The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-06-11
FIRST BArTfE IN ITALY.
Bloody Engagement at Mo"tebello.
THE FRENCH VICTORIOUS.

Advices from the seat Of war are to th'
Gath of May.
On the 2lst o severe battle was fought be
tween the French and Austrians, in which tn
former were victorious.
This, the first important engagement ID thu
present war, took place at Montebello, a small
village of some 1000 inhabitants, in the De
partment Of AIessandria, Sardinia, abou'
twenty-five miles west of that fortress ant
some eight miles west of Tortona.
The Austrian troops engaged were the van
guard Of the 5th corps, under Gen. Count Sta
dion, which crossed the Pc on the Both Of
April on a pontoon bridge at Bereguardo. and
since that time has been making demonstra,
lions in the direction Of Tortona and Noyi.
The French troops engaged were the division
Of Gen. Forey, belonging to the corps d'armee
Of Marshal paraguay d'Hilliers, which consti.
tutes the right French wing. and since ITS arri-
val on the ground has had its headquarters at
Tortona, extending westward to valenza.
where it joins to the centre under Gen. Nc
Mahon.
The Austrians are reported to have num-
bered 10000 men the French 1000, supper
It'd by a regiment of Sandman cavalry, num-
bering some 800 men.
"a 0SSouHSo u iCG atii1b LDC \ ICnCn udu tut
field, VIGOROUSLY !; but the particulars are va
rionsly reported.
The French account is that the attack was
q deliberate one. and that the Anstrians mus
tered upwards Of $4,000 men. The movement
was made from MontebSllo, at that time in the
hands of the AustriaDs.
Cen. Forey held the advanced postsof Mar
shall d'H'lliers. with about 1000 men, sup
ported by q body of Piedu,ontese cavalry, q
little to the south Of Monticello.
The engagement was unequal in point Of
numbers nevertheless, Gen. Forey decided at
once to accept it. The battle was q fierce one,
and lasted four hours, but the Austrians were
finally not only driven back, but the village Of
Monticello, their previous advanced post, was
captured by the French.
The loss Of the Austrians was 1000 killed.
eud 200 made prisoners, among which last was
one colonel.
The loss of the French was 100 killed, and
among them several officers.
The Austrians, reireating. towards the Pc.
made but a brief stand at Monticello, which
the French took possession ofimmediately, but
did not pursue the Austrians further.
This is the French account. The Austrian
account, by way OF Vienna, is this:
On the 2lst. Gen. Count Stadion, of the
9th corps, left MontebelIo on agFeconnaissance.
Pushing forward to the south IF thatsvilIage,
IN forced marches, be fell in with a division If
the French right wing, under Gen. Forey, with
which be engaged. The combat lasted several
hours, and was very fierce onsboth sides. q
the force OF the enemy, howe, er, being.
mnch the superior, Gen. Stadion has finally,
been compelled to retire towards the 20, which
be did 10 perfect order. The actual strength
the French is unknown. 1t is reported,
however to have numbered 1000 infantry and
to have been snpportedby a.regiment Of sar.
dinian cavalry"
At Attest accounts the Austrian beadquar-
tiers were at Garlasco.
Gen. Gyulai had ordered the people in all
Sandman villages in possession Of the Aus.
trians to give up their arms on pain ofsdeath.
The wounded in the engagement at Monte
bello, arrived9at Alessandriiaas on The 24ths IS
the Austrian prisoners taken during the
same engagement.
Advance OF the Observation-Disclosures Tho
sSesia Forced, n
A bulletin, dated the 24th, from the allied
Of San Salvatore, announces That
tue extreme left OF the Sandman army. under
Gen. Cialdini, had forced the passage Of he
Sesia, the night before, Ehild nut 10 fight
The Anstrians who held the opposite bank.
Borgo-Sesia. s@7s
Gen. Garibaldi. had also entered The Ora.
q districtof country between thecanal
Of that name and the 20, at the head Of 5000
volunteers, designing to push on into LON.
hardy, with the object Of stirring Mp the people
to revolution in the Austrian sdomitaions.