Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1859-06-15
St(isttIlanGous.
me Battle Of Montebello won by Napo,
leon III~The Battle of MontebellC
won by Napoleon I.


won by Napoleon I,
The first battle is at last fought between
the french and the Austrians in Italy.-
ly the steamship City of Washington we
nave telegraphic news from Cape Race
that on the 2lSt Of May the first struggle
) look place and was won by Napoleon Ill,
at Montebello, where the French under
Napoleon l., defeated the Austrians fifty.
n'ne years ago, just after he had crossed
the Alps and, what is worthy of remark.
neither Of the Napoleons was at the battle,
but in its vicinity.
} mat battle was won by the French on
, the 2lst ultimo, there can be no doubt
lor ON this point the French, Slrdnian
ana austrian accounts agree. We have
not yet received the details of the battle.
b~; the french represent the Austrians
as fifteen thousand strong where the fight
took place, anu the troops Of Napoleon
as only six or seven thousand men, with
areglment Of Sardiuian cavalry, at the same
time stating that the Austrans lost from
l,5OO to 1900 men, besides 200 prisoners,
whilst the French lost 600 or ZOO many
OF whom were officers. The prisoners
were sent to Alessandria and some of
them had arrived at Marseiles. The Aus
TRANS were the assailants, and the fight
occurred in this way
1t appears that General Sladion, an
Austrian officer of distinction, with a
strong force, attacked the advanced posts
. Of Marshal Baraguay d'IIilliers and was
repuIsed by General Forey's division after
a sanguinary combat of four hours. The
allies carried the heights of Moutebello,
but dId not pursue the retreating Austri-
ans. The Austrian account mitigatcs the
defeat by stating that General Stadion
pushed forward by forced march re-
connoitering body of troops towards Ligis
and Montebello, but after fight with n
superior French force, re.reated behind
the Po in perfect ordJr.
b Monticello is on the extreme right of
the French lines, close to Parma on the
east and not far from Tombardv to the
north. 1t is nearly in the direction of
Milan from Alessandria, and little less
, than half way, the whole distance being
only sixty.fve miles. 1t would seem,
therefore, rs if the French were pushing
on their right to strike at the capital OF
Lombardy.
While these operations are going for
ward OIL the extreme right, we learn that
the left of the Sandman army, at the
Northwest, under Chialdni, one of the
Italian revolutionary leaders of 1889,
had forced u passage over the Sesia, near
the Austrian frontier, and put the Aus
trians to fight, while still further West
and North at the very foot of the Alps,
on the very extreme of the allied lines,
IGaribaldi had entered the town of Gravel
Iona, on the Piedmontese side Of the Lake
Maggiorc, which separates Piedmont from
Lombardy, with 5000 men, intending to
enter the Austrian dOmnions in order to
kindle the fame Of revolution; and from
Berne, in Switzerland, we learn that revo-
lutionary movements arereportedin Lom-
hardy, and no doubt the Swiss strongly
Isympathize with the revolutionists against
their ancient enemy, the House Of Haps-
burg. Garibadi was, therefore, where the
Swiss, Austrian and Sandman frontiers
meet.
From this news it would seem that the
Austrians are now nearly driven back
over the 'gicino into their own territory,
whittier the French would be sure to fol-
low them.
General Gyulai had removed his head
quarters hack to Garlasco, almost on the
very frontier rofLombardy, and in straight
line between Alessandria and Milan. 1t is
quite evident that the Austrians are grad
ually retreating to their own strong-holds.
The Austrian General, as it desperate, had
ordered the Sardinians to give up their
arms on pain of being shot.
Meantime Prince Napoleon was with a
force at Leghorn, in Tuscany. 1t was ru-
mored that six English men-of,war had
entered the Adratic, but as they are neu-
tral, the news does not seem to be of much
Importance, even if true.
By this arrival the first victory in favor
of the French is the great and important
fact, and that against odds, which shows
that the Gauls have not degenerated since
the time the elder Napoleon led them
from victory to victory over the Austrian
hosts.
1t is curious historical coincidence that
the battle of Montebello was the first
fought by the troops of Nepoleon |. after
crossing the Great st. Bernard in lS00.-I
IL is one of the bloodiest and fercest ever
fought. In disparity of numbers the re
semblance is also remarkable. Napoleon
|. had then only 10000 men, two-thirds |
of whom were new soldiers, who had new !
er seen shot fired and with these he
was to arrest the desperate march of an
army of 10000 veteran Austrians. ltl
was necessary for him to divide this little
band to save IL from icing cut to pieces
before he could receive reinforcements.-
With characteristic rapidity he moved
from point to point through Lombardy
with lightning glance his eagle eye per-
ceived the movements and combinations
of the enemy under Melas. He knew that
great and decisive battle must soon take !
place for Melas was rapidly concentrating
his army from all points. To Lannes and
Murat he issued the following brief but
remarkable order: /
Gather your forces at the river Stradel-
la. On the Sth or 9th at the latest, you
will have on your hand $4,000 or $4,000
Apstrians. Meet them and cut them to
pieces 1t will be so many enemies less