Sardinia and the War - Part 2

Some days later, on April 7th d’Azeglio sent a dispatch to Cavour stating that Lord Palmerston has said that, ‘in view of a change in programme, the Sardinian contingent should sail directly to the Crimea’. The same day Britain's Ambassador to Sardinia Hudson received a similar dispatch from Lord Clarendon. Cavour reacted furiously and wrote to d’Azeglio with instructions to get an answer as to why the plans that were agreed in London and Paris, and of which the Emperor was such a fervent supporter, had to be changed. Cavour left the door ajar, adding that, if the allies had in mind a major operation, he would be very glad to co-operate in it. If, on the other hand, it was meant that they were destined for chilly trench work that progressed a few metres per month, it would be unacceptable.

For some days the tension grew. On April 10th Cavour wrote to his representative in London that the French Emperor had not yet informed him of the ‘improvised change of destination‘ of the Sardinian troops. In his letter he described in detail to d’Azeglio the position taken by the Sardinian government. The Sardinian expedition was sent to the Orient to fight in the best possible way, not for parades. It was unacceptable that one of the partners took the freedom to dispose of it at their pleasure, without deliberation or consultation with the other allies. The project of a reserve army which the Sardinians were to be part of, was discussed in Paris and in London by La Marmora. This project was approved by the French Emperor, who himself was involved in its execution. The Duc de Gramont (= Guiche) had confirmed that the English Government entirely supported these plans and had left the means of transportation at the disposal of General La Marmora.

This question, so dear to the heart of La Marmora, never was completely solved in the mind of the Sardinians. When La Marmora went on board the ‘Governolo’, Cavour waved him off, and when the Commander-in-Chief raised the question of the High Command, Cavour answered ‘be inventive’, adding ‘good luck to you, to our soldiers and to peace’.

If the Piedmont army was to land in Constantinople the necessary provisions had to be made to receive it on arrival and to erect the necessary stores depots, hospitals and camps. For this

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