The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-02 00:00:00

ITALY.

LOMBARDY AND PIEDMONT.
THE GREAT BATTLES BETWEEN THE
AUSTRIANS AND ITALIAN S.-NEW
SARDINIAN MINISTRY.

The battle between the Austrians and the Pied-
montese has been long and severe, and victory has
finally declared for RADETZKY, who has succeeded in
effecting the object he had in view, and iu forcing
CHARLES ALBERT to retire beyond the Illincio. On
the 23d the Austrians, who seem to have taken the
Piedmontese by surprise, were completely victorious.
They swept the whole country before them. On the
24th they were attended in their positions by the Pied-
montese, and driven further, leaving 2,500 prisoners
in the hands of the Italian army. On the 25th the
battle was renewed, and continued until night, when
the Piedmontese army retired in good order, taking
with them their prisoners. The head-quarters of
CHARLES ALBERT were, on the 26th, at Goito.
The following is the Piedmontese official account
of the events of the 25th :

" TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MINISTER OF WAR.

" Principal Head-quarters, Goito, July 26. 1848.
" I have already had the honour to inform your Excel-
lency of the haul: of Staffalo, which ended so gloriously
for the royal army on the 24th instant; the loss
of the enemy, better known on the following day, was
1,200 prisoners, among whom were thirty-eight officers
and an immense number of killed. On the morning of
the 25th General Bava, undertook an evolution, from
which great success was confidently expected. The
strong but short defence made by the enemy, in the ex
cellent position occupied on the preceding evening, led
us to believe that his forces, if not inferior to those with
which we intended to attack him, were not certainly in
great number, and it was in that supposition that yes-
terday morning the Brigade of Aosta pushed forward
on Valeggio, whilst the division of the Duke of Savoy
was to have reached the:rear, from the heights above Staf-
folo, following up the hills. At the same time the Royal
division, commanded by the Duke of Genoa, was to march
from Somma Campagna to Ogliosi to attack the bridge
that the Austrians had formed on the Mincio at Salionze.
Whilst all these attacks were to be in operation, the Ge-
neral commanding the second corps of the army had orders
to attack Valeggio also from the right bank of the Mincio.
In all the rencontres our soldiers had with the Austrians,
these latter were constantly beaten. But the two divi-
sions of the. Duke of Savoy and the Duke of Genoa
had to sustain such impetuous assaults from the enemy,
that they were unable to reach the point where they
were to co-operate with the brigade Sommariva to the
attack of Valeggio. Tho support, moreover, that the
General commanding the second corps of the army was
to have given, was entirely missed, as the soldiers were
exhausted by the fatigues of the preceding days.
" Under existing unforeseen circumstances his Majesty
ordered the force to retire on Villa Franca, and the retro-
grade movement was accomplished in such a manner, that
the enemy did nut dare to follow us; the obstinate resist-
ance however, which we met with yesterday, without reap::
ing any great advantage from the valour of our soldiers,
as had so many a time previously happened, clearly de-
monstrated to his Majesty that the adverse forces had
increased so much, that our position at Villa Franca was
no longer tenable, and he consequently ordered that all the
army should, retire on the right of the Mincio, concen-
trating at Goito, where his Majesty has fixed to-day his
head-quarters, which movement was complied with this
morning in a most orderly manner. The enemy, taltnost
at our heels on the right side and behind our columns,
only dispatched after us a few Hulans, who kept a re-
spectful distance from us.
" We know our losses as yet very incompletely, either
of this day or of the various combats of the preceding
days. As soon as I shall be able to obtain an exact ac-
count of them, I shall do myself the honour to commu-
nicate it to your Excellency. lam happy to say, even
from this moment, that our losses have not been consi-
derable, although we have to deplore the death of Major-
General commanding the Brigade of Savoy, Chevalier
D'Aviernox, which took place in the combats of St.
Giustina; and of a few other officers, the Chevalier
Boyl, Major-General commanding the Brigade Cuneo;
and Chevalier Giustiniani, Major in the royal corps of
the General Staff, were lightly wounded.
"The Chief of the Staff,
" SALASCO."

