The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-07-08
Tho I'm, t,raa, Ra,,l.


anything relative TO it. The following article
from the London Times of the 18th ult. Is
probably correct statement Of the pesitions
of the two armies:
We are all curious to know where that posf
ion is which Francis Joseph has designated
as DIS next battle-ground, and to which he has
noW recalled his troops. Ii ID certainly not On
me Sesia or the Mella, for the country water
ed by these tributaries IL already abandoned
ana Bfsscia, which was in former times con-
tested, is already in the hands of Garibaldi.
VINO seems TO act still AZ the pioneer of the al
led army in their advance. The Austrian il
now getting near to his fortresses He has
probably crossed the Chiese, for if he had in
ended TO defend this river, he would scarcely
have allowed Garibaidi TO occupy Brescia.-
lis next hating place must be ON the banks
II the MinCio, where, if he should turn and
await his pursuers, he will rest with his right
wing upon Peschiera and his left upon Man
ua. Our correspondent seems to hold the
pinion that this is the position chosen by the
Austrian Generals for their decisive trial of
strcngth 1t would, undoubtedly, appear to
- well chosen, for battle lost by the French
upon this ground would be disastrous, whore
a. The Austrians might reasonably hope to
raw oh ii hardly pressed. under the cover of
tnelr forresses. In isg, the possession of Man-
ia alone, enabled the Austrians ts arrest Ma
,.JIeon for six months before its walls and
gave them time TO raise four large armies, and
bring them into the field for its deliyerance.
In iele, Charles Albert did not attempt to
advance beyo this terrible triangle. even after
Radetzky had passed through. Dlsrexarding
Tdsh counsels which urged him to pursue the
retiring enemy through this military trap, he
set himself to work leIsureiy to reduce the for
resses one by one. While he was besieging
'eschieri, Radet1ky was awaiting reinforce
ihents OF Count Nugent and the army OF re-
serve, and, about the time that Peschieri could
aoid out no longer RaGetzky was ready to tis-
sumo the offensive. No game can be fought
5ut with precisely the same moves, but no
doubt seems to be entertained that the Aus
irians have not for a moment abandoned the
aope OF ultimate success in this war. "Rsculer
our nrssnd sauter" is still their principle of
iictics. In that land of etiquette and that
council OF many precedents, the authority of
former campaigns viii go for much in the for
nation ofhew plans, and he machinery which
iias secured previous success is very likely to
- put INTO motion again with the hope OF this
anne happy result.
We expect from Marshal Hess and General
Schlick repetition OF the plan OF campaign
devised and executed by Hess and Radetzky
eieyen years ago. Military tradition is every
ming in Austria. RadetZky served under Me-
as and Suwarrow, and Hess served under
Radetzky. 1t is almost impossible that these
men can fail to recur 10 those old Fabian tac-
les which so remarkably succeeded in resto-
ring credit to the Austrian arms ia lsi9-
When RadetZky retreated before the army of
CHARLES Albert, and through @ country in full
.nsurrectlUn, he fell back at once. He avoided
cattle much AS the Austrians now seem to have
was unwillingly forced into sht at Goito,
just as Gyulai was at Magenta yet he contin-
usd his retreat until le reached his fortresses;
nor did ne even stop there, but retired behind
he district they commanded, and there await
ed the arrival Of Count Nugent and the army
of reserve. Thsn came his advance the cele-
brated countermarch TO Nicenza, the arms-
tice, the renewal of hostilities, and that decs-
I'VE short campaign which ended with the vic
tory of Novara.
