Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-06-11 00:00:00

DEMONSTRATION AT MILAN.

" MILAN, June 8, Evening. —An important popular
demonstration has taken place to-day.. A great
number of the principal citizens assembled to cheer
the Emperor in the courtyard of the palace."

THE FRENCH- FUNDS

PARIS, Friday, 12 20, p.m

—The Bourse opens flat

Rentes 61 95.
2 49, p.m.—Rentes have again declined, and are
now quoted at 61 70.
3 30, p.m.—Rentes close at 61 75 for money, and
61 70 for account, being a fall of 1 per cent. since
yesterday.

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF
BATTLE OF MAGENTA.
The following particulars of the battle of Magenta, are
extracted from a letter in the Constitutionnel of June 10,
written front Novara, on June 5, by M. Ernest Dreolle :
Yesterday, as the first battalions of the voltigeurs of the
Guard, after conquering in a first engagement at Turbi,go
were pursuing their march towards Milan, it appears that
40,000 Austrians, massed in columns, suddenly counter-
marched, and confident in their numbers, advanced against
our leading columns, hoping to turn them, and check the
concentration of our army_ upon Milan. But they had not I
taken into their account the division of the grenadiers and
chasseurs of the Guard commanded by General Mellinet.
This division rapidly got together between Bufl'alora and
Magenta, not far from the spot where the Turcos fought,
and they very sopn showed a front to the enemy. Towards
noon, the Austrians, after hesitating for some time, decided to
attack. The Zouaves and grenadiers united, did not make up
more than 10,000 men, but without budging a foot they
held their own against the vainly energetic efforts of the
40,000 Austrians. The latter, surprised at such an obstinate
resistance, retired in good order, formed again, and returned
to the charge a second time. Tney might as well have
rushed against a brazen rampart. The Guard soon became
tired of this passive attitude, and resulycd to tglie the

offensive. It charged and scattered the enemy. But the
1 itter, perceiving how small were the numbers of the French,
came up again and again. Seven times in the course of two
hours 'were these heroic charges renewed. The grenadiers
and Zouaves were electrified by the presence of the Emperor,
who, sword in hand, supported and directed them. The
Emperor, however, was frequently seen to turn his eyes
towards the points where, pursuant to his orders and
calculations, he expected to see the divisions of and
M'Mahon make their appearance. They arrived, and
were saluted with a long bravo, which astonished and dis-
concerted the enemy. General M‘Mahon advanced to
Magenta with an ardour, a dash, and an enthusiasm
which was the admiration of the whole army. At
the moment when his attacking column was crossing
the bridge, General Espinasse, who was leading it with
his well-known intrepidity, was unfortunately struck
by a ball in the very centre of his breast. He must
have died instantly. On seeing him fall, the soldiers, quite'
beside themselves, rushed forward to avenge his death.
Nothing could stop them—on, on they went, sweeping away
every obstacle ; and after completely routing the enemy,
they- effected their junction with the Imperial Guard, which
was all the while commanded by the Emperor in person.
The battle was gained. Marshal Canrobert and General de
Saint Jean d'Angely had done wonders on their side. I
hear that the Emperor warmly congratulated the new Duke
of Magenta, to whom he attributed a large share in the-
success of the day. The Emperor did not shrink from
exposing himself during the action, and more than once
General Fleury threw himself before him, braving with a
devotion which all admired (though all were ready to do the
same) the bullets whiah threatened his Majesty. ** We
have as yet no exact information as to the results of the
day. I can, however, assure you that it was magnificent for
our troops. Our losses are only 5,000, while that of the
enemy is 15,000. These are the two lowest figures which I
have heard. * * * As to the prisoners taken from us,
they are " not numerous. They fell into the hands of the
enemy in this way. Towards the end of the day a weak
column of infantry was pursuing the routed enemy, when
the leading sections became blenied with the flying masses,
and were carried away with them. They were at most but
260 men. Further details to-morrow.

----~---

THE TURCOS.

( A correspondent, writing from the Seat of War, thus
describes a new Legion, termed the Turcos, engaged in the

Franco-Sardinian service
The Turcos are a collection of Arabs
Spaniards, and French. The same costume, the same fla
and the same spirit belonc, to them all. Their faces are
fierce looking ; their features strongly marked ; their
manners are rough and reckless; their language is a jargon
of all the known and unknown tongues, and finds expression
in sharp, short, emphatic words, admirably adapted for
military service. Their audacity is astounding, all the more
so because it is natural to them, is not in any Ivay put on,
and is the daily habit of their lives. Their reckless-
ness has in it something of the terrible, tHey care no more for
their own lives than for the lives of others. They have an
ardent love of adventure, of danger, of battle, and of
difficulty that is almost insurmountable. Fighting is to
them a pastime; human life a plaything; they sport with
deadly weapons as a child with its toys. If instinct, instead
of reason, were not the motive power of their acts, they
might be aptly denominated the most ferocious, blood-
thirsty, cut-throat ruffians heaven's fair sunlight ever
shone upon. Such are the Turcos. I leave you, there-
fore, to imagine• what their charges must be against
an enemy, when I add to the above details that
they are as nimble as squirrels, cunning as monkeys, and
savage as tigers. Grape-shot excites their fury to the
utmost. A fusillade irritates them ; a charge of cavalry is
the sole thing they do not like, They fly against the enemy
like an arrow from its bow; they fall upon him as the knife
of the gullotine falls upon the condemned neck. The
bayonet is the weapon they use; though their teeth are
often enlisted into martial service, for some of the wretches
love to suck the blood of their foes. I speak ala lettre in
making this disgusting announcement. With my own ears
I heard, at Vercelli, one of the barbarians declare that he
liked to " taste Austrian blood!" No troops march like
the Turcos. They run, they leap, they jump, they bound,
they spring like wild beasts; they drag themselves along on
their bellies; they dart forward like snakes; and wherever
they tread they leave the footstepS of Death in their track.
In costume they resemble the &naves. They have large
breeches of holland, a little Arab jacket of blue colour, and
a red turban. They have thus the aspect of something
undiscovered between Turks and devils. When fellows of
this kidney fall upon troops like the Austrians, resistance,
however brave, is utterly useless. Everything yields to
them, everything disappears, everything except stains of
blood and lifeless bodies. Their officers in vain cry out,
" Make prisoners." They want no bother—can't be encum-
bered with luggage. In one word, the Turcos is the con-
entrated essence of the Zouave.