Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-07-19
MISCELLAN Y.
From tie " 7. Times 0wa Corre,pOndeHt.
From the Battlefield of SOlferinO.
CAsTIGLIoNE, Italy, Friday night,I


From the Battlefield of SOlferjnO.
CAsTIGLIoNE, Italy, Friday night,l
June Oath, 1885
l came from Brescia early this morning, and
arrived Just in time to witness the last of what |
have very little doubt will turn out to have been
the greatest battle the modern world has seen.-
You will get the official summary OF its results
by telegraph before this letter reaches you, and
will be prepared, therefore, for this statement OF
its magnitude. caunot describe 1t with any
precision as yet, for it has lasted all day, and ex-
tended over circuit of not less than fifteen
miles; the noise aud canuonade, and even of the
musketry, is still in my ears, and none of those
engaged in it, except the wounded, have return
ed to give us any distinct and connected report.
But not less then 450, 900 men have been engag-
ed in it; and of these not less than 30000--dead
or disabled-lie, on this bright, starry night up
on the bloody field.
The battle commenced at little before o.
cluck i'm the mornlng-nUt tar from SUNRISE
Just back of CasIiglione rises high range OF
hills-which project a mile, or thereabouts, into
the plain aud then break off towards the lett
into wide expanSe of smaller hills, aud so into
the rolling suttace which makes that portion OF
the PLAIN. The Austriaus had taken position
upon these hills-plantlng cannon on those near
est to Castiglione which they could approach, as
the French army was in full force in and around
,hst little village-snd had stationed their i'm
mense army all over the surrounding plain. As
nearly as we can now learn the Emperor Fran
els Joseph bad collected here not less than 225,-
600 troops, and commanded them in person.
HIS evident purpose was To make a stand here
aud risk the fortunes OF the war on the hazards
ot the day Napoleon promptly accepted the
challenge and commenced the attack Just as
soon as it was light this morning, by placing
cannon upon the hills still nearer Castiglione
than those held by the Austrians, and opening
fire upon them on the heights beyond. He took
his own stand upon the highest of these-a steep
sharp backed ridge, which commands magnIt
cent view of the entire circuit OF the plain, and
from that point directed the entire movements OF
the army during the early portion of the day.
The French very soon drove the enemy out of
the posts they held nearest the town, and fol.
lowed them iGto the small villages of the plain
below. The first OF these was Soiferino, where
hey had Il sharp and protracted engagement.-
The AuStrians disputed every inch of The ground
aud fought here as they dad throughout the day,
with the utmost desperation. They were three
times driven out OF the town before they would
stay out. The people OF the village, moreover,
LOOK part against tne rfeucn, upon WnOm lhey
ired trom their windows and the French were
compelled in self defence to burn the town.
When they found it impossible to hold their
ground any longer they fell back, slowly and
steadily, until they reached the village of Volta,
which, as you will see by the map, lies directly
southeast fIom Castiglione, and is only about a
mile from tue river Minoio, from which, howev-
er, it is separated by range. of hills.
Upon these hills, in the rear of the town, and
overlooking it completely on the south and
southeast sides the Austrians had planted very
formidable batteries and when | arrived upon
the field and went at once TO the height where
the Emperor had stood at the opening of the en-
cagement, but which he had lett an hour before
70 follow his victorious troops, these batteries
were blazing away upon the French who were
stationed on the plain below. L was too lar OF
to observe with any socu aoy the successive steps
of the action, but could distinctly see the troops
stationed upon the broad plain aud moving In
masses toward the front, where the artillery
was posted, as their services were required. But
as SOON Us they reached this point they were
speedily enveloped in the smoke of the cannon,
and disappeared from observation. But the gen.
eral result was soor made evident by the slack
ening Of the Austrian fire, and by the falling
back of their smoke aud a corresponding ad.
vance on the part of thai which rose from the
French artillery. The cannonsding at that
point lasted tor over an hour, but in precisely
what direction the Austrians retreated, it was