President Buchanan had appointed experienced diplomat Robert Milligan McLane of Maryland as minister plenipotentiary to Mexico a month earlier with the charge to ascertain if the government of Benito Juarez, then embroiled in the War of Reform, was worthy of recognition. On April 7, 1859, McLane presented his credentials to Juarez at Vera Cruz thereby conferring United States recognition. This was significant for Juarez since recognition remained in force through the French-supported imperial government of Maximilian I that ruled Mexico between 1863 and 1867. (By John Osborne)

President Buchanan appointed experienced diplomat Robert Milligan McLane of Maryland as minister plenipotentiary to Mexico. Buchanan charged him with ascertaining if the government of Benito Juarez, then embroiled in the War of Reform, was worthy of recognition. His instructions stipulated that a recognizable government did not have to occupy the capital but it did require the allegiance of most of the population. On April 7, 1859, McLane presented his credentials to Juarez at Vera Cruz thereby conferring United States recognition, much to the chagrin of the conservative opponents of the Liberals under Miramon. (By John Osborne)

Giuseppe Garibaldi, perhaps the best-known Italian in the world at the time, gathered a group of volunteers he called the "Chasseurs of the Alps," and advanced on behalf of Victor Emmanuel of Piedmont-Sardinia into Austrian-held Lombardy. Swearing to rid Lombardy of twenty generations of foreign subjugation he crossed the mountainous north-west and forced the Austrians from Varese. Four days later he took Como, just twenty-eight miles north of Milan. (By John Osborne)

Giuseppe Garibaldi, perhaps the best-known Italian in the world at the time, gathered a group of volunteers he called the "Chasseurs of the Alps," and advanced on behalf of Victor Emmanuel of Piedmont-Sardinia into Austrian-held Lombardy. Swearing to rid Lombardy of twenty generations of foreign subjugation he advanced across the mountainous north-west and on this day reached Lake Maggiore. Three days later he took Como, just twenty-eight miles north of Milan. (By John Osborne)

Giuseppe Garibaldi, perhaps the best-known Italian in the world at the time, gathered a group of volunteers he called the "Chasseurs of the Alps," and advanced on behalf of Victor Emmanuel of Piedmont-Sardinia into Austrian-held Lombardy. Swearing to rid Lombardy of twenty generations of foreign subjugation he advanced across the mountainous north-west and on this day took Como, just twenty-eight miles north of Milan. (By John Osborne)

Defeat at the Battle of Magenta three days before saw the Austrian withdraw across eastern Lombardy leaving the capital city of Milan to the French and Piedmont-Sardinian forces. Napoleon III and King Victor-Emmanuel entered the city in triumph and the latter made the first arrangements that would see Lombardy become a part of Piedmont-Sardinia. (By John Osborne)