Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-07-18
THE BATTLE OF soLrERrNo.


Just backof Castiglione rises high range OF
hills, which project milo or thereabout into
the plain, and then breaks OFT towards the left
into wide expanse of smaller hills and SO in
to the rolling surface which makes that por-
tlon of the plain. The Austrians had taken
position OF these hills, planting cannon upon
those nearest to Castiglione, which they could
approach as the French army was in full force
in and around that little village, and stationed
their immense army all over the surrounding
plains. AS near as NC can learn, the Emperor
Francis Joseph had collected here not less
than 90 900 troops and commanded them in
person. His evident purpose was to make a
stand here and risk the fortunes of the war
upon the hazard OF the day.
'sNapolcon promptly accepted the challenge,
and commenced the attack as soon as 1T was
light, by placing cannon upon the hills still
nearer to Castiglione than those held by the
Austrians, and opening fire upon them on the
heights beyond. He took his own stand upon
the highest of these, a steep sharp backed
ridge which commands a magnifcentview OF
the entire circuit of the plain, and from that
point directed the entire movements of his
army during the early portion of the day. The
French very soon drove the enemy out of the
posts they held nearest to the town and follow
ed them into the small villages of the plain
below.
s.Thc first of these was Solferno, where they
Austrians disputed every inch of ground, and
fought here, as they did throughout the day,
with the utmost desperation. They were three
times driven out of the town before they would
stay out. The people, moreover, took part
against the French, upon whom they fired
from their windows, and the French were COM
PEELED, in Self-defence, TO burn the town.
When they found it impossible to hold their
ground any longer, they fell back slowly and
steadily until they reached the village of Vo-
to, directly southeast from Castiglione, and
only about a mile from the river Mincio, from
which, however, it is separated by range of
hills. Upon these hills, in the rear OF the
town, and overlooking it completely on the
south and southeast sides, the Austrans had
planted very formidable batteries, and when
arrived upon the field and went at once to the
height where the Emperor had stood at the
opening of the engagement, but which he had
left an hour before to follow his victorious
troops, these batteries were blazing away
upon the French, who were stationed on the
plain below.
ssThe general result was soon made evident
by the slackcning of the Austrian fire and by
the flowing back of thin smoke and 4 cores
ponding advance on the part of that which
rose from the French artillery. The cannona-
ding at that point lasted for over an hour, but
in precisely what direction the Austrians re-
treated it was not possible from the position
occupied to see. Part of the Austrian force
probably crossed the Mincio river which flows
southwark from the lower end of Lake Guarda
and empties into the Pc.
s'But the battle continued to rage all over
the region northwest of line connecting the
towns of Castiglione, Solferino and Volta at
one point after another. a sharp cannonading
would arise and continue for half or three
quarters of an hour, and after each successive
engagement of this kind the result became
apparent in the retreat of the Austrians and
the advance of the French forces. During
all the early part of the day the sky had been
clear and weather hot, but clouds began to
gather about noon, and at five O'Clock, while
the cannonade was at its hcight:a tremendous
thunder storm rolled up from the northwest.
The storm lasted for about an hour, and the
cannoDading, so far as could distinguish
was suspended. Then the rain ceased, the
clouds blew away, the sun shone out again,
and the air was cooled and perfectly delight
full.
ssThough the cannon may have ceased for a
time to take part in it, the fight had meantime
gone on, and when again resumed my post
of observation from which the storm had eX-
PEELED me, the cannonading commenced quite
on the extreme left of the entire field, and on
the very borders of the lake northeast from
Castiglonc and west of Peschicra. The Pied
montese troops, under the King, who COM
mands them in person, had been posted there
and received the Austrians as they came a.
round.
ssFrom about seven O'Clock until after night
fall an incessant and most terrible combat was
here kept up. The batteries of the two armies
were apparently about half mile apart, and
at the outset they were both served with near
ly equal and effective yigor; but the Aus
trians gradually slackened their fire and sew
eral times took up new positions, while the
Sardinians poured a rapid and uninterrupted
shower of balls upon them, suspending only
for few minutes at time, and then renew
ing it again with rcdoubled fury. The wind
had now gone down, the air was still, and the
sound Of musketry as we'll as of cannon was
distinctly heard. Sometimes only a single
flash would be seen then two or three at once,
and sometimes half dozen would break forth
in constant succession. 1t was beginning to
be dark when turned to descend the hill,
and all the way down | still heard the roar of
the cannon and the clattering of the guns of
the infantry.''
BY the arrival of the steamer Etna we have
still fun ther details.
At Paris it is believed in some quarters that
the French loss at the battle of Solferino d
mounted to from 10000 to Is ,000, as follows !:
Gen. Neil's corps 6,O00 to 900; D'Hilliers
nearly 5000; McMahons $500 Canroberts
1000; besides casualties in the artillery and
special corps. The French people are said
to be dissatisfied with the scantiness of the
details as yet published In the MonueW. Inc
Patric says that Napoleon had an epaulette shot
away. Gen. Dieu is reported among the dead.
The Austrians had seven or eight Generals
and very many of their superior officers woun-
ded. Cen Greschke killed. Some of
the French infantry regiments were nearly
cut to pieces. The Piedmontese suffered so
severely as to be incapable Of forming in tho
line of battle.
1t is reported that at SolferiDo nearly every
officer and man of the artillery attached to the
Imperial Guard was put hors du combat. The