From the correspondence of Corporal Luigi Ughetto
Alba, 10 February 1879
Dearest Tina,
I'm sorry it took so long to send you a letter, I've barely had a moment to myself with all the training. The Romans seem awfully worried about this war and they want every one of us in Austria next month already. I had counted myself lucky to miss out on the fighting when the Romans came in with their French friends but, now that we've lost, I suppose I don't have much of a choice left. On the bright side, I met Pinin (you know the one, he moved to Alba a while ago and gave us that fancy dresser) and we got on famously, we really should invite him over for dinner after this is over. Unfortunately, we're not in the same platoon but we cross paths often enough so that's good news to me.
I remember that you told me to write where we would be heading but the sergeant said that we can't give that sort of information in letters so the best I can say is that we'll head East until we find the Krauts and make them to back off. In any case, we'll leave soon and we should meet up with the fancy soldiers all the way from Torino. I even heard that the new king might see us off, that would be quite the sight, especially since we didn't even have time to see his brother on the coins.
I have to go now to prepare the baggage but give a kiss to Perin for me and you can show him this letter so he can practice his reading.
Always yours,
Vigin
Treviso, 1 March 1879
Dear Tina,
It's been a long and tiring series of train rides, but we are finally at the last camp before we head off into Austrian lands. Now, I know you said you're worried, but you wouldn't believe how many men are here ready to fight on our side. It may sound crazy, but Pinin reckons that we have almost twice as many soldiers as people live in Turin. It starts to become more real after you meet people coming all the way from Sicily and you can only understand a word or two of what they're saying. I was talking with some of the boys from my platoon and they told me I should watch my wallet around those Neapolitans, so I made sure to be extra careful whenever I happen to see them pass by. I have to say, I feel a bit like a boat in the forest with these strange types out and about, but I suppose it's nice to have a common uniform to tie us together a little bit. We're lucky that our lieutenants are mostly good Piedmontese folk because I don't think I could react quickly to the Romans giving orders, but I guess that the officers are required to speak Italian to communicate with the higher-ups. Even the Pope sends us messages of encouragement in Italian so I'm doing my best to learn. It's nice to know that Perin will learn some of the language in school as well.
Anyway, we'll be here for a few more days and I hope to have your answer by then, but you can keep sending your mail here since this is where they'll keep it for us until we find the next safe place to make camp. I hope that running the shop isn't too hard on you and make sure to ask the Ferreros for help if it gets too straining. I'll do my best to return home as soon as I can.
Yours from the front,
Vigin
Gorizia, 12 March 1879
My darling Tina,
It's wonderful to be able to write to you at last since the past few days have been a terrible affair. I'm thankful that you managed to light a candle for me at the Madonna's sanctuary because I think that's what saved me from a couple of close calls yesterday. I'd like you to return one of these days and give thanks on my behalf, I'll give my own thanks when I get back home.
The good news is that we've finally made it to the city of Gorizia even though we've had a hell of a time getting here. I imagine it's a charming town when it's not being shelled, but our men had to do some pretty rigorous bombing with the artillery to push the Austrians out, they were dug in like you wouldn't believe. I must confess that while the guns went quiet, and the lieutenant gave us the signal to go for the city I did get quite scared. It's a marvel how slippery your rifle becomes if you're anxious, but I tried my best to think of my duty and do what I'm told. I was lucky to meet Pinin before the push and the daft fellow said he would race me to the town, that lifted my spirits a bit and it still makes me smile to think of it (He won the "race" in the end, my side took a while to push past a bridge the Krauts were holding on to). I'm glad we can now rest for some days while the general makes his plans, although I don't look forward to dealing with the bodies left behind, I'd cross myself whenever I pass them but there's far too many to recognize in the worst parts.
