Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-07-22
An 1nterestin9 9kettb.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE
OF SOLDERING.
Correspondence Of the New York Times

correspondence OF tue new Orh lines.
CAsTIGLIoNE, Italy, June "a, 1859.
Francis Joseph has commanded and
lost to-day his first battle. His army,
concentrated at leisure within the last
fortnight, was the most formidable in
number of modern times. 1t was sta
toned at a point chosen by himself, where
he had the advantage of superior po-
sition, and yet he was beaten completely
from the field by the French army.
We were fortunate enough to arrive on
the ground in the early part of the fight,
and during a portion of the time were
stationed on hill, at the very spot oc-
cupied by the Emperor Napoleon during
the first few hours Of the day. From
this point VIC could take in with the eye
the whole field, and Notwithstanding the
extent of the ground fought over, were
able to comprehend the ensemble of the
battle
The two armies had been gradually
approaching each other for several days,
and it was generally understood, as we'll
in the army as in the country near the
scene of the great conflict, that a field
battle was imminent. The army of the
Emperor of Austria, which had gradually
retreated from the fatal field of Magenta,
halted, demoraiized, at the Mincio.-
The Emperor, who had been collecting
reinforcements-onc might call it a new
army-at Verona, advanced a week ago
with this force, and joining with the army
which had fallen back from Magenta,
moved to the encounter of the French
to seek revenge for the defeat Of Gyulai.
The French were only too well pleased
to meet their enemy thus, and the encoun-
ter on the plain of Castiglione was as if
by IN utual agreement.
The Emperor's headquarters on the 23d
we're at Montechiaro A part of the
army, however, camped the same night
at Castiglione, and on the Odd the whole
army was encamped, portion at the
farther border of the town of Castigli-
one, and the balance along the road to
Moutechiaro. A body of four hundred
and fifty Austrians had been captured
on the 22d on the road to Castiglione,
and the advanced posts of each army
were constantly in the neighborhood Of
one another
Castiglione, a compact town Of perhaps
two thousand inhabitants, and almost,
two thousand years old, is built upon a
slight elevation, which is actually the
termination at that place of the Lombar-
dian Alps. To the south and west Of
the town extends as far as the eye can
reach, the level and highly-cultivated
country for which this part of Italy is
so celebrated To the east Of the town
there extends a series of hills, three or
four hundred feet high, in q circular
form, presenting their concavity to the
south, and terminating at distance from
the town of six miles Around this
tongue of hills the plain extends to the
north, where it terminates at the strong
ly-fortifed town of Paschiera.
On the night Of the Odd tho whole
Austrian army moved up TO the vicinity
Of Castiglionc, within mile of the adj
vance camp of the French army. They
came up so noiselessly that the French
supposed it TO be their intention to sweep
around and cncircle the town. No such
attempt however was made. and at five
o'clock this morning the battle common
ced, but by which army the FIRST gun was
fred no one thus far has been able to in
form me- II was an understood thing
no doubt, in both armies, that the moment
had arrived for the decisive trial Of
strength, and il mattorcd little who fired
the first gun. Both armies were eager
to begin the struggle, and only awaited
the signal of attack.
The Austrian centre was on and to-
ward the extremity Of the long tongue
Of hills to which have referred their
right on the same range Of hills, close
up to the town Of Castiglone, and their
left extending directly out across the
plaiu to the south Of the termination Of
tho tongue Of hills On these bills we're
two villages occupied by the Austrians,
and high old tower overlooking the
plain and the whole country around. -
The Austrian position was in crescent,
Gas at Magenta, } about eight miles long I;
and was exceedingly strong ID every
roinC Of view. since a. Frcnbh were
l obliged to attack from the plap II fall
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