The correspondent of the Journal (lea Dads, at
the head-quarters of CHARLES ALBERT, gives the fol-
lowing account of the battle of the 25th :

" VILLA FRANCA, JULY 25.—The fighting has been
going on all day. The Austrians have displayed against
us such an immense amount of force that we regard as
a victory our having vigorously sustained the check, and
preserved our position on the Mincio.
" The King, as I have informed you this morning,
attacked the enemy with a corps of 20,000 men ; but,
contrary to all expectation, after an hour's fighting, we
saw coming up against us 45,006 Austrians, in such a
manner that, in place of being the assailants, we found
ourselves attacked along the whole length of our
line, from Somma Campagna to Valeggio. The
battle lasted from eight in the morning till five
in the afternoon, and on both sides the struggle
was a desperate one. Our troops, although very
inferior in number, made head against the enemy with
much valour. The regiment of Novarre cavalry three
times broke the squares of the Austrian battalions and
carried carnage into the midst of them. The Pignarolle
regiment charged with the bayonet five times. But in
spite of all our efforts the enemy kept his position on
the left bank of the Mincio, while we remain masters of
our position on the right. As a precaution, we have
ourselves broken down all the bridges on the Mincio,
with the exception of one at Peschiera, and another at
Goito, which are the two principal passages of the river.
The result of all the combats of the last few days
will probably oblige us to entrench ourselves on the
line of the Mincio, and to remain for some time on the
defensive.

" The losses of the enemy in the several battles of
these days cannot yet be estimated; but, considering the
superiority of our artillery and the ardour of our troops,
their loss must greatly exceed ours."
On this communication the Qebais makes the fol-

•, •

lowing remarks :
" According to the dispatch, the hottest part of the
combat took place on the two slopes of the valley ex-
tending from Somma Campagna to the Mincio, and along
that river to the north of Yaleggio. It results from
that, that the line of the Austrian army was nearly per-
pendicular to the Mincio, upon which its right was sup-
ported, while its left made face to Somma Campagna.
It also results from it that the left wing of the Piod-
montese army, which had retired below Peschiera, was
entirely cut off from the rest of the army. These cir-
cumstances were very unfavourable to Charles Al-
bert, who from that time was no longer master of
the whole course of the Mincio, as he had formerly
been. It will bo remarked, in the letter of our cor-
respondent, that the King was attacked by 45,000
men, while ho had only 20,000 to oppose them.
Until we get further details, we cannot comprehend
how the Piedmontese army, which is 80.000 strong, was
only able to present 20,000 men in an affair which lasted
four days. We have no explanation of this unfortunate
inferiority. The official dispatch and the letter say
nothing of that Austrian column which threatened to
throw a bridge over the Mincio, in order to penetrate
into Lombardy ; but these two documents announce that
the Piedmontese have broken all the bridges, excepting
those of Peschiera and Goito, which are fortified places.
From this it may be inferred that the sing had adopted
this measure, foreseeing that he might be constrained to
retire momentarily to the right bank of the Mincio. Let
us remark, however, that this retreat was not (greeted on
the evening of the 25th, for the dispatch of which we
speak is dated from Villa Franca. As long as the
Italian army occupies this point it will not be thrown
back on the Mincio. This is evidently the object of
General Radetzky, but the King, with his bravo army,
resists heroically, and if there are no other events than
those of which we have information to the evening of
the 25th of July, we tau repeat that the question is still
undecided, iu spite )f the redoubtable efforts and nu-
merical superiority of:the Austrian army."
The rentidue Mcrz• of Milan of the 26th ult. has
the following :
" BRESCIA, JULY 25.—The Piedmontese troops at
Rivoli, consisting chiefly of the Savoy brigades of Pine-
rolo and Savona, laving fallen back upon Peschiera,
which, from prudettial measures, they were not allowed
to enter, not to overcrowd the fortress, continued their
retreat to Brescia, which city they entered last night.
"The brilliant whievenients of yesterday were greatly
to the honour of toe Italian arms. After a determined

