Bloody Fields
Monte Marrone
Not everyone in Italy wanted a unified country, under the rule of one king; indeed many saw it as just another conquest of their lands, this time from the Piedmontese. In the summer of 1861, in the villages and fields around Passo San Leonardo valley emotions were simmering. Bands of men, armed with pitchforks and other agricultural weapons patrolled their fields, using the woods as cover from the Piedmontese patrols. Amongst these men was the brigand Colafella, and another, Mancini, known as the ‘Merchant’.
On June 26, seven soldiers of the 39th Bologna infantry and eight National Guards set out from the small village of Roccacaramanico. They were wary and nervous. There was no one about. The fields which were usually so busy at this time of year, were silent. An ambush was possible at any moment.
Nothing happened. They marched on.
But they knew that they were being watched.
They marched down to the Pacentro where they had a meal at an inn before retracing their route back to Passo San Leonardo.
After a couple of hours of uphill marching, they arrrived at the Fonte Tamburro, near the top of the pass.
Someone, hiding in the thicket, had time to take aim.
Two soldiers, Paolo Simone and Antonio Marta, bathed the land of Abruzzo with Piedmontese blood while Giovanni Marchetti and Bartolomeo Monaco were seriously injured. The platoon made its fearful way back to the fortress village of Roccamontepiano.
Retaliation was imminent.
In the morning, a larger group of soldiers left Roccacaramanico, determined on revenge. Throughout the day they scoured the valley. Back on the pass, working in their fields were two men; Raphael Agostinelli of Pacentro and Vincenzo Ricci of Introdacqua, a village of some distance away. The soldiers approached the two men with drawn rifles and ordered them to surrender. Raphael gave himself up, whilst Vincenzo fled. The soldiers fired, wounding him. In the woods, a short distance from his field, he collapsed and died.
News spread. Both resentment and reprisals travelled from village to village. Men left their homes and took to the mountains. Soldiers were harried.
But might wins.
Peasants were cowed. Their lands were conquered. Men suspected of association with the outlaws were dressed in irons and cast into the town’s dungeons.
The Piedmontese consolidated their conquest.
Italy crowned a king.
Towards Passo San Leonardo - bandit country
Have you ridden this ride?
Please share your thoughts and feedback on the ride, and include any other stops or reliable water fountains that you know of.