The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-07-04
EUROPE.
THE WAR IN ITALY.
RUSsELS LETTERS TO THE LONDON TIMES.
|MALEGNANO (HALF-wAY BETWEEN Milan An

THE WAR IN ITALY.
RUSsEL'S LETTERS TO THE LONDON TIMES.
''MALEGNANO (HALF-wAY BETWEEN MILAN AND1
LoDT,) JUNE ., MORNING"
"While Milan was still in frenzy of joy at the
arrival of the two allied Sovereigns. this place
was the scene of sharp combat with the Austrian
rear guard, which had occupied and fortified this
large town with a considerable force intending to
gain time for the retreat of their army and bag
gage from Pavia to Lodi and across the AIDA
This time the first corps of Marshal Baraguav
d Illers which had its turn. Three divisions of it
-BaZaine's Foreys and PAmirault's-had left the
neghborhood of Milan only yesterday morning to
advance on the high road in the direction of Lodi
while other troops went in different directions to
gain the Adda and thus to cut off, if possible, some
of the Austrian troops.
''One look at the map will show you how import
ant the position of MalegnanO for the Austrians
in their retreat OF everything coming from Pavia
which had not yet passed San Angiolo. Besides
Malegnano is on the river LambrO, which, although
a small river in itself, is toerable obstacle to the
advance of an army from the complicated system
of irrigation for which it has been employed. Just
before the place itself three little streams diverted
into end OF small channels, unite into one, the
Nittabia, coming from Milan and skirting the road
is deep canal of considerable width. 1t crosses
the road at some hundred yards from the village
and untes to the left of it with the two others the
LambrO and Muzza,) coming down in nOrtherv
and north-casterly direction; all three united flow
through the town and fructiy all the nighborhood,
famous for the produce of its dairies The cOun-
try is the alluvial plan heretofore, with the
bitches and willow trees around the fields the only
difference being that the corn becomes rarer and
hayfeldS abound.
at was known that the enemy had occupied the
town and its neighbOrhood since Sunday last, the
day of his retreat from Milan and that he had con-
siderable forces assembled there. The dispositions
were, that the Division BaZane was to attack the
position in front from the high road, the Division
Forey from the right, by one of the numerous by
l,1sl
the main road, while the Division rAmirault had
to take the town likewise by one of the byroads
from the left.
"The three columns advanced accordingly. They
halted the road to cook their coffee, which is to
the French soldier what grOg is to the English
After short rest on they went again, until at 5
p. NJ, they arrived in sight of the town. The dav
had been close, the road dusty and the march long,
vet as they arrived at the point of attack
the order of battle formed; the centre column
with the lst Zouaves and the left with 18th of the
Line ahead, and the 10th ChaSseurs a-Pied and the
broken ground in the interval between the two
The right column was used more for a fanking
movement than an actual attack, for the road from
Magenta leads out to the right of the town, and it
was not prrsumable that the enemy would hold
much the opposite side Of it. The real object of
this column was to gain the high road and mOest
or intercept the enemv's retreat.
"BetOre attacking, a few cannon shot were fired
from the bridge before the town, which the Aus
trians had again left.standing. These latter did
],
and the Zouaves, full Of desire to emulate their
comrades who had distinguished themselves at
Palestro and Magenta rushed on with, even for
them, unusual elan. No resistance met until
they came to a cemetery to the left of the road,
just before the entrance of the town. 1t is sur
rounded by a wall from Is to Is feet high and COW
cred outside with tombstones of black marble i'm
bedded in it. The only entrance to it is large,
massive iron gate. This cemetery the enemy oc-
cupied in strength. Benches from little chapel
which is enclosed by the wall, and ladders were
placed against the enclosure to banquete
to the defenders. In spite ofthese preparations the
resistance this point not great, for already
had the 10th Chasseurs. to the left turned the po
sition. When they arrived at the river, which, as
| said before, crosses the main road and runs to
the other side of the town. they found the bridge
leading over it broken. Nothing dauntcd by this,
| they jumped into the stream and made their way
through it in spite of its depth.