struggle the positions of Somma Campagna and Custoza
wore retaken, and the Duke of Savoy passed the night at
Somma Campagna. At ten o'clock in the morning, the r
King fixed his head-quarters at Villa-Franca, and k
shortly afterwards 6,000 Austrians were brought in pri-
soners, and locked up in the church.
" This morning (25th July) the whole army was on
foot, and eager for the battle. Yesterday, whilst the
battle was going on at Somma Campagna and Custoza
an Austrian division attempted to cross the Mincio at
Salionze and Menzambano. The inhabitants were panic
struck, and the young Lombard recruits there fled in
disorder. Colonel Malpassuti has taken tho- command
of Brescia."
The correspondent of the National, under date
Milan, July 27, says—
" Matters soon changed their appearance on the field
of {battle, and during three days and three nights the
Piedmontese and Austrian armies remained engaged.
On Sunday, the 23d, as we before stated, a part of the
Piedmontese army, being suddenly attacked, was forced
to fall back. On Monday, the 24th, Charles Albert
having hastened up from Marmirole to Villa Franca,
retook the positions which had been captured the
day before, re-established his entire lice, and, after
eight hours' combat, caused the Austrians such consi-
derable losses as to open to him the perspective of a
complete victory on the morrow. It was these events of
the 24th, to which had been added, by anticipation, the
probable events of the 25th, that formed the bulletin
transmitted to us yesterday, and which is to be found
to-day in many of the Italian journals. Unfortunately,
on Tuesday, the 25th, whilst the Piedmontese artillery
thundered from the heights of Somma Campagna on the
already shattered Austrian army, a new corps of
the enemy which came out from Verona where
Radetsky had concentrated ell his forces from Ley-
nago and Vicenza, attacked the rear of the Pied-
"mutes° army. This movement had been only ren-
dered possible by the defection, or rather let us say
the want of courage of the new Lombard levies and
the treason of the Modenese, who, on the approach of
the Austrians being signalled at Salionze and Mozam-
bano, abandoned all their positions, and diegarnshed all
the posts confided to their guard. The Piedmontese,
happily better warriors, were nevertheless obliged, after
a meritorious resistance, to retire on Villa Franca; after
night-fall it was found necessary to continuo this nrve-
rnent of retreat and fail back on Goito, which they did
in good order, carrying with them 2,500 prisoners, living
proofs of the bright success which marked the 24th. This
movement of Charles Albert is explained by the necessity
he was under of rejoining his reserves on the line of the
Alincio. He can besides call up the corps cantoned on the
banks of the Adda, and, who knows ? resume the offen-
sive against the Austrians, worn out by these three days'
fighting. Peschiera is defended by the left wing of the
army, commanded by General de Sonnaz. The blockade
has been necessarily obliged to be raised. It is now
necessary to examine the present situation calmly in
order to judge it properly. A reverse like that of the
25th was easy to foresee. The line of the Piedmontese
was far toe extended ; the bragging inexperience of the
Lombard conscripts bore its own fruits. One could—
one ought to know that finally, since it
was a question of a strategic war, that the mo-
ment would come when the Piedmontese reserves
would be the only resource of Charles Albert
This is just what has happened. Lombarby is still
covered since Goito has not been abandoned. If the
Austrians dare to pass the Mincio they will expose
themselves to a battle, which manoeuvres skilfully com-
bined may render fatal to them. At Milan, moreover,
where the fugitives raise up on all sides the cry of trea-
son, public opinion has undergone a complete change,
and the intervention of France is called for with a con-
tinually increasing insistence. Can this intervention
take place immediately ? Will you not fear to compro-
mise the whole of Europe if you pass the Alps, as they
will perhaps supplicate you to do ? These are questions
which we ask ourselves here with an anxiety easy to
comprehend."
Accounts from Verona of the 26th state that
CHARLES ALBERT was completely defeated on the
25th, with great loss, by Marshal RADETSRY and
General NUGENT ; that the Austrians were in posses-
sion of Somma Campagna, Villa Franca, Valleggio,
Volta, Monzambano, and the Mincio from Valleggio
as far as the fortress of Peschiera, which is still in the
hands of the Piedmontese. Marshal RADETsxy has
also re. opened his communications with Tyrol ; in
fact, he has succeeded in accomplishing all that he
undertook to accomplish, and what that was may be
gathered from the following statement :
" JULY 23.—The Piedmoutese army continuing to
concentrate itself in the direction of Matua and the Po,
as well for the purpose of observing that town at to get
nearer to Venice, blockaded on the landside, Marshal
Radetsky prepared an expedition to divert their atten-
tion. The Piedmontese line extends from Rivoli (oc-
cupied for the purpose of closing the communication
of the Austrian army with the Tyrol) along the
heights of Pastrengo, San Giastina, Sons, Somma,
Campagna, Valleggio, Villa Franca, Roverbella, Cur-
telone, Governolo, and beyond it towards the Po.
The posts from Rivoli to Villa Frances having been
probably weakened by the movement towards Mantuc,
the Marshal, who for some days had been concen-
trating his force of from 40,000 to 50,000 men round
Verona, decided upon a movement against the centre of
these positions, and directed his army in three columns
ono upon the route of the Tyrol, towards Rivoli, another
towards Peschiera, and the third towards Somme Carn-
pagna. The enemy was overthrown at every point with
a considerable loss ; one general, some officers, a few
hundred soldiers, and two guns were taken. Retreat
was precipitate, but the pursuit difficult, the ground not
permitting the employment of the cavalry. The enemy
retired beyond the Mincio ; the troop which was at
Rivoli escaped to Peschiera, part embarking on the Lake
di Gardo at Bardolino and Lacioe. The loss on the side
of the Austrian army amounted to five officers and about
200 men killed and wounded.

