The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-26 00:00:00

ENGAGEMENT ON THE SESIA

The Alessandri z correspondent of the Constitu-
tionnel, writing on the 23d inst., says :
" Since this morning there is great excitement in
the town. There is a report that some sharp en-
counters took place yesterday evening and during
the night between the Piedmontese troops en-
camped along the whole line from Valenza and
Casale to Vercelli. The sound of cannon was heard
at midnight, and it was asserted that the whole
army, commanded by King Victor Emmanuel in
person, was engaged on the banks of the Sesia,
after having made a forced march from Occ!miamo.
" A thousand other rumours were afloat, and the
opinion was that the moment of a general attack
had arrived with‘the concurrence of the Imperial
Guard.
"As yet all that has been confirmed of these
reports is this:—The main body of the Piedmontese
army, commanded by the King, holds the banks of
the Sesia, and is exchanging a well kept up can-
nonade with the Austrians. The reports which
have reached head-quarters contain no details.

" 4 O'CLOCK P.M.

" The news of an engagement between the
King's troops and the Austrians on the banks of
the Sesia is confirmed, but details are still wanting;
but, as none of our troops were engaged, our infor-
mation will not be extensive."

THE BATTLE OF MONTE-
BELLO.

The Times Turin correspondent, who dates his
letters from the Austrian head quarters, gives the
following extraordinary version of the battle of
Montebello :

"TURIN, MAY 23.

" A brief Vienna bulletin (or probably the abridg-
ment of one) of the combat of Montebello has reached
us here, and although it will of course be ridiculed
by the Turin papers, it is hardly to be called incon-
sistent with the French report yc sterday transmitted
to you, except on one point, and that is with respect
to numbers, Each party says that it was in presence
of forces numerically superior, and very probably
each party believes itself correct. On such points
there always have been and probably always will be
discrepancies, often greater than the most impartial
historians, writng long subequently to the events,
and with many documents before them, are able to
reconcile. Contemporary chroniclers cannot hope,
then, to be more successful, and can but weigh and
compare conflicting testimonies, often without ven-
turing an opinion which there are not sufficient
grounds to render positive. According to the
French account of the late affair the Austrians
fought gallantly and obstinately—so much so that
it is difficult to believe that if they were 12,000,
15,000, or (as it has also been said) 18,000 strong,
they would have been repulsed by 4,000. It ap-
pears also from the French bulletin that, before
tile attack on Montebello, General Forey's
second brigade came up. The two brigades tog°•
ther made more, it is presumed, than 4,000
men. The Austrian statement that their troops
retired in excellent order receives confirmation from
the French account, which does not talk of them as
routed, but as retre iting, and as pursued. only by
the skirmishers, and by the fire of artillery. If all
bulletins were as fair as this French one seems likely

to be (setting aside the question of numbers, in
which mistakes are easily made, and, as far as I
can judge of it, by an Italian version of a telegraphic
transmission), the truth would be less difficult to
arrive at. Even if it be admitted that the Aus-
trians were in superior force, they still would natu-
rally retreat when their object of a reconnaisance,
to ascertain their opponent's strength in that quar-
ter, was accomplished. It is strange that no mention
is made of any cavalry being with them. The
French seem to have been unprepared for their
coming, and would, it is here said, almost have
been surprised, but for the gallant resistance made
by the Piedmontese cavalry. This consisted of the
regiments of Novara and Aosta and part of the
regiment of Montferrat. They lost four officers killed
and five wounded, which, if taken according to the
usual proportion, would imply a heavy loss of men ;
but, judging from the French loss of field officers,
old rules will hardly hold good in the present war,
in which it seems likely that improved weapons and
skilled marksmen will be particularly fatal to leaders.
In any case, there can be no doubt that the Pied-
montese cavalry did their duty manfully, and gave
time for the French to come up before the Austrians
had advanced further than Ginestrello, less than an
Italian mile on this side of Montebello."