The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-23
DETAILS OF FOREIGN NEWS
BY THE PERSIA,

BY THE PERSIA.
| THE PASSAGE OF THE TICINo AND THE BATTLE OF MA
GENTA.
| The Uoniteur of June 10 publishes the following
account Of the battle of Magenta:
| HEADQUARTERS, San MARITIME, June 5.
"The French army assembled round Alessandria
had great difficulties to overcome. If it marched
on Piacenza it would have had to besiege that for
tress and force passage of the Po there 900 metres
in width, and that difficult operation would have
had to be effected in presence of hostile army of
| 200, 900 men.
| "If the Emperor crossed the river at Valenza he
would have found the enemy concentrated on the
left bank at Mortara, and he could have only at
tackled him by separate columns maneuvring in the
midst OF country intersected by canals and rice
fields. On both sides, therefore, there was an al
most insurmountabe obstacle; the Emperor re-
solved to obviate it, and he deceived the Austrians
by concentrating his forces the right, by occupy
| ing Casteggio and even Bobbio on the Trebbia
| ''On the 3lst of May the army received the order
to march to the left, and crossed the Pc at Casae
the bridge of which had remained in our posses
sion it at once took the road to Vercel where the
passage CT the Sesa was carried out to protect and
cover our rapid march on Novara.
"The efforts of the army were directed on the
right, on Robbie, and two combats glorious for the
Sandman troops, fought that side made the
enemy believe we were marching on Mortara.-
| Meantime, the French army was advancing on
1 NOFdFd, anu IL tOOh position on the very same
ground where ten years previously King Charles
Albert gave battle. Here it was able to meet the
enemy if necessary.
1Thus, this bold march had been protected by
| loo, 900 men encamped on right flank at Olengo
in front of Novara. Under these circumstances it
then to the reserve that the Emperor had to in
trust the execution of the movement taking place
! behind the line of battle. -
| 'On the I'd of June division of the Imperial
Guard was advanced toward Turbigo, on the Tici-
no, and, not finding any resistance it threw three
| bridges across. The Emperor having received con-
firmatory intelligence that the enemy had with
| drawn to the left bank of the river, ordered the
| Ticno to be crossed at this point by the corps
darmee of Gen. Mcmahon, followed on the morrow
by a division of the Sandman army.
"Our troops had scarcely taken position on the
| Lombardy bank when they attacked by an
Austrian corps from Milan brought up by the rail
way. They drove it back VIGOROUSLY in the pre-
| sence of the Emperor.
"On the same day June y Espinasses division
having advanced on the road from Novara to Milan
| as far as Trecate, from which place it threatened
the bridge at Buffalora, the enemy hastily evacua-
ted the ntrenchments it had thrown up this point
and retired to the left bank attempting to blow up
the stone bridge across the river The attempt was
not successful; the two arches attempted were not
sufficiently destroyed to prevent the passage.
"The 4th OF June had been fixed by the Emperor
for the denitve occupation of the left bank of the
( Ticno. Gen. M'Mahons corps d'armee strength.
ened by the division of the Voltguers of the Impe-
rial Guard, and followed by the whole army of the
King of Sardinia, was to advance from Turbigo on
Butfalora and Magenta, while the division of the
Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard was to carry
the tete de-pont of Butialora the left bank and
Marshal Canrobert's corps darmee was to advance
along the right bank to cross at the point.
"The execution of this plan was frustrated by one
of those incidents which must always be expected
in warfare. The army of the King was DELAYED in
crossing the river, and only one of his divisions
was able to follow the corps of Gen. McMahon at a
distance.
"The advance of Espinasse's division was also de-
layed, and, on the other hand, when Marshal Can
roberts corps left Novara to join the Emperor who
had proceeded In person to the bridge at Bufalora
it found the road so encountered that it only ar
we'd very late on the banks of the Ticino
$50 matters stood, and the Emperor aw aited, MOI
without anxiety, the signal of the arrival of Gen
eral McMahon's corps at Butfalora when about 2
O'Clock he heard heavy fusiade and cannonade II
that quarter. The General was coming up
"This was the moment to support him bv advanc
ing on Magenta. The Emperor at once threw Wimpf
fen's brigade against the formidable positions oc
cupied by the Austrians in front of the bridge T.,
Clerc's brigade followed up the movement. Tht
heights which border the canal and village of Bua
lora were soon carried by the impetuosity of on
troops, but they then found themselves opposed t.
formidable bodies whom they could not drive back
and who stopped their advance.
"Marshal Canrobert's column had not vet com
up, and, on the other hand the cannouade and fus
ilade which had announced the arrival of Gen. Nc
Mahon had completely ceased. Had the General
column been repulsed and would the division of tn
Grenadiers Of the Guard have to sustain alone tn,
whole strength of the enemy?