''Immediately behind the cemetery is large farm
house, which forms the first house of the town on
this side The walls of it had been oophoed, and
the windows occupied by riiemen. This was
attacked first, and carried. What follows after it
a street fight, the first IOuaves, supported by
the Sd of the Line, side and the 10th Chas-
and the 18th of the Line on the other. Ev-
cry house strongly occupied and obstinately
defended. Concealed behind the windows, the en-
emy, sufficiently protected, directed murderous
fire the attacking columns. Theynever showed
themselves for instant in the OPEN but, loading
behind the walls, out and fired In spite ofths
disadvantage which occasOned good deal Of loss,
one house after another cleared OF the Austri-
ans. Just on the outskirts of the town is a large
! building, once chateau, and lately used by the
Austrians a House of Correction; it stands in the
midst of a square, and is surrounded by large dry
ditch. To this square alarge mass of Austrians was
pressed back. There is a double gateway, the outer
| a square tower, having evidently been con
nected by drawbr dge with the inner one; now a
| causeway leads over it, and through this the Aus
! trans had to make their way. They were caught
by the Zouaves, and a number of them bayonetted.
! Those who could get through in time ran to the
garden which leads of the courtyard into the fields.
! n massive iron gate separates the two, and the
! Austrians found means to shut this The building
! all the other sides is surrounded by ditch,
anked with masonry about to 20 feet high so that
! there no issue on that side Besides, the Aus
trians had thrown up some earthworks in the fields
| facing it, But this interruption lasted only just
! long enough to allow another body to go TO ound,
! and. once in the open field, it was chids play.
''ln an hour and half the Austrians were driven
out of the town with loss of 900 prisoners, one
! gun, and at least 900 dead and wounded. By the
| time this done the Division FOrev had come up
on by road on the flank of the Austrian line of
retreat and opened out with two batteries upon the
! close columns which had TO defle before them.
need not say that it rendered the retreat of the
! Austrians more precpitate.
"The losses side although not yet dis
! tinctly known, are severe, as must always be the
in street fight especially If, out of consdera-
ton for the property of our friends abstain from
using cannon, usually the most effective means in
| such
''Such combats, however, have this advantage
they give confidence to the soldier for if he can be
! victorious under such difficult circumstances he
thinks he can do almost anything.
"MfLAN, June 9, Evening.
'.The cannon at Malegnano did not much dis
turb yesterday the joy of the Milanese, but so much
the more did the RAIN which came down in torrents
yesterday evening" and spoiled considerably the il
luminatious and other gaities with which the Mi
anese have celebrated the arrival of the two
SOvereigns But if the Milanese forgot in their ioy
that others fighting for their cause a few miles
off, they remembered that after the fight it was
their duty to do thing to alleviate the suffer
ings the wounded. Last night, indeed, but more
| especially this morning, hundreds of private car
rages, from the most stilsh equipage down to the
common two-wheeled cart of the country went
down to the battle field as mprovised ambulances
| and they came back with the wounded. Every
family who can afford it gives linen, bedding, and
charpie; the ladies go volunteer nurses to the
: hospitals, send all kind of dainties-do, in fact,
everything that be desired; and all this is done
| spontaneously, and with good will and readiness
| which show that they know how to appreciate the
| services of their 'liberators.'
'If the Milanese had their pleasure rather spoiled
yesterday by the storm, they were indemnifed for
that by the splendid sight which the procession to
| the Duomo and the Ie Dema offered them. The
whole Infantry of the Guard, coming from the Pi-
| azza 'Armi, near the arena where they are en-
camped, traversed the streets, music In 'front.' and
then formed in line all along the Corso, through
| which the Emperor went to the church. L should
have only to report yself in recOunting the recep-
tion; it raned flowers and laurel crowns, the air
sounded with enthusiastic hurrahs, every one was
radiant, the streets bright and sunny-in fact,
| erything beautiful and satisfactory.
"The Emperor was received by the clergy at the
| door, and the whole ceremony passed off these
things usually do Only the attitude of the people
was interesting for rarely was there a thanksgiv-
| ing, believe, in which so many hearts sincerely
ioined-not only those privileged to go inside, but
1AORI IL l. IL