italy.
On January 1, 1863 President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves in the ten states in rebellion. Upon hearing the news Garibaldi wrote to Lincoln:
Posterity will call you the great emancipator, a more enviable title than any crown could be, and greater than any merely mundane treasure.
Today is the 151st anniversary of the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), the first major battle of the war. The Garibaldi Guard was there. Five patriots were wounded and two gave the full measure of devotion, dying heroes’ deaths. The Garibaldi Guard also fought at Harpers Ferry, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Petersburg and many other battles. Over the course of the war the regiment lost 274 men to battle wounds, accident and disease.
But the men did not do it alone. Oh no. Beside them, marching on their right, was a small but intrepid group of women known as vivandieres or cantinieres. At various times they numbered between six and ten. No camp followers were they. Patriotic women, they provided meal service, tobacco and drink, and tended to casualties. Dressed in blue with gold trim, and comporting themselves in the finest Figlia del Reggimento form, there can be no doubt that they provided comfort to the men who were so far from home.
On March 17, 2011 President Obama issued a Proclamation celebrating the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. (To read the Presidential Proclamation click here.) The President recognized the 39th New York Infantry, and in their honor I created a cocktail I called La Camicia Rossa. A blend of Prosecco, Aperol and blood orange juice, the drink is named after Garibaldi’s soldiers, the Red Shirts.
Photo courtesy of The 39th Regiment – Garibaldi Guard
The cocktail has since been adopted by the present day 39th New York Infantry, a group of Italian-Americans who have recreated the Garibaldi Guard of old. Their mission is to honor Giuseppe Garibaldi and the immigrant patriots who served in the Civil War. Today’s Garibaldi Guard is living history, participating as they do in re-enactments of famous Civil War battles. To learn more, visit their web site here.
La Figlia del Reggimento – The Daughter of the Regiment
I present a companion to La Camicia Rossa. Meet La Figlia del Reggimento. This is a step beyond the housewife’s afternoon tipple. Hibiscus tea, te di Ibisco in Italy, agua de flor de jamaica in Latin America and karkade in Egypt, it is enjoyed the world over, the perfect drink for a hot afternoon. This flavorful tea, made from the calyces of the hibiscus flower, brews up to a knockout deep ruby color. Aside from tasting great, it is high in antioxidant flavinoids. The way I see it, you are doing yourself a favor by drinking this.
5 cups water
1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers (te di Ibisco)
10 oz. (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) Vodka
10 oz. Solerno (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
5 oz. Aperol
sparkling water, if desired
thinly sliced limes, lemons and oranges
Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat, and add tea. Steep ten minutes. Strain. Refrigerate until well chilled. Combine tea, vodka, Solerno and Aperol. Taste, and add sparkling water, if desired. Fill a carafe with ice and drop in plenty of thinly sliced citrus. Fill with tea. Serve in ice filled glasses and garnish with citrus slices.
These proportions make enough for a crowd.
For a single Figlia
4 oz. brewed Hibiscus tea
1 oz. vodka
1 oz. Solerno
1/2 oz. Aperol
Combine ingredients. Serve over ice with thinly sliced citrus.
Evviva e bevi responsabilmente!
To see my original article about Iced Hibiscus Tea, click here. Hibiscus tea is sold in many ethnic markets, some supermarkets and is available via the internet. If like me, you are concerned about pesticides, Amazon sells Davidson’s pure organic hibiscus tea in bulk.
If you would like to explore this topic further, I recommend you read Lincoln’s Foreign Legion by Michael Bacarella. The book is out of print, but Amazon has a listing of sellers.
Note: You can click on any picture to see a slide show!
I have no affiliation with any product, manufacturer, or site mentioned in this article.
Sunday, July 22nd 2012 at 6:21 am |
Adri — I so enjoy your posts when you dip back in time and give us an historic “contorno” that make your recipes so fascinating and special. And long live the Vivandieres and the Cantinieres! I had no idea that those women played a role. Almost every year in August we go for a few weeks to Sardinia (my husband’s grandfather was from there and my husband has a passion for that island). We stay in Palau and often take the ferry across to the Maddalena island and then drive across to Caprera to visit Garibaldi’s home. It is such a simple and beautiful place with spectacular views out to sea. There is a large family of wild boars that roam the island and pop up once in a while around the house. This year I will go back and keep in mind what you have written above.
Thank you!
Sunday, July 22nd 2012 at 1:20 pm |
Hi Trisha,
I am so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the article. I was just telling Bart that I hope readers enjoy the history – I find it fascinating, and particularly enjoyable when I can combine it with food and drink.
