Giuseppe Garibaldi volunteers to serve in the Union army and fight against the southern rebels, and President Lincoln grants him a commission as a brigadier general. He travels the peninsula from the Alps to Sicily, gathering a large army of volunteers to be called the “Italian Legion”, all eager to fight for the cause of liberty with the great Italian hero. Upon arriving in America, he shall attempt to teach the Union soldiers the ways of guerrilla warfare, and do his utmost to ensure their victory in the civil war. It is his earnest hope, and belief, that the American Civil War shall become a conflict to end slavery, desiring the freedom of all peoples from domination both foreign and domestic.

Historically, Garibaldi declined serving in the Union army due to his belief that Lincoln (prior to the Emancipation proclamation) was not tough enough on slavery. However, in this timeline he will be more concerned by the threat posed by Confederate success and will believe that the Civil War will end with the liberation of the slaves. Furthermore, he will theorize that his presence on the battlefield will only assist in bringing about this emancipation.