Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-06-08 00:00:00

the Austrians, in various small encounters, from Orfengo, I
Villate, Torrione, and Casalvolone. Large magses of the
enemy, however, were gathering at Robbio and Palestro,
and the division was ordered to Cross the Sesia once more,
and resumed its old quarters on the right bank of the river.
Os the 29th (last Sunday) four companies of the
French genie (sappers and miners) and three
companies of our own engineers having reached Vercelli,
they were set to work, and constructed three bridges
over the river—one a bridge of boats, and the two
others trestle-bridges; and on the 30th, at daybreak,
the Piedmontese divisions crossed the Sesia over them, and
assumed the offensive, no longer for the purpose of a feint
or a reconnaissance, bnt in right earnest. The fourth divi-
sion (forming the van) took the road to Palestro, where
there was a desperate struggle, which lasted several hours,
the position being easy to defend, especially towards Ver-
celli, and we had to make a feint of attacking the left flank
of the Austrians, while our artillery was pounding away
against their troops. Once we had entered the outskirts of
the village, the Austrians began to withdraw their troops,
leaving, however, a strong rear-guard in the farm-houses at
the other end, and a battery of artillery, which retired in
echelon along the roads that lead to Robbio. These farms
were carried with the bayonet, and those Austrians were
fortunate who found an issue and availed themselves of it,
but in some cases they were unable to do so. In one of
these houses, which was stormed by a company of the 10th
Regiment of the Line and a detachment of Bersaglieri, the
Austrians were completely surrounded, but, nevertheless,
continued to defend themselves with desperation, and obsti-
nately refused to surrender, and it was only after tremen-
dous losses, and when our men were in -possession of the
greater part of the building, that they surrendered a discre-
tion; Within that small space, 70 bodies were lying
together in a confused heap, and the gutters were running
with blood. We made about 65 to 70 prisoners, among
whom were three officers. The captain, whose name was
Davidowsky, who had fought with the utmost gallantry to
the very last, gave up his sword to a Piedmontese officer,
and requested his protection. On being asked why he
had cansed such loss of life by a useless defence, he replied
that he did not believe the Piedmontese were so
numerous, and that he had hoped for reinforcements.
The prisoners, moreover, appeared to be all impressed
with an idea that we give no quarter. During the night a
regiment of Zouaves was ordered by the Emperor, who had
visited the field of battle, to join Cialdini's division. They
were encamped far away on our right, between ourselves
and the Sesia. There were rumours in camp that on the
following day the whole of the corps of Canrobert would
cross the Sesia, join us, and march upon Robbis, and
Mortara; but on the morning of the 31st, while we were
burying the dead, a sharp fire of musketry was heard at the
outposts. We were being once more attacked, At the
outset we supposed it was only a reconnaissance to cover the
retreat, but very soon the shot and shell that ploughed
through our lines, the file-firing all along the line, and the
booming of the guns which we distinctly heard at Con-
fienza, where Fanti's division was encamped, convinced us
that a general action was engaged, and that it was sup!
ported by powerful forces. Perhaps the Austrian general
was anxious to retrieve his failure on the previous day,
perhaps his object was to prevent the passage of the Sesia
by the French, to destroy the bridges, and thus to cut us
off from our basis of operations. And let us do them this
justice, they attacked with great resolution, and struck a
heavy blow, but they were driven back with greater resolution
still. Our artillery, which, on the Robbie road alone, con-
sisted of eight guns of heavy calibre, was ordered not to
recede a single step. The Austrians attacked our left in
three columns. Our force was distributed thus: —Left,
15th and 16th Regiments of the Line, and 6th battalion of
Bersaglieri; the centre consisted of the 10th Regiment of
the Line, and a mass of artillery ; and the right consisted of
the 9th Regiment of the Line, and the 3rd Regiment of
Zouaves. They were twice repelled by our left, and with
heavy losses, as their last attack had been made with the
bayonet. They advanced with great fury against our right,
and such was the mass of artillery, of Chasseurs, and of
infantry they hurled against us, that for one moment it
became doubtful how we could ever succeed in overcoming
so numerous a foe ; but it was an instant only, and the
news of the victory of the left, by means of the gallant
charge of the Zouav es, dissipated any uneasy feeling, and
as the Austrians were rushing up down went the bayonets,
and after a last volley and a tremendous charge the enemy
was driven back." _ . .

The writer also gives many particulars of the fight of the
Zouaves, but as he describes it only from hearsay, and as it
tallies pretty closely with mine, it is useless to reproduce it.
Major-General Cialdini, to whose gallantry and consummate
ability the victory at Palestro is mainly due, is raised by a
decree, published in to-day's Gazette, to the rank of Lieut.-
General. Cialdini is one of the most distinguished officers
in the Piedmontese army, or indeed in any army in the
world. In 1819, at Mortara, at La Sforzesca, and at
li.mwArecl him if with oiorv. ethargine• at the head
of his regiment, aithouga still suffering rom a severe wound
received the previous year at the battle of Roverbella.
P.S.---Very important dispatches have just been received
here at the War Office. The French and Piedmontese
armies (the latter, I am sorry to say, greatly reduced in
strength) commenced the passage of the Ticino, and drove
back, after an insignificant combat, the Austrian outposts
at Castelletto, Rubone, and Rebecco. A rumour prevails,
but no official information to that effect has been received,
that the Emperor of the French has transferred his head
quarters to Penta Magenta. on the Grand Canal. If this be
true the only chance for the Austrians is to hurry to the
Mincio by forced marches. Should they attempt a battle
and be beaten, their rule in Lombardy is at an end.

FRANCE.