Oh, we've also started to mingle more with the southerners and most of them are good enough people. You would laugh if you saw us chatting though, we look like a band of Gariboja talking as slow as possible to make sense of our words. I'm getting along well with a lad called Luca, he says he's a fisherman down in Sicily and he's hoping to help his family with a debt once he comes home. It'd be nice to have him over for dinner someday as soon all this is done, I'm sure you'd get along.
How are things in Monchiero? I've read that Tilda is helping out with the shop so thank her on my behalf as well, I haven't seen her husband, but I'll give you any news whenever I get any. I'm happy to hear that Perin is behaving and his signature on your last letter gave me the widest smile I've had in weeks.
Let me know how you've been doing, and I'll try and write to you again if I have the chance, we should be in the area for a few weeks still.
Yours sincerely,
Vigin
Adelsberg, 3 July 1879
Dear Tina,
It's been a rotten few weeks but at least we get to send and receive mail today although the bloody rain will find a way to ruin that too, I hope this letter isn't too smudged. We've been stuck in our defensive trenches around the town of Adelsberg pushing back attack after attack of the enemy and we've lost about half of our men with no end in sight. Luca says he heard from an officer that the Austrians are close to a retreat but I'm not sure I fully believe that. Even if that's true, we're heavily outgunned and the Krauts shell us every hour of the day and night and there's nothing we can do but hide away and wait for the next assault. It might sound strange, but I often find myself bored out of my mind here; sure, there's constant danger but there's nothing to do except watch and wait. I chat with Luca every once in a while and we tell stories of home but there's only so much you can say after weeks of nothing. When the rain first started to fall, we all welcomed it as something new to experience but I now definitely would prefer to be bored and dry rather than bored and wet. You may have noticed that I haven't written about Pinin but I wouldn't worry too much about him, the lucky sod was transferred south to Istria where he and his fellows can simply occupy a few poorly protected cities by the seaside. I was hoping I'd come to see the sea, but I'll have to wait a little more for that.
I miss your hugs and your smiles but getting your letter is the best part of my weeks so I beg you to write with even the simplest difference. I'm happy to hear that you're in good health and I hope the summer sun is growing some fine grapes to give us a nice vintage for when I'm back. I'm sorry that Perin is a bit of a handful these days but I'm sure he just misses his father. Give him a kiss from me and tell him I'll bring him back something nice if he's a good boy.
I can't write much longer because the postboy is leaving soon but know that I cherish you every day and I can't wait to return home at last.
Forever yours,
Vigin
Ragusa, 19 September 1880
Dear Tina,
We've finally made it to Ragusa and it's a wonderful sight. The Austrians had only a minor garrison and they surrendered almost as soon as we attacked; the rest of the day was just an improvised parade through the streets of the city. It brought tears to my eyes to see the cheering people waving Italian flags and every one of us was laughing and smiling because after so long the war is almost over. Even the officers decided to make it a special occasion by giving us the promotions that they'd held back during the march so you can call me Corporal Luigi Ughetto from now on. Needless to say, the rest of the day was spent in merriment with the Austrians and our worries far away.
The celebration was a godsend for all of us, but I saw many strong hard men burst into tears after a few drinks and I don't blame them. I try not to worry you, but it has been a huge trial for each of us to have to fear for our lives every day and not know if we'd ever return home, but now we can finally hope. I can't believe I'll be able to come back to you in just a handful of weeks, after so many months of separation, and see how my son has grown up. I've finally seen the sea and it's so beautiful tonight.
I will see you so soon my darling and even then, it won't be soon enough,
God bless you,
Vigin
Author's note:
Corporal Luigi Ughetto was injured and lost his leg in the battle of Karolyvaros five days before the armistice. He was awarded the War Merit Cross for his service.
The Austro-Italian war ended in a decisive victory for the Italo-French side and resulted in the forced reduction of the Austro-Hungarian army, the payment of hefty reparations, and the creation of an independent Dalmatian state under the direct authority of Pietro Doimo Maupas, archbishop of Zadar.
