Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-09
The Battle of Montebello.

forwarded by Marshal paraguay d'lIillicrs
to the Emperor:
VoGHERA, May %, lS59-midniSht.
MONSIEUR LIZ M~ARECHAL: | have the honor
to send YOU IL report Of the engagement OF
my division to-day.
Having received information ut ~, p. m,
that IL strong Austrian column, with artillery,
had occupied CastcSglo, and had driven OUT
from Montcbello the advanced posts OF the
Piedmontesc cavalry, | Immediately pushed
forward to the Outposts on the Montebelio
road with two battalions Of the seventy-tourth,
destined to relieve two battalions of the
cichty-fourth, encamped on that road, III
front of Voghera, on the Madura level.
Meantime the rest of my division was get
ting under arms: IL battery OF artillery sixth
of the eight regiment) led the way.
On reaching the bridge over the streamlet
Fossarazzo, the extreme limit Of our outposts,
ordered a section of artillery To be placed
in battery, supported on the right and left
bv two battalious Of the eighty-tourtl, their
sharpshooters lining the banks of the stream.
Meantime the enemy had pushed on from
Montebello to GinestrcllO, and, being inform
cd that he was advancing against me III two
columns, the one by the high road, the other
by the railway road, | ordered the left batta-
lion of the Seventy-fourth to cover the road
to CaScina-Nuova, and the other battalion
10 take up a position on the right side Of the
road, behind the eighty-fourth.
This movement had scarcely been effected,
when II brisk tusillade opened along the
whole line between our riticmen and those
of the enemy, who was advancing upon Us,
supporting his ritlemen by heads of columns
debouching from GineStrello. The artillery
opened its guns upon them with success; the
enemy replied.
| then ordered my right to advance. The
enemy withdrew before the impetuOsity Of
our troops; but, perceiving that | had only
one battalion on the left Of the road, a strong
column was ordered to attack it. Thanks 10
the vicor and tirmness of that battalion, COM
manded by Col. Cambriels, and to som hap
pv charges of the PiedmonteSe cavalry, adj
mirably led by Gen. Sonnaz, the Austrlans
were driven back.
At this moment, Gen. Blanchard, followed
by the ninety-eighth. and II battalion OF the
+ nincty-irst, (the two others had remained III
Oriolo, where they had III encounter, joined
me, and received the order TO relieve the bat
talon of the seventy-fourth, charged TO de-
fend the railway road, and to establish HIM
self firmly at Cascina-Nuova. ,
Treasured on that side, | again advanced
nv right, and carried, not without Il serious
resistance, the position of GlneStrello.-
judging. then, that by following with the
main body of my infantry along the ridges
and the high road with my artillery, protect,
ed by the Piedmontese cavalry, should
more easily get possession OF Montcbeilo' l
arranged my attacking columns ~ follows
under the orders of Gen. Beuret:
The seventeenth battalion OF ChasseurS,
supported by the eighty-lourth and seventy
fourth, placed en- echei0n, attacked the south
side of Montebello, where the enemy had
entrenched himself.
A hand-to-hand combat then ensued in the
f streets of the village, which we had TO carry
, house by house. 1t was during thiSc combat
that Gen. Beuret was MORALLY wounded at
my side.
After an obstinate resistance, the Aus
: TRANS were obliged to yield before the i'm,
: pctuositv of our troops. and although strong,
Is entrenched in the church-yard, they were
driven out of that last position at the point
of the bayonet. amid reiterated shouts OF
5 "Jira rEmpeem'!"
1t was now 6J o'clock. ! thought it prr,
dent not to follow up the days success any
: further, and | halted my troops behind the
ground upon which the church-yard is situ'
ated, lining the bridge with four guns and Il
number of rilemcn, who drove back the last
Austrian columns into CastcGgio.
Shortly afterwards, ! saw the Austrian
, columns cvacuate Castcggio, leaving a rear
, guard there, and retire by the road Of CASH
| tIsma.
! cannot, VI. le Marcchal, praise too highly
| the bravery of our troops i'll this affair all,
officers, subalterns, and men, We'd with each
other in emulation. Nrr should | forget the
officers of my staff, who were OF the greatest
: service to me.
| shall have the honor, in another report. TO
send YOU a list of those who especially dis
, tinguishcd themselves.
do not know as yet the exact amount OF
. our loss. 1t is considerable, especially in
superior officers, who did not spare them
selves. | calculate it approximately at from
too TO 100 men killed or wounded.
The loss of the enemy must have been
considerable, to Judge by the number OF
, killed found, especially in the village OF
: MOntebellO.
We have taken about 200 prisoners, among
whom is Colonel and other officers.
Some powder wagons have also fallen into
our hands.
As regards myself, NJ. lie Marcchal. | am
happy that my division has been the first
engaged with the enemy. This glorious
baptism" which recalls one OF the nob!e>t
names of the empire, will, | trust, mark one
of those stages mentioned in the order OF the
day Of the Emperor.
/ am, with respect, NJ. lie Marcchal. your
very humble and obedicnt servant, the Gene
raj Commanding the First division OF the
!, Corps. f"REi. =,
p. S.-From information | have received
. from all quarters, the strength Of the enemy
could not be under from 1000 to $4,000
men. and if | should believe the statements
of the prisoners, it would exceed that num-
Der considerably.
Cumberland Coal and Iron Company.
The annual meeting of the Cumberland
Coal and Iron Company, whose lands are IN
Allegany county, Nd, was held on Monday,
ut the office of the company in New York
city. Ar election was held for officers,
when 33. $50 votes We're east, and the follow
ing persons unanimously elected:-Presi-
dent, Charles Gould; directors, Robert !.
G.t,y Allan Camnhcll Samuel j. Tillen,