Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-07-26
Scenes on the Battle Field of soIferino.

The artillery may be said TO have done its
work for the first time during the present cam
paign. The power of the rhed cannon is hence
forth established
Gen Desvaux saw in the distance about thirty
squadrons of cavalry, consisting of Italians and
dragons, forming into masses and preparing to
thunder down upon the squares of Renaud's
division. The danger was imminent and grave,
for the French troops bad their tanks compro-
missed, and were in front of au Austrian battery
which worried them with grape. Gen. Desvaux
pointed out the danger, TO Capt. Fist comman-
der OF the eightli battery af the 10th regiment
of artillery, who at once established battery of
rihe-cannoE upon q small emnence in the plain,
and fired four rounds of shell containing forty
balls distance of more than 1000 yards.
The effect produced seemed like the work OF
eDchantment. The Captain saw in the first
place that wide gaps lad been made in the
enemy's ranks then all of sudden that the
terrible mass of cavalry was dispensing in every
direction, utterly disordered, and without heed
ing orders of rallying at the word of command.
Twenty thousand of the Austrian cavalry, upon
whose aid every reliance had been placed, were
thus rendered useless, and it was directly after
this catastrophe, if am rightly informed, that
the Emperor Francis Joseph abandoned the
camp, with tears of vexation and despair in his
eyes.
The plain of Guidizzolo is really horrible to
look upon. Even 30 late as yesterday the dead
were not all buried. They were to be seen in
groups of twenty and thirty, huddled together
in one spot, where shell had exploded or the
Chasseurs d'Afrique had passed. All still main
tained the attitude in which death had struck
them down.
Here was one with uplif;ed arm to ward off
the blow which had split open his skull, and
splashed his brains far and near. Close by was
another, with his hand upon his breast shivered
and rent by the grape. Another seemed to be
smiling, as if in nockery of the grim warriors
approach Some were lying upon their backs,
with faces turned towards heaven, and prayers
still seeming to linger upon their lips.
| Further on, there was Hungarian, who had
thrust his clothes into CHASTITY wound near the
heart. At his left was Tyrolese, with the un-
| used cartridge between his teeth. To the right
Groat had bis head cut off by ball, and the
head was by his side, with its horrible eyes
glaring and leering, as it seemed, at the dis
membered body.
Two young lads of certainly not more than
sixteen were lying in each others arms. Death
had surprised them in that attitude; or, perhaps,
they had clung together in last embrace, aud
had fallen thus mover to rise again. Upon the
body of Bohemian officer We noticed a dog,
waiting apparently for his master to get up!-
We had not the heart to call off the faithful an-
ilnal by word or gesture, for we felt sure
that God would reward the devotion of this
dumb creature, SO touchngly shown amidst the
carnage which man had waged against his fellow
man.
On every side it was the same. Death, in his
most horrible and ghastly form. glared at u.s. no
matter where we gazed. Enough, however, on
this sad theme Correspondence Of the London
| TsZe1raDh