Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-15
From the London Times, June 25th

The French Emperor has named bis new
victory. The village of Solferino is to be
identified with the tremendous battle of the
Gath June. The action is not Ole of unmiti-
gated triumph to the conquerer, nor of utter
defeat to the vanquished. Itresembles rather
Wagram than Austerlitz. 1t is as usual,
where Austrian troops fight and Austrian
Generals command. 1t is an example of stub
born discipline. ccntending at once against
an enterprising and intelligent enemy, and
against the evils of divided command.
While the Zouaves were being borne back by
the Austrians in position at Buffalora. and
Napoleon himself was engaged i'll an unequal
contest, four Austrian Generals were quar-
reliRg as to the manner in which supports
should be sent up. and quarreled till victory
was torn from them. Let us apply the lesson
as the facts march forward before our eyes,
changing as they go the rank and precedence
of nations
The recent battle has been properly named.
The Austrians write of it as the battle OF the
MinciO, but this is incorrect. The conflict
took place on the narrow district which is sur
rounded by the course of the Chiese on the
west, and by that of the Mincio on the east.
All the places mentioned in the kilograms will
be found about midway between these two
rivers. Great as was the force assembled,
and enormous as was the amount of ground
covered, the battle did not reach the neigh
borhood of Wantua. nor extend sou:hward
beyond balfthe distance between that fortress
and Peschiera. The tide of battle did not
roll parallel with the course of either river.
In this campaign, which is fought in a net
work OF waters, great rivers do not appear to
play their usual important part. They are
passed and repassed. They are bridged and
forded. They are fortified and abandoned.
but they are not seriously defended. The
Ticino aud Sesia submitted to the passage of
the invader, and even the Pc was crossed and
recrossed several times with IMMUNITY. After
the battle of Magenta, the Lambro was aot
an obstacle. The AIDA was reached only to
find broken bridges and dsmantled fortresses,
but no enemy such once before bad defen-
ded that bridge OF Lodi. The Serbs and Mel
la were passed by both hosts, and the Chiese,
which had been often and so fiercely
defended, was swarmed over by the Zouaves
rs though it had been river of France.
This is novelty in tactics. Perhaps it has
been discovered that the old masters of the
art of war were wrong, and that the passage
of great rivers is not an operation during
which an enemy may be taken at advantage.
Perhaps this is the ne0 principle of those
strategic considerations which have been de-
veloped with such marvellous results in this
campaign. However this may be, it certain
ly is not the battle of the Mincio, or battle of
Chiese. which was fought on Friday last. and
the Emperor of the French has full title TO
name the victory after the centre of the Aus
trian position. if it shall so please him to
create the new Marshal, Duke of Solfcrino.
It Is singular that we are indebted 10 the
vanquished for all our reliable information as
to the circumstances of this great battle. Not
only is the Austrian bulletin the most candid
Acknowledgement of defeat. ever given in
to the world, but it is also the most satisfac-
ry history OF battle ever made, with the
same number of words. By the light of these
seventeen lines of print, and q tolerable map,
we can almost see the situation of the COM
batants, and the great features Of the engage
ment
The ground upon which the battle was
fought. differs from the spongy plain through
which the Austrians had been so long retreat
ing, and the French had been so loug advan-
cling. The southern shore of the Lago Di
GMda consists of hills and broken-up lands,
which have always been considered as favora-
bic defensive operations. When the Austrian
Emperor changed his tactics so suddenly that
the command 10 recross the Mincio appeared
rather the result of caprice than deliber-
ate judgment, 1t was into these uplands lie
led his army. The village of Pozzolengo,
which he describes as having been occupied
by his right wing, is about six miles to the
southwest of Peschiera Solferino, which
played so important part in the battle, is
little village about six miles southwest of
PozZelengo, and situated at the foot of the
uplands, and just at the point where they
descend into the plaiu.
Away to the left. across the plain. another
six miles distant, is that Castle Goffredo,
which we are told was occupied by the Aus
trian left wing. Here we have the line of
battle. These places are nearly eqni-cistant,
and form a straight front in south-westerly
a frnF ha LAX
the line is as nearly as possible of the length
which the French Emperor mentioned in his
message to the Empress. Its right extends
over the highlands from Pozzolengno to Sol
ferino; its left passes along the plain from
Solferino to Castle Goffredo. Solferino is
the center aud the key of the position. Gel
dezZolo and Carriana are villages that afford
the second line of stations, and Volta is
town about four miles in rear of the second
line of posts, and within short distance Of
the western bank OF the Mincio. We have
thus the Austrian order OF battle and distri-
button OF force perfectly Indicated. What
the French positions may have been, We can
only conjecture. They probably formed
line which would have Castiglione for its GEN.
ter. AS the Austrians say their left wing adj
vanced beyond Castle Goffredo, and nearly
reached the banks of the Chese. it is proba-
BILE the allied forces were principally concen-
trdttu IN tue nlSut< ulsiEiCt, WHICH appIOsIbts
the shore of the Garda Lake.
The Austrian iine seems TO have advanced
in crescent form, pushing forward its wings
from Pozzoiengno and Castle Goifredo with
great energy and some success, and attempt
ing to force forward their ceatre along tue
slopes OF the Naplando towards the Castig-
lione. Here, however, they were met aud
defeated. Selferino. beroicaliy defended, was
at last carried by the French troops Tue
Austrians had extended their line too far even
for their immense force. Having lost the key
to their whole position. the Austrian centre
must have keen forced back 10 the village of
Carianna four miles in the rear. They must
again have becn disiodged by the pursuing
French aud Sardinians. aud again must have
reiterated apon Volta. six miles still farther
In the rear. Volta is, we believe, an open
town. and the Austrian crntre which now
occupied IL was ten miles in rear OF the posi-
iioa Il bad held In the morning. The French
were following up their success and preparing
for an attack on Volta with their main body.
Ii this should succeed the Austrian army
must be cut in two and routed. The Austrian
Emperor therefore called la his wings now 80
greaaiy ia advance Of the centre, and drew CO
bis entire army, not however relrrafing tar,
bat as would appear, reiiF.ng only 10 the
bank of the Mincia, which after Volta had
becosns his ceatral positions was closer in bis