Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-07-13
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A Full Account OF the Battle Of
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iive O'Clock, in the morning, not far from sun
riso
just back Of Castiglione rises high range
ofhills, which projects a mile or thercaboats
INTO the plain, and then breaks of toward the
leit into wide expanse Of smaller hills. and
- on into the rolling surface which makes
that portion Of the plain.
The Austrians had taken their position
upon these hills, planting cannon upon thoss
nearest to Castigione, which they could ap-
proaeh, as the French army was in full force
around that little village, and had stationed
Their immense army all over the surrounding
plains.
As nearly as we can now learn, the En-.
peror, Francis Joseph, had collected here, not
less than 2250OO troops, and commanded
thom m person. His evident PURPOSE. was
TO mako a stand here, and risk the fortunes
OF tho war upon the hazards OF the day.
Napoleon promptly accepted the challenge
and commenced the attack as soon as il was
light this morning, by placing cannon upon
the hills, still nearer 70 Castiqlione than
those occupied by the Austrians, and opened
fire upon them
In the height beyond, he took his own
stand upon the highest ofa series Of stoep and
sharp backed ridges, which commands a
magnificent view 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 town, and followed into the small
villages Of the plain below
The first Of these was Salfcrino, where
they had sharp and protracted engagement.
Tho AuStrians disputed every inch Of the
ground, and fought here, as they did through
out the day, with the utmost desperation
They were three times driven out Of the
town, before they would stay out The peo.
pie of the village, moreover, took part against
the French, upsn whom they fired from
windows, and the French were compelled,
in self Defence TO burn the town.
When they found il impossible to hold
their ground any longer, they fell back
slowly and steadily until they reached the
village of Valt,a East from Castglione, and
only about mile from the river Mincio,
from which, however, IL IN separated by a
range Of hills. Upon these hills, in the rear
OF the town, overlooking il completely, on
the South side, the Austrians had planted
very formidable batteries, and when arriv.
ed upon the field, and went at once to the
height where the Emperor had stood at the
first of the engagement, but which he had
left an hour before to follow his victorious
army, these batteries were blazing away up
on the French, who were stationed on the
plain below.
The general result was soon made evident
by the stacking of the Austrian fire, and by
the falling back Of their smoke, and the cor.
responding advance Of that Of the French ar
tillery. The cannonading at that point lasted
for over an hour, but in precisely what di.
rection the Austrians retreated II was not
possible from the position occupied to see .
Part Of the Austrian forces probably crossed
the MinciO river, which flows southwark
from the lower end Of Lake Guorda, and
empties into the Pc, but the battle continued
to rage all over the region northwest of n
line connecting 11e towns of Castigione.
Solierino and Valta.
! At one point after another, sharp cannona-
ding would arise, and continue for half or
three-quarters Of an hour, and after each sue
cessiye engagement Of this kind the result
became apparent in the retreat Of the Aus
trians, and the advance Of the French forces
During all the early part OF the day, the
sky had been clear and the weather hot, but
the clouds began to gather about noon, and
at five O'Clock, while the cannonading was
at its height, a tremendous thunderstorm
rolled up from the northwest. The storm
lasted for about an hour, and the cannOnading,
so far as we could distinguish, was suspend.
ed. Then the rain ceased, the clouds blew
away, the sun shone out again, and the air
was cool and perfectly delightful. Though
the cannon may have ceased for 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 Castiglione, and west Of Pescheria
The Piedmontese troops, under the King, |
who commands them in person, had been
posted there, and received the Austrians as
they come around.
From about seven o'clock until after night.
fall, an incessOnt, and most terrible combat
was here kept mp. The batteries of the two
armies were apparently about half mile |
apart, and at the outset they were both serv-
cd with nearly equal and effective vigur; but /
the Austrians gradually slackened their fire,
and several times took up new positions,
while the Sardinians poured rapid and un-
interrupted shower Of balls upon them, sus-
pending only for few minutes ut time, and |
then renewing it again with redoubled fury. |
The sun bad now gone down, the air was
still, and the sound Of muskctry, as well as |
that of cannon was distinctly heard. SJme-
times only one fash would be seen, then two |
or three at once, and sometimes half Il dozen |
would break forth in instant 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 clatter-
ing Of the guns of the infantry. The Aus
trians have sustained an overwhelming de-
feat, and it seems to me that the Emperor
may now be induced by the representations
Of the neutral powers to accept Of the peace
which Napoleon will be very likely to offer
him. | am afraid to venture upon conjcc-
ture as TO the number killed and wounded in
this battle, but from the nature Of the case
It must be enormous. | am confident that
no less than 10000 wounded have been bro't
into this village alone, during the day, to
say nothing of those that were left on the
field or where taken to other places.
Arrival Of the Steamship Canada.
TWO SLATER FROM EUROPE