Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-07-19
Especial Dispatch to tho Cincinnati Gazette.l
Ehc IssattIc of SOIferinO-DctaisS
by AN Eye with eSs.
BALTIMoRE. July I2.

Mr.. Raymond writes to the N. Y
Times" from Castiglione, under date O
June 24th p. M:
L came from Brescia early this morning
; and arrived just in time 10 witness the las
half of what l have very little doubt viii
turn out TO have been the greatest BATH
the modern world has seen. You will
get an official summary before this lette
reaches you, and will be prepared for this
statement of its magnitude. L cannot des
cribe it with any precision, as yet, for i
has lasted all day, and extended over &
circuit of not less than Is miles. Thu
noise of the cannonade and musketry is
sill IN my ears, and one OF those engaged
In it, except the wounded, have returned
to give us any distinct, connected report,
but not less than $50, 600 men have been
engaged in it, and not less than 30, 900,
dead or disabled, lie, on this bright, starry
night, upon the bloody field.
The battle commenced at q little before
5 O'Clock in the morning, not far from sun.
rise. Just back of Castiglione rises a high
range of hills, which projects a mile or Sc
into the plain, and breaks off towards the
left into a wide expanse of smaller hills,
and SO into the rolling surface which
makes that portion of the plain. The
Austrians had taken their position upon
these hills, planting cannon on those near
est Costiglione. which they could approach,
as the FrenchHarmy was in full force in
and around that little village, and had
stationed their immense army all over the
surrounding plain. AS nearly as we can
learn, the Emperor, Francis Joseph, ~collec-
ted here not less than 225, 900 troops and
commanded them in person. His evident
purpose was to make a stand here and risk
the fortunes OF the war on the hazards of
the day. Napoleon promptly accepted the
challenge, and commenced the attack as
soon as it was light, by placing cannon on
the hills still nearer to Castiglione than
those held by the Austrians, and opened a
fire upon them on the nights beyond; he
took his own stand upon the highest of
these, a steep, sharp-backed ridge, which
commands a view Of the circuit of the
plain, and from that point directed the en-
tire 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. aud followed them into the small
villages Of the plain below. The first of
these was Solferino, where they had a
sharp engagement. The Austrians dis
puted every inch of ground, and fought
with the utmost desperation. They were
three times driven out of the town before
they would say out. The people of the
village took part against the French, upon
whom they fired from the windows, and
the French were compelled to burn the
town.
When the Austrians found it impossible
TO hold their ground any longer, they fell
back slowly and steadily until they reached
village of Volta, which lies southeast
from Castiglione, and about a mile from
the river Mincio, from which it is separa-
ted by a range of hills. On these hills, in
the rear of the town. the Austrians had
very formidable batteries, and
l arrived on the field, and went to
the hight whore the Emperor had stood
at the opening of the engagement, but had
an hour before to follow his troops, |
.hese batteries we're blazing on the French,
who were in the plain below.
1T was too far TO observe with accuracy
he successive steps OF the action, but
see the troops stationed rpon the
broad plain, and moving up toward the
where the artillery was posted, as
heir services were required. But as soon
IS they reached this point, they were en-
'eloped in smoke and disappeared, but the
result became evident from the
lackering of the Austrian's fire and the
ailing back of their smoke, and a CORES
'ondlng advance on the part of that which
ose from the French artillery. The can
onading at that point lasted over an hour,
ut IN what direction the Austrians retired,
ould not be possibly seen. 1 was afraid
D change my position, because I could
OF have found any eminence on tie plain,
ON which l could have had so complete
view. Part of the Austrian force prob {
nrAc.o1 tla hI. -s1
outward into the Pc. But the battle
ontinued to rage over the region north s
est of C~astiglione, Solferino and Volta
At one point after another, a sharp can {
Onading would arise and continue for half {
hour, and after each successive engage t
rent of this kind, the result became APP {
aren't in the retreat of the Austrians and /
Vance of the French. During all the /
lrly part of the day, the sky had been !
ear and the weather hot, but clouds be- y
an to gather about noon, and at 5 o'clock,
lille the cannonade was at its hight, a
EN- ndous thunder storm rolled up from
Q northwest. The wind came first
Weeping from the streets, clouds of dust, Il
ID was soon followed by heavy rain and n
vid lightning and Iapid explosions of rat q
ng thunder. The storm lasted about s.
hour, and the ~cannonading was suspen-
d..
Then the rain ceased, the clouds blew
yay, the sun shone and the air was cool b
d delightful. The cannonading COM re
enced quite on the extreme lefE of the NJ
tire field, and on the borders of the fl
ie, northeast from Castiglione, and west fl
Peschiera. The Piedmortese troops @,
der the King, had been posted there,
d received the Austrians as they came
'und. From about 7 o'clock till after