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What were the Cacciatori delle Alpi, and how did Giuseppe Garibaldi lead them in 1859?

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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.

The Cacciatori delle Alpi (Alpine Huntsmen) were a volunteer force organized to support the Piedmontese war effort against Austria in 1859.1

Commissioned by the prime minister Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi was appointed a major general in the Piedmontese army to lead these volunteers, who were drawn from various Italian provinces.1

During the conflict, which began in April 1859, Garibaldi demonstrated his effective leadership by commanding the Cacciatori delle Alpi in the successful capture of Varese and Como. His forces ultimately reached the frontier of the south Tirol, contributing to the campaign that resulted in the acquisition of Lombardy by Piedmont. This military success was a significant step in the broader movement toward the unification of Italy.1