The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-07-28

BATTLE OF SOLDERING.
pEscRInED II IN - wITNEss.

Mr.. Raymond writes to the New York
Times from Costigliono, under the date
Of June oath, 2. NJ:
came from Brescia early this morn /
ing, and arrived just in time to witness
the last half Of what I have very little !
doubt will turn out to have been the
greatest battle the modern world has
seen. You will get an official summary
before this letter reaches you, and will
be prepared for this statement Of its
magnitude. I cannot describe IL with
any precision, as yet, for it has lasted
all day, and extended over a circuit Of
not less than ! 5 miles. The noise Of
the cannouado and musketry is still in
my ears, and none of those engaged in
| it, except the wounded, have returned
to give us any distinct connected report,
but not less than 100000 men have been
engaged in it, and not less than 10000,
dead aud disabled, lie, on this bright,
starry night, upon the bloody field.
The battle commenced at q little be-
fore 5 o'clock in the morning, not far
from sunrise. Just back Of Castiglione
rises a high range Of hills, which pro-
iects mile or so into the plain, and
breaks off toward the left into a wild
expanse of smaller hills, and so into the
rolling surface which makes that por-
ton of the plain. The Austrians had
taken their position upon these hills,
planting cannon on those nearest Casti-
, glioue, which they could approach, as
the French army was in full force in and
around that little village, and had sta
toned their immense army all over the
surrounding plain. As nearly as we
! can learn, the Emperor Francis Joseph
? had collected here not less than 22j, ,0OC
troops and commanded them in person
r. His evident purpose was to make a stand
Z here and risk the fortunes Of the wal
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
p still nearer to Castiglioue than those
4 held by the Austrians, and opened a fire
> upon them on the heights beyond he
took his own stand upon the highest of
r these, a steep, sharp backed ridge, which
T. commands a view of the circuit Of tho
- plain, and from that point directed tho
e entire movements Of his army, during
8 the early portion Of the day.
The French very soon drove the enc
|; my out of the posts they held neares
e to the town, and followed them into thu
I small villages of the plain below. Tn
{ first of these was Solferino, where the,
- had o sharp engagement. The Austri
c ans disputed every inch of ground, AM
' fought with the utmost desperation
20 They were three times driven out of tn
I town before they would stay out Tn
y people of the village took part agains
y the French, upon whom they fire
e through the windows, and the Frenc
were compelled to burn the town.
l. When the Austrians found it impossi
.e bic TO hold their ground any longe,
re they fell back slowly and steadily unit
et they reached the village Of Volta whic
'- lies southeast from Castiglione, an
- about a mile from the river Mincio, frol
y which it is separated by a range Of hill
l On these hills, in the rear Of the towl
SIS the Austrians had planted very formil
a able batteries, and when l arrived o
the field, and went to the height whel
the Emperor had stood at the Openir
of the engagement, but had left an hot
before to follow his troops, these bait
ries were blazing on the French, wi
a. we're in the plain below.
.s- I was too far to observe with accurat
ne the successive steps Of the action, b
Jh could see the troops stationed upon Il
.a' broad plain, and moving up towards d
ne front where the artillery was posted,
ne their services were required But
ar soon as they reached this point, tn
en- were enveloped in smoke and disa
n peared but the general result becar
ne evident from the backing Of the Aust
ye an FIRE and the falling back Of the
TO- smoke, and corresponding advance
es part Of that which rose from the Fren
ia artillery. The oannonadihg at that poi
- lasted over an hour, but in what dire
eu ton the Austrians retired could not
,se possibly seem ] was afraid TO chan
ls- my position, because ] could not ha
ur found any emineuce on the plain, frt
which I could have had so complete
;vo view, Part Of the Austrian force prol
,bo bly, crossed the Miucio which 40
,nt southwark into the Po. But the bat
-ob continued to rage over the region nor
,ab west Of Castigliono, Solferino and Vol
the At one point after another a sh,
ins caunonading would arise and contir
for half an hour, and after each suco
ON sive engagement Of this kind, the res
ess. became apparent 10 the retreat Of
Vie. Austrians and advance ofth French
an During all the early part Of the d
the the sky had boen clear and the Weatl
fer hot, but clouds began to gather ab
,ay- nooH, and at 5 o'clock, while the C
Z to nonade was at its height a tremeud
TO thunderstorm rolled up from the MOI
s.- west. The wind came drst, sweep
stic from the streets clouds of dust,
heir was soon followed by heavy rain
IS is vivid lighting aud rapid explosions
Gale rattling thunder The storm la
ners about an hour, and tho oanonnaC
70 was suspended
Then the rain ceased, Tho clC
blew away tho sun shone aud tho
opu- was cool and delightful The cannt
late ding commenced quite en- the oxtr
of left Of the entire field, aud ON The
free dors of the lake, north-eas from Ct
.tion lrHOpe. and west OF peschiora.