The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-06-28
THE WAR NEWS.
THE LATE BLOODY BATTLE.

THE LATE BLOODY BATTLE
Last week we published the telegraphic account
of another great battle between the French and
Sardnans one side and the Austrians on the
other in which the Austrians reported to
have lost, in killed and wounded, $4,000 men, and
the allies about IL 900 in killed and wounded. 1t
is also reported that 5000 Austrians were taken
prisoners of war. IF this intelligence is true, a
most important and decisive victory has been won
by the French and lift is also true that the Aus
TRANS have evacuated Milan, the victory in ques-
ton promises to prove as important to Louis Napo-
leon as was the battle of Marengo to the First
Napoleon. Indeed, from the reported loss, the
numbers engaged must have been far greater than
at the battle of Marengo. That battle was fought
on the 18th of June. 1900, about one month after
Napoleons celebrated passage of the Alps. If We
mistake not, the Austrian loss did not exceed 12,-
900 killed, and about 900 were taken prisoners.
Yet the battle was followed by great results. 1t
was followed by the armistice of Alexandria, ard
the Austrans at evacuated all the strong
ly-foTtifed citades in Piedmont, and retired be-
yond Piacenza, between the Pc and Mincio. If
the Austrians have, as it is reported, evacuated
Mian, the allies have made gigantic progress in
expeng them from Italy. The most sanguine
officers of the French army did not think it posi-
BILE to dislodge the Austrians from the Capital of
Milan for three or four months to come. Thus
far the Austrians have invariably been defeated
and as the victories of the French and Sardinans
have all been won where millions of oppressed and
vindictive Italians anxiously awaiting op-
portunity for revolt, we expect soon to hear of
Garibaldi being at the head of an army of volun-
teers almost as large as that of the French army
in Piedmont.
A contemporary commits an error in stating the
loss at the late battle to have been as large as at
Waterloo. If the report is true, the butchers bill
is large enough in all conscience, but it does not
approach that of Waterloo. The loss at the battle
of Waterloo was nearly 10000 in killed, wounded
and prisoners. The French lost, in killed and
wounded, $4,000 men; the English 10,580 men;
the Dutch 1000 men; and the loss of the Prussian
army was 1884 men, The force of Napoleon at
that memorable battle was about 10000 men,
whilst that of the allies did not exceed $4,000
men Two hundred cannon were taken from the
French, and 5000 prisoners.
Louis Napoleon is by no means up to his uncle's
mark yet IN the way of "killed and wounded !"
At the battle of Jena, for instance, the Austrian
loss was killed, wounded and prisoners, about
$4,000 men; the Prussians lost Ia 900 men, many
in prisoners, and the Saxons about 6 1000 prisoners
At Austerlitz, we think the French lost in killed.
wounded and prisoners, some $4,000 men, and we
might name some half dozen more equally
sanguinary.
The victories of the nephew and his allies
over the Austrians during the last six weeks have
been very respectable affairs, but they do not rival
those of Napoleon Bonaparte over the same nation.
History no where furnishes a record of such
splendid, rapid and decisive victories as those won
by Napoleon over the Austrian forces when Aus
tria declared war on the 9th of April, 1909 The
speedy march of the French to Sardinia after the
crossing OF the Ticiuo was completely eclipsed by
the rapidity with which Napoleon l invaded the
Dominions of Austria. Remember, too, that he
had none of the modern facilities of locomotion
possessed by the nephew-no steamboats,, no rail
roads.
War was declared on the 9Th of April, and on
the 18th of April Napoleon invaded Austria On
the Goth he defeated the Austrians at Abensburg;
On the 2lst he beat them again at Landshut; on
the 22d at Eckmuhl; on the I'D at Ratisbon, and
on the 10th of May, having routed the Austrians
everywhere he entered in triumph, as the con-
queror of Austria, the city of Vienna, the capitol
Of that kingdom. This is mere chapter-a single
leaf torn from the history of the of the elder
Napoleon with Austria
The lucky individual now Emperor of France
may occupy respectable position in history, but
when journalists of the present day compare him
to the first Napoleon, they show melancholy
ignorance of history and nearly all those splendid
victories won by Napoleon l over the Austrians
were won when that nation was backed by Prussia,
Saxony and Russia.