A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Battistati, Louisa
BATTISTATI, LOUISA,
A native of Stradella, Sardinia, and a mantua-maker at Milan, displayed remarkable courage during the five days of the Revolution at Milan, in 1848. On Sunday, March 10th. she disarmed a cavalry soldier, though he carried a carbine. She placed herself at the head of the Poppietti bridge, and steadily continued there, fighting against the enemy during the 20th. 21st. and 22nd. days, heading a valiant band of young men, and killing a Croate at every shot. She defended the large establishment at Vettabia, which contained 680 persons, being the edifice in which the widows and their children, and other females took refuge when Barbaressa stormed Milan. This young woman was, in 1850, married, and doing duty in the civic guard. To this woman must be given a place in history, beside the heroine of Saragossa, and other examples of female intrepidity.