Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-07-17
THE WAR lNITALY.
The Great Battle Of SoIfeFhio.
FEARFUL SCENEs ON THE FIELD.


! Vast Train Of w oundeA snd Dyins IN the
| French amp.
Mr. Henry J. Ray mond. editor Of the N
York Times. and "MalakoT," its Paris cor
respondent enjoyed the rare fortune Of wit
Messing the great battle ofSolferino from an
eminence occupied by the Emperor Napoie-
on during the early part Of the day. and af-
ter the battle. Of occupying positions in the
French camp at Castiglone' Our readers
have already seen Mr.. Rsymond's descrip-
ton Of so much of the conflict az he was en-.
abled to see. We subjoin his account Of
the terrible scenes witnessed among the
wounded while the battle was in progress
and after the darkness had separated the
contestants:
On reaching Montechiaro. and stopping
for moment to st our horses, we we're
told that . great battle was then going On in
the plain before Csstigione aud going at
| Orce TO the summit Of some old fortifcations
which once defended the town, we could
| ses With our glasses the smoke of the en-
gagenent. We lost no time in pushing
| forward, although We we're told that We
could not reach Castiglione because the
roads were completely occupied by srtille
~ held in reserve. We went on however,
continuing to meet carriages and carts L.
den with wounded. and passing the French
camps Of the pr, vious night. came to . point
at about half q mile from TIE town, where
park OF artillery wagons WAS defilIng
f'om their camp into the road. Watching
our chance ve drove in betw cen two Of the
wagons, and 30 entered the town under GOV.
or Of the enormous cloud Of dust which they
raised. The main street WAS densely crowd
ed with Carts carriages, horses, dOnkeys,
oxen, soldiers, suffers and persons and ami
mals OF every description. We pushed our
way. without hindrance. directly past the
hous. marked as the Quarter Generate. or
headquarters of the Emperor, and we're
thus within the camp. We had gone but a
short distance when we came to where the
great procession of the wounded was turn
ing down = cross street to church which
mad been taken tor hospital. 1t was Ger
tAinly the most dreadful sight ever saw
Every conceivable kind of wound which
eau be inflicted upon man was here exhibit
ed All who were able to do 80, we're oblig-
command being all required for those who
could not otherwise be moved. Some walk
ed along, their faces completely covered
with blood frorn sabre cuts upon their
heads. Many had .heir arms shattered
| hundreds had their han 9 tied up-and
others carried most ghsetly wounds upon
their faces Some had tied up their wounds
| and others had striped away the clothing
- E.l L.,
one man walking along with firm step
aud q resolute air-naked to the waist. and
having bullet wound upon his eide, an rg
ly cash along his cheek. and . deep bayo-
net thrust received from behind, in his
shoulder. Most OF those Who were walking
~ore . serious look-conversibg but little
with one and another though they walked
two aud twO-aud few Of them carried
upon their faces any considerable expression
OF pain.
those who were more severely injured
rode upon donkeys or in carts.-and few
were carried upon mattresses and mems
shoulders. But these were mostly officers
and nearly all | saw carried 10 that way
were 50 badly wounded that their recovery
is scarcely possible. One had both his lego
crushed by a common ball. Another had re-
ceivtd ball In lis thigh, and was evident
| ly suffering the most intense agony. Many,
II those whose wounds we're IN their legs
we're seated in chairs swung across = don
key-one being upon each side. Several
| who we're thus carried, aud were supported
| by soldiers walkin. by their side, We're sp-
parently unconscious, and seemed dying
| In en- would come carts. large and email
carrying three, five, aud some Of them ten
or fifteen each. A steady stream of those
gsshtly victims of the battle Of he day pour
cd through the town. stood 10 the crowd
by the slie Of them as the sad PROCESSION
passed along, and watched il at this poiut
for over an hour 1t was not interrupted
for moment.-except now and then by .
crowd of prisoners.-andi it continued thus
from about 10 in the morning. when it be-
gan to flow, until left the street, long af-
ter dark. Every church, every large hall,
every private house in the town has been
taken for the service of the wounded
Those whose injuries are slight, after having
them dressed, pass ut once into the ranks
aud miDgle with their comrades looked
into the church as l passed by. All the
seats, ratings. &C.. had been removed: mat
tresses OF hay had been spread u. on the
floor, and were completely filled with
wounded men, 10 every stage of suffering
and Of peril, lying side by side. The surg
cons we're dressing their wounds. Sisters
of Charity and other won were were Civ
ing thu N vine and otherwise administering
to their comfort but mornirg. am sure.
will dawn upon large portion Of them re-
lieved forever from their pain. l. anything
can be m. re horrible than soldiers life, it
certainly 10 soldiers death.
We were unable to arrive even ct an sp-
Proclamation Of the casualties of the day.
All the officers who mi ht have been able
to furnish US correct informs ton continued
in the pursuit of the enemy, and We were
obliged to rely upon what We saw with our
own eyes and could obtain from the wound
ed themselves. From these data We feel
warranted in saying that the French must
have had $4,000 mel hors de comblt. We
certainly saw ourselves 10000 wounded
men come from the field on carts, wagons,
| % ules and litters The procession OF the
wounded continued during p hours that We
remained spectator of the scene, and nov,
in the morning hours. the stream il pouring
on, seeking resting piece in the churches
towards Brescia, ell of which have been
scsAou W TUG euI6oOuo iO1 noeplsSJs.
Six or eight times while stood upon the
street watching the wounded, there came
along squads Of prisoners taken at various
stages Of the action. Som etimes there
would be only three or four.-then twenty.
fifty or hundred. and in one company over
400. They walked closely together six or
eight dsep.-ths officers being generally 10
the middle, and were guarded by single
file of troops walking on each side. AZ
genera, thing they we're not bad looking
men. Very many of them were very young
NOT over Is certainly-and only nov and
then you would see . particularly brutal
and stupid countenauce There was moth.
ing like anger or shame on their faces they
seemed generally wholly Indifferent TO their
position, but looked about with good deal
| Of neiositu nnon Il. ..o.A -h;.l e....-