" On the 23d—It is concentrated in observation of
Peschiera and the Mincio, in the direction of Mozam-
bano, Talleggio, and Villa Franca, and waits to see what
Carlo Alberto will undertake against them. Should he,
abandoning the blockade of Mantua, advance upon Ve-
rona, the army awaits him, leaning upon the heights of
Custozzo, in the plains of Villa Franca, to give him
battle. Should he approach by the right of the Mincio,
towards Valleggio and Monzambano, the army has upon
all these points strong positions, and will hold them
against him so as to be able to pass the Mincio at Sa-
lionze, and menace his communications with Lombar4y.
In every case his designs upon Mantua and the Venetian
provinces must be postponed, and considering the state
of pul:lic opinion, which every day declares itself more
strongly against his inactivity, his situation both mili-
tary and political will becomo precarious."
The following is the Austrian version of the battle
of the 25th :

" VIENNA, JULY 27.—The following has been received
by telegraph, dated Padua, July 25:—The Austrian
army has obtained a brilliant victory, and has driven the
enemy out of his entrenchments in the utmost disorder.
Rivoli, Somma Campagna, Castelnovo, and Valleggo are
in our hands. General Morton, with Charles Albert's
adjutant, and many other officers, are prisoners."
The Piedmontese Gazette of the 28th ult. contains
the following list of the new Ministry :
CASATI, President of the Council (Milanese).
Recce, Interior.
PARETO, Foreign Affairs.
COLLEGNO, War.
GIOStA, Grace and Justice.
RATTAZZI, Public Instruction.
DURINI, Public Works.
SANTA ROSA, or PALEOCAPA (19, Finance.