On 30 June 1849, Villa Spada had been lost. The following day the Assembly of Rome decreed the cessation of the defence of Rome which had now "become impossible".

On 2 July, at midday, Garibaldi accompanied by Anita, invited the Legionnaires to follow him and said to them: "Soldiers, I am leaving Rome. Those who wish to continue the war against the foreigners come with me. I cannot offer you honours or money but only hunger, thirst, forced marches, battles and death. Whoever loves the homeland follow me".

The appeal was not in vain. At eight o'clock in the evening Garibaldi left Rome with 3983 infantry and 819 horses, one cannon, two wagons for the wounded, a few carts on two or four wheels for baggage, ammunition, cooking utensils…

Rome lost, he headed for Venice; Venice that was still resisting where there was war, liberty and the honour of Italy.

Anita wanted go with him in spite of her advanced pregnancy. Four armies were blocking the way.

With great exertion for 28 days Garibaldi with perhaps less than 2000 legionnaires arrived on the evening of 29 July under the walls of San Marino.

While Garibaldi was negotiating with a delegate from the Regency, a corps of Austrians appeared at the rearguard of Garibaldi's column and it was thanks to Anita that the legionnaires were able reach the territory of the Republic of San Marino by climbing up the sheer cliffs.

The government of San Marino tried to mediate and arrive at an agreement with the Austrian commander who had already surrounded the mountain. The conditions stipulated were not accepted by Garibaldi.

So, partly so as not to compromise the fate of the tiny republic, on the steps of the Capuchin Convent he wrote the short sad proclamation "From this moment I release my companions from all obligations, but would remind them that Italy must not remain in disgrace. It is better to die than to live as slaves to foreigners."

The same evening towards 11 o'clock he spoke to a group of the best officers and trusted companions saying "to whoever will follow me I offer new battles, suffering, exile. Agreements with the foreigner - never!"

Then towards midnight of the 31st Garibaldi left San Marino, still followed by Anita, pregnant and feverish, Giovanni Battista Culiolo (called "Leggero") the Barnabite friar Ugo Bassi, Angelo Brunetti (Ciceruacchio) with sons Luigi and Lorenzo - the latter thirteen years old - colonel Ugo Forbes and other officers from the defence of Rome together with about 250 volunteers including some from Ravenna: the twenty-year-old Giovanni Spallazzi and Gaspare Montanari.

On 1 August 1849 the 'trafila' began, taking fourteen days, by men of all social stations who thought and worked towards the independence of Italy and to save the one who was its main author.