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<\/a><\/p>\nAll’armi!<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n Posterity will call you the great emancipator, a more enviable title than any crown could be, and greater than any merely mundane treasure.<\/em><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.) The President recognized the 39th New York Infantry, and in their honor I created a cocktail I called La Camicia Rossa<\/a>. A blend of Prosecco, Aperol and blood orange juice, the drink is named after Garibaldi’s soldiers, the Red Shirts.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of The 39th Regiment – Garibaldi Guard<\/p><\/div>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 5 cups water 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.<\/p>\n These proportions make enough for a crowd.<\/p>\n For a single Figlia<\/p>\n 4 oz. brewed Hibiscus tea Combine ingredients. Serve over ice with thinly sliced citrus.<\/p>\n Evviva e bevi responsabilmente!<\/p>\n To see my original article about Iced Hibiscus Tea, click here<\/a>. 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<\/a> sells Davidson’s pure organic hibiscus tea in bulk.<\/p>\n If you would like to explore this topic further, I recommend you read Lincoln’s Foreign Legion<\/em> by Michael Bacarella. The book is out of print, but Amazon<\/a> has a listing of sellers.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\nLa Figlia del Reggimento – The Daughter of the Regiment<\/em><\/h4>\n
\n1\/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers (te di Ibisco)
\n10 oz. (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) Vodka
\n10 oz. Solerno (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
\n5 oz. Aperol
\nsparkling water, if desired
\nthinly sliced limes, lemons and oranges<\/p>\n
\n1 oz. vodka
\n1 oz. Solerno
\n1\/2 oz. Aperol<\/p>\n