How did Giuseppe Garibaldi defeat the Bourbon army at the Battle of Calatafimi?

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Portrait of Giuseppe Garibaldi wearing a beret and cloak, with a full beard and mustache, looking toward the camera. — Giuseppe Garibaldi Giuseppe Garibaldi, c. 1860–82.

At the Battle of Calatafimi on May 15, 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi achieved victory over the Neapolitan forces of the Bourbon king despite being significantly outnumbered and leading an untrained force equipped with only rusty rifles.1

His success in this engagement was primarily driven by the incompetence of the Bourbon command. This victory served as a pivotal moment in the Expedition of the Thousand, as it encouraged many Sicilians to join his ranks, ultimately fueling the broader movement to overthrow the Neapolitan rulers and advance the cause of the Risorgimento.1