(Palermo, 21 giugno 1818 – Garigliano, 29 ottobre 1860)
Fonte: L'Alfiere
Il 29 ottobre del 1860, centocinquanta anni or sono, cadeva da eroe, sul ponte del Garigliano, difendendo l’arretramento difensivo dell’armata reale, il generale di Brigata Matteo Negri.
Nato a Palermo il 21 giugno 1818, primo di sei figli, dall’allora capitano Michele Negri, dei baroni di Paternò, e di Maria Antonia Termini dei duchi di Vaticani, entrò nel Real Collegio Militare della Nunziatella a soli 14 anni, il primo di ottobre del 1832. Ne uscì Alfiere dell’arma di Artiglieria il 1° marzo 1839.
Dotato di grande intelligenza, si dedicò allo studio della sua specialità e pubblicò testi di alto valore scientifico sulle nuove bocche da fuoco e sui fucili a canna rigata. Bruciò le tappe di una carriera più unica che rara. L’otto agosto del 1860 è promosso tenente colonnello ed il 7 settembre raggiunge Capua per obbedire al Sovrano.
Il nuovo comandante dell’Esercito Napolitano, generale Giosuè Ritucci, lo volle con sé, nominandolo sottocapo di Stato Maggiore. Il September 19 the partisans attacked across the board and the square of Capua Matteo Negri, commanding the artillery, gave evidence of great value. On October 1, still honor and glory for Matteo Negri. Captain Louis Quandel so I called it "a great both for the knowledge he possesses as to the strength and courage that it has, the Army would have been useful if his military advice given with frankness had been heard. But he had found many opponents and hesitation extremely harmful. He had been commanded top of the battery and was therefore almost been away from the councils of war, grave mistake and beyond. "
On October 18 the Piedmontese army, with over forty thousand men, in violation of existing peace treaties, crossed the border of the kingdom, from the Abruzzi, to relieve the Army of South Garibaldi. The incident put the Army Napolitano unable to remain in a tight defensive, beyond the Volturno near the Piazza di Capua. It was therefore necessary to have it withdrawn behind another defensive line more suited to the new conditions of force. Meanwhile
Matteo Negri was promoted colonel and immediately after Brigadier General. From October 20 to 28 organizes the defensive retreat of about 19,000 fighting men of the three weapons from the army to establish the Volturno to the Garigliano new line of resistance forces Napolitane.
In the last days of October, General Cialdini, with a surprise action, tried to cross the Garigliano with two regiments of Lancers, a regiment of dragoons, four battalions of riflemen, supported by eight pieces of artillery. In little more than 3,000 men. The iron bridge on the Garigliano was defended by the 3rd and 4th Hunters and a Battalion of the 3rd Line, with the 14th Hunters reinforcement, supported by 24 field guns and 8 pieces of the mountain. On the left bank was in advanced position with the 2nd Chasseurs a couple of squadrons of Lancers and one of the 1st Hussars. General Matteo Negri was in command of Artillery and General Column the top command. In this scenario, the general Matteo Negri was fatally wounded in several parts of the body. Indifferent to the serious injury continues to give orders, ensuring the passage of the army. In fact, the frontal attack was repulsed Arma Napolitana Piemontese could fall back, neatly, to Gaeta. Shortly before expiration, while the cannon thundered around him, is surrounded by first responders: Captain Quandel Ludwig, Count of Caserta Alfonso de Bourbon, Captain Raffaele D'Agostino. Everything is now useless. General Negri makes the soul to God comforted by fellow soldiers.
King Francis II, learned the fatal news stated: "His rare virtue lo rendono degno di essere ricordato alla posterità; però dopo che avrà ricevuto in questa Piazza gli onori funebri, che troppo gli sono dovuti, saranno le spoglie racchiuse in un sepolcrale monumento che sarà eretto in questo Duomo".
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