Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1859-08-13
The Great Battle at Magenta !
Advance of the Allies in Lombardy,

The steamship Anglo-Saxon arrived from Liverpool
at Farther Point Saturday morning. her way to
Quebec, and reached the latter place yesterday
ing. The highly important intelligence from the seat
of war; as came to US in brief dispatch from Fur
ther Point, we laid before readers yesterday, and
we are now able TO give further details of the
heavy action between the Allies and the Austraus at
Magenta, which we have since received from Quebec.
Previous advces by the Europa represented the Aus
trians in full retreat the Tcino into Lombar
dy and from the account of the great battle at Magen
IA it appears that the Allies pressed with their whole
movable force at two points on that river, drove the
enemy across into their territory, and brought
them to an action at Magenta city only II miles dis
tant from Milan the Lombard capital. In the magni
tude of the numbers engaged in the heavy loss both
sdes and in the destruction of general officers and 9TH
ers of high rank this battle of the greatest of
modern times. There were engaged in the field not
much less than 300 900 men, from hundred to hun
dred and thirty thousand of the Allies, and from
hundred and fifty to a hundred and eighty thousand
Austrans. On the side of the Allies from nine to
twelve thousand were killed and wounded, including
the French General Espinasse, who killed, and
Marshal Canrobert, who fell mortally wounded. The
Austrians, it is said lost twenty thousand, Of whom
over twelve thousand were killed and wounded, and
seven thousand taken prisoners. Their own accounts
admit they had four Generals and five staff officers
wounded. The French captured three cannon and two
standards from the enemy, and the Austrians took
cannon from the Allies. Louis Napoleon took part in
the action, probably supported by the King Of Sard-
mia; but from the fact that General Mcmahon
warded with Marshal's baton and the title of Duke of
Magenta on the field, it would that the hottest
part of the battle conducted by him, he probably
having taken command when Canrobert fell Field
Marshal Baron Hess commanded the Austrians, Fran
els Joseph not having then reached that point The
defeat Magenta which resulted to the Austrans at
ter two days terrible fighting followed by i'm
mediate insuTrection in Milan, which proclaimed for
the cause of Sardinia and Italy The Austrian garri
son therefore compelled to abandon it, but TO what
point they withdrew is not stated The probability is
however, that their whole force has retired in the d
rection of Mincio.
At the latest accounts the French had not taken pos
session Of Milan: but according to the dispatches Of
Louis Napoleon, they had taken all the and
Cannon as well $4,000 muskets, which the Austri-
ans had left behind them in that ptal The entry of
Victor Emanuel into the city was announced to take
place the 7th June.
Such in BRIEF are the points Of the action at Magen-
ta commenced the 4h of June and continued TO the
night OF the 9Th The French Emperor claims it as
decisive victory, but the other hand the Austrian
accounts speak OF it series Of battles with varied
and heavy losses both sides. There is
doubt that il a running fight, and though called
the battle of Magenta, really fought three differ
ent points, BufalOra TurbigO and Magenta, and when
we consid that tie Allies captured only three cannon
one of which was counterbalanced by the TACT of the
enemy taking alsO 1t cannot be esteemed rout, or
even a very serious defeat.
In general rout the first thing beaten army does,
is to abandon its artillery and baggage The Austrians
have not done in this case. That they abandoned
Milan a sragetcal necessity, because il became
untenable in the midst of insurrectOnary popua-
tion and in front of a foreign enemy in force; and
moreover it is very strongly fortified At the bat
tie of Castigone in 1876, TIE first Napoleon took
enty field pieces and all the casOns of the enemy and
when remember that at the 6gh at Paestro, which
occurred few days previous to this affair at Magenta,
the Allies took nine guns, the capture Of three cannOns
and two standards was rather small affair.
In this view disposed to look upon the battle
Of Magenta rather in the light Of drawn battle than
decisive victory, admitting of the advantage
gained by the Allies in securing position the left
bank of the Ticino.
The conflict commenced By the Allies crossing the
Tcino at Bufalora and Turbigo. The former town
stands on the Austrian side Of the rivsr h stuated