On 21 August 1860 Garibaldi wins Reggio Calabria. In that event, the 150th Anniversary, the Associazione Culturale Anassilaos devotes a meeting on "Garibaldi in Reggio" to be held Saturday, August 21 at 21.00 at the Cloister of Saint George in the course with the 'intervention of Prof. Agazio Trombetta, historian and member of the Deputation of Homeland History for Calabria. During a battle a few hours, from dawn till about noon on August 21, 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi occupies Reggio Calabria. Rather than battle it might be appropriate to speak of a series of skirmishes that might be caused numerous victims on both sides.
The confusion among senior military leaders of Bourbon and contradictory orders issued by General Gallotti particular, entrenched in the fortress of the castle, they did speak often of treason but maybe it was the usual lack of preparation in our country, in the crucial moments of history , captures the political and military authorities. Chronicle that the landing of Garibaldi in Melito (August 19) was followed with great attention to Reggio and apprehension.
Most of the population was careful to leave the city moved to the countryside.
At the same news of the landing record for Anna resigned as director of Domenico Spano Bolani, aware perhaps that it was difficult to defend Reggio. Military force in this city was in fact totally inadequate as a principal was the 14th Regiment commanded by Col. Anthony Dusmet, newly formed and composed of young recruits. The instructions given were also confused.
First was ordered to be disposed of at the stream Dusmet Sant'Agata later, after a few hours, he was ordered to be disposed at the Calopinace then again, towards the sunset (August 20) he was ordered of barricaded in Piazza Duomo. Meanwhile, Garibaldi (day 20) after being detained in Pellaro began its slow march towards the City, a march that became more rapid at the beginning of the night.
From Ravagnese arrived in Modena where he stopped before the church of Santa Maria. Two hours before dawn divided his troops into two columns. The first runs from the church of St George outside the walls of the church of St. Peter and the prison of San Francesco and the second went to the quarter instead of the Crucifix. The first to arrive were the soldiers of the first column along the road the vegetable farming. Those sprouted instead of the Crucifix at St. Philip Blacks where they encountered the royal guards who asked for the password. "Viva Garibaldi" cried the redshirts and the guards opened fire, shouting "Long live the king."
It was the first encounter or if you want the first skirmish. The Garibaldi, chasing the guards who withdrew towards Piazza Duomo, soon came in view of the square. He thus beginning what is called "Battle of the Piazza Duomo. In front of the Cathedral and even on the steps of that fighting was hand to hand to provoke the intervention of the Bishop himself Ricciardi, shut the Bishop along with seminarians. The many acts of heroism and loyalty to Francis II of Bourbon troops earned but not change the outcome of the battle so that the Bourbons, led by Lieutenant Charles Raft, who had taken the place of Dusmet, perhaps shot down by a traitor, began to withdraw from Piazza Duomo to be surrounded and took refuge in dribs and drabs in the castle withstood a few hours and gave up at 16.00 that same day 21 August 1860.

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