Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-14

batteries from point to point could be perceived.
The rays of the setting sun, illuminating the
snow-clad tops of the mountains, rendered
their sides dark and sombre, and threw sha ade
which brought these into strong relief. The
Austrians could be seen steadily receding; the
batteries Of artillery on both sides were con-
stantly shifting from one hillock to another,
and as soon rs placed in position regular roll
ing discharge could be heard, and line of fire
seen like confagration. The scene was alike
picturesque and terrible. F I.e
The Austrians continued to recede towards
the Mincio at Peschiera, and it was reported in
the French army that the bridge at that place
had been cut-some said by Garibaldi some by
the people-and that the Austrian retreat
being thus cut off, they would be all surround
ed. Others pretended that Garabaldi was on
the other side of the lake, awaiting the Aus
trians on their retreat; but all these statements
may have been mere surmises. At Q o clock
we left cur lookout to hunt corner in which
to write you these details; and as we descended
the ravine on the side of the town, we still
heard, though we could no longer see the dis
charges of the guns, and knew that the work
Of death was going on We are naturally snx-
ious to learn the result of this closing scene in
the long and bloody days work.
At Mantua, which could be seen in the dis.
tince to the southeast there was a great guam
ty Of smoke, which gave rise to the supposition
that the Prince Napoleon had arrived from the
Duchies on that side, and had commenced the
siege of the place. But this is problematical
Other patches of smoke were seen nearer which
induced the belief that the French were pursu-
ing the Austrians i'm the direction of Mantua
We shall soon know the truth on these points
This great battle, which will render SOL
ferino and the oath Of June memorable in his
t6ry, lasted from o'clock in the morning till
y In the evenings total of sixteen hours; and
it may be that the pursuit Is not yet suspended
1t was battle in which the French skill in
the art OF war once more proved superior to
that of Austria, her ancient enemy, and il
would seem that she ought now to be willing
to make peace. -.
We were unable to arrive even at an APPROX
imaiOn Of the casualties Of the day All the
officers who might have been able to furnish
US correct information continued in the pur-
suit OF the enemy, and We were obliged to rely
upon what we saw with our own eyes and could
obtain from the wounded themselves. From
these data we feel warranted in saying that
the French must have had q, 900 men Eors de
combat. We certainly saw ourselves 10000
wounded men come from the field on carts,
wagons, mules and litters. The procession of
the wounded was continuous during IL hours
that We remained spectators of the scene and
now, in the morning hours. the stream is pour
ing on, seeking resting place in the churches
wards Brescia, all of which have been seized
by the surgeons for hospital purposes 1t is
blessing indeed that on such occasions as this
the country should be 80 well supplied with
large and elegant churches, for they form ad-
mirsble hospitals, and serve as a resting place
for wounded men who might otherwise die on
their carts on the highway for want of shelter.
The hospital and churches of Castiglione are
reserved for the wounded officers and men on
whom capital operations are to be performed,
especially for the amputated. The medical
othcers expressed surprise at the disproportion
OF men who were brought from the field with
wounds of the arms and legs, and in effect we
observed this singularity among the wounded
But then ii must be recollected that it is onIy
wounds of the circumference that are not fatal.
and that those of the chest and abdomen gen.
orally remain on the field. The most horrible
wounds to look at, however, we're those of the
face. Two Zouavcs of the First Regiment had
the whole under jaw carried away, and yet
these brave fellows walked behind the carts of
their comrades more dangerously wounded
than themselves. Some had their eyes closed
from blows with the butts of the muskets,
others had their cheeks or mouth hanging in
LGmbeaUT from sword cuts, others the cheeks
swollen to enormous dimensions from balls that
had pierced their faces through and through.
The Cent Gardes had established their am
bmtonce in the house at which we had placed our
OF these men were wounded near the Emperor
and the surgeon to the corps assured me that
the Emperor had ball on the top of the shoul.
der, under the epaulette. Several of the Off
GERS of his Msjesty's stat-nnnjor were also
and from all can learn the casuali-
ties among the officers on the French side were
numerous.
If anything were wanting to prove that the
French were the most admirable soldiers in the
world, rs well on the field of battle as wh, "A
wounded, it was surely manifested on tbi.
day. With the exception of few
men who were dying as they were jolting along
the streets in the carts, and from whom es ZAP,
the involuntary groans Of the dying hour, not
a word of complaint was uttered and I saw
officers and men, on whom the blood was OOzing
from ghastly wounds, calmly smoking their
pipes rs they passed along on their way in
search Of an ambulance and a surgeon Alto
gether, it was fearful sight, and excited the
pity of the most hard hearted. The women
who had remained in the town Of Castiglione
shed teirs, apparently, at the utter hopeless
ness of rendering assistance TO such number of
brave and suffering men. Yet every house was
thrown open, and every hand was ready to aid
IN alleviating their pains. For the most part,
they asked but for wine or water, for the loss
1f blood creates thirst, and the fatigues Of tie
lay must have been great, from the length Of
the battle and the extent of ground to fight
Jfor many OF the sOldlers were naked 10 the
v aist, their coats having been torn to pieces in
The bayonet and hand to hand fights, and their
shirts torn up to staunch their blood. All we're
covered with dust, and had their clothes more
Dr. less torn, both officers and men, and pre-
,ented, even in the absence of blood stained
,lOthes, the most pitiable appearance. But all
who were not suffering had stamped upon their
thatquiet, determined look which
soldiers acquire in battle, and which is called,
IN the French army, the professional air."
The air Of resignation, and the quiet, respect
'ul manner Of these brave fellows, rendered
he scene more touching, more sympathetic A
noisy, bravado air would have seriously de.
,racted from the sympany and the horror If
he scene. But all this, as the wounded me-,
lid, was nothing to the field Of battle, only on
he field Of battle they thought neither of their
,wn wounds nor Of the mass of their dead COM
-ades over whose bodies they were obliged to
march. have heard no estimate Of the num-
If the dead. ..-rs ..fr..
We saw about three thousand Austrian pris-
,ners brought in. How many were taken
turing the day could not be ascertained.
Jaw one crowd Of 600, another Of 450, and many
smaller squads. The Austrian wounded were
piled into the carts sometimes indiscriminately
with the French. The largest gang saw were
brought in by the Turcos. They were obliged
10 stop on account Of the crowding at the point
vi here stood, and 1 thus had an occasion to
lake good look at them, A considerable pro-