I have never been to Sardinia nor to Caprera. I have heard that Sardinia is beautiful. I bet you enjoy your time there. And thanks for the info on Caprera, terra incognita for me. It will be fun to go there with your new found knowledge!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and also for taking the time to comment.
Sunday, July 22nd 2012 at 9:06 am |
Here’s to you Adri. If I could carry a tune, I’d be singing your praises~~~~~~~~****
Monday, July 23rd 2012 at 9:44 pm |
Hi Ana,
Speaking of singing, read the comment from Reader Pat. When I read it, I laughed out loud. I bet you will get a kick out of it too. Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking a moment to comment.
Sunday, July 22nd 2012 at 11:01 am |
This is such a richly educational post. I loved reading all about the Garibaldi Guard and went back to your last post on the Camicia Rossa drink you created. How fun is it that it was adopted as the drink of the 39th NY Infantry. Now if that’s not cool enough, along comes La Figlia Del Reggimento – a delicious sounding (and beautiful to look at too – LOVE the photo). The operatic name isn’t lost on me either Adri.
Sunday, July 22nd 2012 at 1:43 pm |
Ciao Linda,
Oh, you have made my day. First Trisha of Mozzarella Mamma wrote that she enjoyed the post and now you! As I wrote in response to Trisha, I was concerned that food and drink seen through the prism of history might not appeal to people. I am thrilled to learn my fears were unfounded.
This one was fun. I learned about the 39th Infantry when I read the text of President Obama’s Proclamation on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, March 17, 2011. I thought what better way to celebrate than with a cocktail of blood orange juice and Prosecco. It was after having read my article that Captain Jack D’Amico of the Guard wrote telling me that the Guard had adopted my drink. Now, as if that was not enough cool news, just this morning I heard again from the Captain who told me he has a trattoria, Cafe Portofino in Piermont, New York, and that La Camicia Rossa is quite popular among his patrons. And now La Figlia del Reggimento will be added to the menu! How much more fun can this job get?
Thanks for stopping by, and for your comment.
P.S. I wish they had taught us about this in school.
Sunday, July 22nd 2012 at 11:15 am |
What a wonderful moment (for your site)! I had no idea of the Garibaldi Guard and the long history of Italy’s great hero with America. I have a pack of dried Hibiscus leaves and now I know exactly what to do with them.
I’m going to have a Figlia del Regimento. Donizetti’s opera of the same name is a delightful “guilty pleasure” to all opera lovers and it deserves an accompanying cocktail. NOW, I hope to find other Operatic drinks at the Front Burner… perhaps a Violetta? or maybe a Desdemona (that could be a real killer.) Thanks for a terrific blog and spectacular photos worthy of a world class cookbook.
Sunday, July 22nd 2012 at 1:51 pm |
Ciao Pat,
Well, your comment made me laugh out loud. I thought of you as I worked on this. Just think, with all those flavinoids and Vitamin C, one could say this drink is very high in C. (You had to know that was coming. I could not resist.)
You have got me going now with other operatic libations – the Desdemona might be something really special. Truly, as you pointed out, something to die for…
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comment. I just love to hear from readers.
P.S. Can’t you hear Franco Corelli singing “All’armi! All’armi! All’armi!
Sunday, July 22nd 2012 at 3:35 pm |
Sigh, if only I had a drop of Italiano in me….maybe “honorary” GG is possibility! What a treasure!
Monday, July 23rd 2012 at 9:42 pm |
Hi Ana,
Well how about honorary Italian – or Italian in spirit? Works for me! I am so glad you enjoyed this one. I love these little known items, and it is pretty great to see that others do too.
Sunday, November 18th 2012 at 10:23 am |
Fantastic post, you’ve gained a new reader. Cheers!
Sunday, November 18th 2012 at 5:00 pm |
Thank you!
Friday, August 16th 2013 at 1:18 pm |
as an historian and author of a book about the Irish and English in Italy’s Risorgimento I was happy to learn about this American connection.Dont forget about the Garibaldi biscuits that were another gastronomic delight that is connected with the hero of the two worlds. Complimenti!
Friday, August 16th 2013 at 3:52 pm |
Benvenuta Mary Jane,
Yes, I love Garibaldi biscuits! And yes, the American Civil War-Garibaldi connection is really quite interesting. We learned not one word about in in school here, and that is a shame. I am truly honored that you have visited my site, and I am so pleased you found this information of interest. Alla prossima!
Saturday, March 1st 2014 at 5:24 pm |
Thanks for sharing, I like infantry.
Saturday, March 1st 2014 at 8:03 pm |
Thanks for visiting!