"Ths is the proper place to explain the manoeu-
| yer of the Austrians.
"When they learned on the night of the I'd o
June that the French army had made itself nastel
of the passage of the Ticino at Turbigo they rap
idly recrossed the river at Vigevano with three O
their corps Parmee, who burned the bridges benin,
them. On the morning of the 4th they were oppo
site the Emperor $4,000 strong, and it was agains
such dspropOrtionate force that the division O
the Grenadiers of the Guard, with whom was tn
Emperor, had to compete.
cat this critical moment Gen. Regnaud Sain
Jean 'Angely displayed immense energy as di,
also the Generals under his orders. General of hi
vision Menet had two horses shot under him
Gen. lie Clerc fell mortaly wounded, Gen
Wimpffen wounded in the head Comm andant
Desme and Maudhuy, of the Grenadiers of tn
Guard, were killed. the Zouaves lost 200 men, ant
the Grenadiers suffered loss not less considerable
"Finally, after long expectation of four hours
during which Mellinets Division sustained withou
finching the attacks of the enemy, Picard
brigade led by Marshal Canrobert, arrived on tn
held OF battle. Shortly afterward Vinoy's Divisio
Joined, of Gen. Niel's corps, which the Empero
had sent for, and 6naly Renault's and Trochu'
Divisions of Canrobert's corps. .2ri
cat the same time Gen. McMahon's cannon be
came again audible in the distance The General
corps, retarded in its advance and less numerou
than it should have been. had advanced in tw
columns on Magenta and Buffaora -
"The enemy having attempted to cut in betwee
a Mcmahon
right column to fall back on his left toward Ma
genta, and this explains the cessation in the firin
at the commencement of the action the Buffalor
side. .-rs -r.3F sfs.1Haf.1 .-. ~
GIN fact, the Austrians finding themselves bar
pressed on their centre and left, had evacuated tn
village of Buffalora, and had brought the create
portion of their forces to bear against General No
Mahon before Magenta. The 45th of the Lin
boldly attacked farm of Cascina Nuova on the out
skirts of the village, and which was defended b
two Hungarians regiments. Fifteen hundred mel
of the enemy laid down their arms, and the color
were taken away from the ColonePs body. How
ever, Motterouge's Division found itself hardpresse
by considerable forces, which threatened to separat
| it from Espihasse's Division. General McMaho
had placed in second line the IS battalions of tn
Voltigeurs of the Guard under the com mand Z
the brave General Canon, who, advancing to tn
front, sustained the shock of the enemy, and CAV
time 10 Motterouge's and Espinasse's Division
vigorously to resume the offensive. $50 ~ .
ttAt this moment of general attack General AT
ger, commanding the artillery of the I'd corp:
opened fire with forty guns the railway chauset
which taking the Austrians in flank and crossway
made fearful havoc. I. a - 1s37 n
"At Magenta the combat was terrible. The er
envy defended the village most obstinately. Bot
sides felt that it was the key of the position. Gu
troops took it house by house, causing immens
loss to the Austrians. More than 10, 900 were pu
hors de combat, and General Mcmahon took abou
5000 prisoners, including one whole regiment, tn
I'd Chasseurs pied, commanded by Colonel HAT
ser. But the Generals corpssuffered considerably
, 1900 men were either killed or wounded. In tn
, attack on the village General Espinasse and hi
: officer dordonnance, Lieut.. Frodefond were bot
} killed. While leading on their men, Col. Drouho
of the 65tb of the Line, and Col Chabrene, of th
/, I'd, fell mortally wounded. W i lsoa -; ssf7
II "On the other side, Vinoy's and Renaulfs Div
, sions were doing prodges of vaIor, under the o.
ders of Marshal Canrobert and General Niel-
3 Yinoy's Division, which had left Noyara in tn
morning; had scarcely reached Trerate, where !
{ purposed to bivouac, when it was sent for by tt
Emperor. 1t advanced at quick step as far as th
bridge of Magenta, driving the enemy from the pt
sitions they occupied, taking about LOCO prisoner
but engaged with superior forces it suffered heav
, loss-ll officers were killed and 80 wounded; 65
non-commissioned officers and men were place
hors du combat. The 9Th of the Line uttered mos
Colonel Delort fell at the head of his men, and a
the officers were wounded.s General Martimpre
received bullet wound while leading ON his br
gade. d si yisyals he 53at3a ~. as eHiaa79 Is
4 "Marshal Canroberts troops also suffered consit
d eraby. COL de Senneville, the Chief of his Stat
was killed at his side; Col. Oharlier of the Goth fe
mortally wounded by Eve bullets, and many officer
OF Renault's division we're placed hors dm comba
while the village and bridge of Magenta weretaks
and retaken seven times. .asvI'