The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-06-08

each other on The banks OF the To- compfe-
bensiye idea OF the theatre OF the conflict, we
COPY the following Typographical description
from Gasnani' Messenger:
If Alessandra which was dismantled by the
AastrIans in 1885, when they gave Il up 10
Piedmont. but which has recently been tortl-
fed. were made the basis of operations OF an
invading army against Milan, the army would
have two routes to follow; the first, IN winch
there are number OF torrents, up 10 the llcl-
no, which separates Lombardy from Piedmont;
andslhe second, the easier one, presenting an
obstacle in the Pc, which is the southern limit OF
Lombardo-Venetia Now, Austria, winch oc-
cuDies Placenza, on the right bank Of that NV
er. has established an entrenched camp at that
place Lower down are Cremona, ana on Tue
left bank Mantua, to defend the passage against
an-army which should leave Placenza IN lis rear.
On the first road to Milan, behind the Ilclno'
is Payia, which seems to have been lately lor-
tihed. in order to be made base OF operations
against Alessandria, If besleged. On the norm
are Bergamo and Bfescia-stTong places, DuI
not lmBregnabie and able to disqulet an army
passiDg them to attack Verona and Mantua,
which are the key of the country. The terri
tory was the theatre of the campaign OF 1850,
and Austria has accumulated deences there, III
The belief thai in a future war the same plan OF
attack would be followed; but that IS perhaps
doubtful On the Mncio, which Is only ten
leagues long from the lake OF Gardo. IN when
il rises, to the marshes which surround Mantua,
where it falls into the Pc, and which can De
forded in several places, means Of defence nave
been accumulated, and Peschltra and Mantua
nrotectits two extremities. The Adlge Is IN the
rear, and flows parallel to the Po for certain
distance 1t is perpendicular to 1t behlnd the
lake OF Gardo from Verona to Lagrano-a length
Of fifteen leagues. 1t can nowhere be forded,
and its banks on the side of Verona, are COW
cred with gardens and vineyards, and those on
the side OF Mantua with rice fields and marshes.
The road from Verona TO Legrano runs between
the Adige and a canal; and an army placed
within the square formed by the Pescfuera,
Mantua, Verona, and Legrano, protected blythe
water which is found on the east and west, by
mountains TO the north and by marshes to the
SOUTH is free in its movement, and can march
on any point that may be menaced. Peschlera,
of which the defencess are somewhat scattered,
is the refuge of the hotilla which, acting on the
lake Of Gafdo, would menace corps d'arn6e
desiring TO cross the Mincio, and protects the
locks which enable the banks OF the lower part
of the river to be inundated,
By an inundaton the flying bridges con-
structed by the enemy would be carried away
Mantua is, like Pesehera, on an island IN the
Mincio, surrounded by lake, which should be
drained in order to allow the town TO be taken,
and draining would render the place pnlnhabl-
table. The fortress is reached by raised cause
ways protected by forts. Il is very difficult tc
take, but can be easily bockaded As this
place appears to Austria too unhealthy and toe
lar from the TyroI she has established hen
headquarters at Verona, and has disbursed Z
large sum in terrifying the place. Verona, like
all the positions fortified by Austrian engineers
comprises, in addition to numerous iortIhcatlon:
an inlrenchcd camp, capable OF containing al
army. 1t is believed that the fate Of tie place
will be decided rather Ey battle than by
siege, which last would require vast force
Legano is t6te de pont fortified BY Napoleon
which would enable the army of Verona t,
proceed 10 Mantua, as Feschiera on the nortl
would give il an issue on Brescia and the north
ern part of the Melanais, Moreover, an Aus
trian army. defeated and obliged to remain a
Verona could be relieved b. troops arriving
| from the Tyrol on the front and rear Of the be
siegers The numerous roads in the TyTol arr
protected by forts which a handful OF mer
~~,.l4 10 caP~Diu Uf defending against a vlcto
rous army IT, however, Verona were to b,
taken, the conquest OF Venetia would not bt
difficult. AS TO the Adriatic, Austria has taker
the precaulion Of protecting herself against al
attack on its coast From the banks of the
Porto the frontier of Istra the shores of The
Adriatic are very insalubrlous In some place:
it is impossible to pass night without being
attacked by fever, and the sea is shallow 10
considerable distance from the coast. Venice
in fact, is the only place that can receive vessels
even of a secondary size, and they must enter
by passes which are protected by strong forts
Ii the city were taken, fort MaIghera would re
main, and it cannot be approached either By
land or water. In 1848 the insurgents in TIA
fort resisted the besieging Austrian army unit
men and ammunition were exhausted.
A letter dated St Paul, May TO- says, it vii
interest you to learn that a company have pur
chased a small steamer, of very light draught
TO proceed to the great Red River OF the north
No steamboat has yet gone any further than tc
Big Stone lake, the head OF the Minnesot;
river. Between Big Stone lake and lake Ira
verse, the head of Red River, there is strir
of land about a. mile wide. AT the presen
very high water this lard is overlooked con
Meeting the two lakes with about twenty inches
water; and this steamer, it is believed, can now
get over Once over into lake Traverse, they
can proceed any distance into the British pos
sessions. 1t is the intention of the party going
to proceed, TO- Pembina and fort. Geary. Ont
of the owners engaged in this enterprise is now
captain of one OF the Prairie du Chen and St
Pau! packets, an old steamboat man of expert
ence, and he takes command of the expedition
with the crew from bis boat, who accompany
him. They will leave ST. Paul on Saturday
2lst, with provisions to last them one year, a
least, There is no doubt Of their getting
through, as they go well provided with tackl,
to haul the boat over this pass between the twt
lakes, IN case the water has fallen any
They so into a country mostly inhabited by
Indians, the Sioux and Yanklon tribes, who arr
friendly. At present immense quantities 0
turs come to ST. Paul by ked River trains
This boat will of course open very larg,
trade for St. Paul. Great excitement is nov
existing at St. Paul on the subject, and tht
gallant captain Davis, who is part owner 0
the boat, will leave here with the warmes
wishes of All for his sDccpSs Once throntrI