The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-07-27

of insurrectiou, never in more righteous
'ause, had spread through Italy, and
Lombardy had risen against Austria. The
King of Sardinia and Piedmont well knew
the strength oI the power thus brayed-
too wei for success. He delayed his
military movements until he appeared to
have been forced to adopt them and this
caution, iustifable on narrow views of
policy, caused terrible reverses TO his
arms
On the twenty-third of March, lS48,
one month after the downfall of Louis
Philippe, Carlo Alberto issued the PROF.
lamation by which he raised the Pied
montese flag rs the d" standard of Italian
unity" His force consisted of two coy21s
n 0r0iee and reserve-which last was
under the command of the Duke of SAVOY,
the subject of our memoir: it numbered
about twenty thousand men. The artillery
was commanded by the Duke of Genoa,
the second son, since deceased, A series
OF strategic maneuvres, which appear to
be universally condemned. resulted in an
engagement before the walls of Verona.
The success was about equal on either
side. The Sardinians had hoped for
rising within the city they, therefore,
retired without being beaten; while Rad.
etzky considered that he had gained the
day, inasmuch as the Piedmontese failed
in their object. All accounts agree that
the Duke of Savoy behaved with great
gallantry, and fully sustained the military
honor of his house. The King of Sardinia
next took the fortress of Peschiers and
here, too, the Duke of Savoy distinguished
himself; but his principal exploits were
in the engagement at Goito, whence, after
whole days fighting. he dislodged the
Austrians and drove them along the right
bank of the Mincio back on Mantua.
Then came the long, tedious and fruitess
attack on Mantua, which furnished Rad.
etzky with the time necessary to cOncen.
trate his forces. Then came a series of
disasters to tho Piedmontese arms. The
lines Of Carlo Alberto were forced in
several places but his army fought with
gallantry which promised victory, when
the Austrians suddenly receiving reinforce
ments to the number of twenty thousand
men, the flank of the Piedmonteec army
was turned, and Carlo Alberto was forced
to recross the Mincio. The present king
took part in these transactions, and dis.
played all the qualities of a gallant soldier.
On the third of August, the Piedmontese,
pursued by the Austrians, entered Milan,
which, however, he soon quilted, as the
citizens capitulated. This was followed
by truce, and finally led to the evacua-
ton OF Lombardy by the Piedmontese.
1t was during the progress of these events
that the throne of Sicily was offered by
the insurrectionary party to the Duke of
Genoa, the second son Of Carlo Alberto.
and, after some coy hesitation, refused.
The year ls49 was destined to witness
new efforts on the part of Carlo Alberto,
and still greater reverses. The king
opened the Parliament on the first of Feb
ruary, with speech wherein he spoke
warmly of Italian unity, and called on the
nation to aid in the sacrifices necessary
to continue the war. In adopting this
course, he was rather forced than otherwise
by the miscalculating enthusiasm of his
people.
Most Of the history of Victor Emman-
uel's government from this point is inclined
in the sketches of his ministers given in
this article. His action during the Cri-
mean war, in joining the Sardinian forces
to the allies against Russia, and securing
for Sardinia voice in the Congress of
Paris, and to settle the questions in dis
pute, placed Sardinia ahead of all the
other Italian States, and gave her the
good reason which she now urges against
disarmament and the ignoring Of her i'm
! portance.
The alliance of Prince Napoleon with
Princess ClothildO OF Sardinia has natural.
ly combined with the critical aspect Of
Italian politics to render the house Of
Savoy an object of extraordinary interest
in the eyes of Europe. In the popular
cries of Lombardy, the King of Sardinia
is saluted as the future King of Italy, and
the peace of the continent for the next
generation appears now to depend on the
policy Of Piedmont
Victor Emmanuel has harbored the
Italian patriots until now there is di
vision of the army of twenty thousand
men-the same which is commanded by