But although we think il highly probable
that the general character of the Austrian
tactics in 164S will be followed in 1850 the gem
eral opinion appears TO be that in one import
ant respect these precedents Will be disregard
ed, and that the Mincio viii now be the scene
of a decisive battle. WelI-informed persons
assure us that all that has yet happened is but
The prelude To the real war; and there are not
wanting AustrIIns So confident as to believe
tSat Mantua viii be the Capua of NAPOLEON
III. Austria viii very much ustonish the
world if any thing like l is should happen
General Schllch may be very different COM
mander from Gyuiai, but public expectation
is not yet tutOred TO the idea that the French
can he beaten in & pitched battle pom toIerably
equal terms; and, although the French En-
peror and the Sandman King are justsnow lis
tsnIng TO concerts at Milan, their troops are
steady IN their progress, and perhaps Milan is
the best position whence TO direct the consoii-
dation of the allied force upon that difficult
country which has now to De penetrated.
The Allies however, have suiiciency Of
work still before them. They have this great
battle of the Mincio yet to win, if it Shall
please the Austrian Emperor to crafty the de-
sireS OF his enemies, and make stand upon
that river They have then TO take three for
tresses which have been elaborately strength
ened and supplied with every engine of defence
that modern warfare has discovered. Against
The more numerous forces and The rifed can
non of the French of 1859 Peschiera will op-
pose much more perfect fortificatons than
those with which she resisted the Sardinians
in 1913. Mantua is stronger than when Napo-
nt~aI Inf hnrf
the resources of the Austrian Empire at her
back. But, on the other hand, military crit
les are aWaklng to the estimate OF the danger
which Austria runs of being taken in the rear
OF her fnr'rtSS by an army landed on the coast
north OF Venice.
The French are undisputed masters Of the
sea, and neither the old Napoleonic campaigns
nor those of 1913 and 1919 are adapted to such
a contingency. To the Austrian the sea is al =
ways an enemy on her flank, and no position
] strong which can be turned by Napoleon's e
iieet OF men -of-war and transports. We have
III the resources of these belligerents all the
elements of sanguinary battle, perhaps for
protracted stages, and even for long drawn
war. 1t is probably hopeless to think of ac-
commodatlon while both the combatants are
fresh and feel 10 exhaustion; but we cannot
think that, fight rs she may, Austria can ulti-
mately win. How many millions OF money
and leagues of territory, and low much OF mi
.itary reputation will she waste, in protract-
ing for short time, what, sooner or later, af-
reyerses is at last inevitable
The Nord saws:
eve are on the eve of great events The
TWO armies are face to face. All the corps of
the Austrian army are concentrating upon tho
lne OF the Mincio. The provinces Of the en-
pre- have been denuded of troops. and the las I
columns are arriving by forced marches upon
the scene OF contest. The Aus trian army has
| chosen It's position; it occupies u line on the
other side of the Cbiese the centre of which
| rests upon the heights of Castiglione. before
| resehlera The right wing extends 10 Tomato
| the left 10 Castel Gonredo. On the 18th tha
| Emperor Francis Joseph reviewed the two
corps drriee encamped at Tomato
"Ihe Allied armies follow the enemy step
| by step, combining their movements. 1t is
possible that the pivot OF their position will be
the bourg, OF Monte Chiaro, eyac uated precipi-
lately by the Austrian rear-guard. 4 French
corps is advancing by forced marches in the
Naltelline, where the Austrians made feint of
descending from Bolmio to threatsu the rear
of the Allied armies.
The ground chosen by the Austrians for
accepting battle has been we'll studied by their
Generals; these positions served habitually
for the grand man1uyres of the Autumn The
latter fact is not ignored at the French head
quarters and precautions have been taken ac.
cordinsly.
"The game, then, will be played with equal
chances-a terrible game-Without precedent
in the military history Of modern times"
The Nord also SAYS:
1.-The day before yesterday Prince Napoleon
was To enter Modena. BY this time military
operations have commenced in the Adriatic
upon the coast of Dalmatia. 1t is stated that
the Austrians, while the French army marches
to the Mincio, wish TO direct body of $1,000
men by the Tyrol upon Milan, but it is not
very likely that the Austri Generals will try
one of these bold manpuvres to which they
are 50 little accus toned. In any case preeau-
tions have been taken"
WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEHY.-The
Board of Visitors in their report 10 the Secre-
i1rrr rlAf II Irar for tba arlr