The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-08-03
THE BATTLE OF SOLDERING, AS
SEEN BIZ A NEW YORKER.
CAsrIGtlosE, ITALY, Friday night
l.. "a n0E0


CAsTIGttosE, ITALY, Friday night,
june "a, 1853.
came from sBrescia early this morning,
and arrived Just IN time to witness the last
half Of what have very little doubt viii turn
out to have been the greatest battle the mod
ern world has seen. You will get the official
summary Of its results by telegraph before
this letter reaches you, and will be prepared,
therefore, for this statement Of its magnitude.
cannot describe it with any precision as yet
for it has lasted all day, and extended over
q circuit of not less than fAeen miles; the
~Heiss q - e.nnesalls - sysn Of the mus
of those engaged n Il. except the wounded.
have returned to give Us any distinct and con
neeted report. But not less than 10000
men have been engaged in it; and Of these
not less than 30O00-Ieaa or disabled-lie,
on this bright, starry night, upon the bloody
field.
The battle commenced at little before five
O'Clock in the morning, not far from sunrise
just back OF C1stiglione rises . high rnge of
hills, which projects mile or thereabouts into
the plain and then breaks off towards the left
into wide expanse Of smaller hills, and 50
into the rolling surface which makes that por
ton of the PLAIN. The Austrians had taken
position upon these hills, planting cannon to
those nearest to Castiglione which they could
approach, as the French army was in full
force in and around that little village, and
had stationed their immense array all over the
surrounding plain.
As nearly rs we can now learn the Emper-
or Frapes Joseph had collected here not less
than 225, 600 troops, and commanded then in
person. bis evident purpose was to make
stand here and risk the fortunes of the war
upon the hazards of the day. Napoleon
promptly accepted the challenge, and COM
menced the attack as soon rs it was light, this
morning, by placing cannon upon the hills still
nearer 70 Cas6giione than those held by the
Austrians, and opening fire upon them on the
heights beyond. He took his own stand upon
the highest Of These steep, sharp backed
ridge, which commands magnificent view of
the entire circuit Of the plain, 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 the town.
and followed them into the small villages of
the plain below. The first OF these was Sol
ferino, where they had sharp and protracted
engagement. The Austrians disputed every
inch Of the ground. and fought here, IS they
did throughout the day, with the utmost des-
Of the town before they would stay out. The
people Of the village, moreover, took part
AGAINST the French, upon whom they fired
from the windows, and the French were COM
PEELED IN selfdefence, 10 burn the town.
When they found it impossible to hold their
ground any longer, they fell back, slowly and
steadily, until they reached the village Of Vol
"a, which as you see by the map, hes directly
southeast from Castiglione, and is only about
mile from the river Mincio, from which,
however, it . separated by range Of hills
Upon these hills, in the rear Of the town, and
overlooking it completely on the south and
southeast sides, the Austrians had planted
very formidable batteries and when arrived
upon the field and went ct once to the height
where the Emperor had stood at the opening
Of the engagement, but which be had left an,
hour before to follow his victorious troops,
these batteries were bIazins away upon the
French who were stationed on the plain below
/ was too far of to observe with any accuracy
the successive steps Of the action, but could
distinctly see the troops stationed upon the
broad plain, and moring up in masses towards
The 'front.' where the artillery was posted, as
their services were required. But IS soon as
they reached this point they were speedily
enyeloped in the smoke Of the cannon, and /
disappeared from observation. But the gen.
eral result was soon made evident by the
slackening Of the Austrian fire, and BY the
fall ing back Of their smoke and q correspond
ing Advance on the part Of that which rose
from the French artillery. The cannonading
at that point lasted for over an hour; but in |
precisely what direction the Anstrians re-
treated, It Was impossible, from the position |
occupied, 70 see. was afraid to change It, |
LA
have gone more directly and closely upon the |
fsld. could not have found any eminence |
upon the plain from which could have had |
g sweeping and complete view: Part of |
the Austrian force probably crossed the MIN |
cio river which lows southwark from the lower |
end Of Lake Garde, and empties into the Pc. |
But the battle continued to rage all over the |
REGION northwest Of line connect ng the |
towns Of Castiglione, SoIEerino and Volta At |
one point after another sharp cannonading |
would arise and continue for half or three |
ouartees Of an houF-and after each success
sive engagement Of this kind the result be-
came apparent In the retreat Of the Austrians
and the advance Of the French forces. Du-
ring I'll the early part of The day the sky had
been clear and the weather hot. But clouds |
began 10 gather at about noon, and at about
Eve O'Clock. while the cannonade was at its
heigElt, tremendoas thunder storm rolled mp
rom the northwest; the wind came first
sweeping from the parched streets an enor-
nous cloud Of dust, and was soon lollowed BY
) heavy al Of rain, accompanied BY vivid
iehtning and rapid explosions Of nttling thun.
lef. The Storm lasted for about an hour, and
he e1nnonading, 50 CT As we could distin-
ynish. was suspended Then the rain cessed,
-1e clouds hieTF away the sun shone ont |