The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-07-14

previous steamer, indicates 10 the following
extracts the scene Of the hostile operations
From Peschiers 10 Msntua the course
Of the M ipcio is about six leagues ~ the
crow flies 10 that limited space the pas
ssge must be forced. To attempt this op'
GRAFTON there are certain points naturally
indicated by their position. 10 fact, the
principal condition 70 secure the deoouehs
Of any bridge thrown over Is to drive away
the enemy from the opposite bank. 1t is
not difficult to imagine that il spot is
found in the course Of the river where, on
the one hand, the stream forms an angle
towards the attacking party, and, on the
other, the ground is high enough TO com.
maDd the bi nix occupied by the enemy, il
would be great advantage to attempt the
passage at such point, because q plunging
fire could then be concentrated on the enc
my placed IN the middle OF &micircle Of
batteries. Now, the course Of the Mincio
presents to an army wishing to force Ito
passage, from the Milan side, only two
points combining these advantsges--st Mo.
zambano and Volta. On these two points,
the stream makes an elbow, pointing 10 the
West. and the ground on the right bank Is
considerably higher than on the other.
| These two points were therefore chosen in
tho wars OF the Revolution. in 1896 and
1900, and also in the campaign OF ls4s, to
force the passage Of the Mincio Moreover,
the possession Of two fortresses like Pes
chicra and Mantua on 30 short line rem.
ders the defence easier, tor the enemy have
their wings perfectly supported, and can de
bouch unexpectedly from either Of those
iortresses. However, history teaches US
that for oil army we'll commanded. the pas.
sage OF the Mncio Ia almost u certainty.
The Austrians could not prevent Bonaparte
IRON crossing il in 1896; nor Bruno in
1900, Notwithstanding the sapguinary battle
fought by Beliegardo nor the Piedmoutese
army 10 l646, which forced the river on
three points at Goeta. Mozambano, aud
Borghetto. The passage once effected. the
conqueors are in the centre Of the guadri-
lateral, aud OF the places which form its
four Peschiera, Mantua, I.egnago,
aud Verona and being 40 will have most
probably to fight pitched battle 10 force
the ntemy back.
The Brussels No,d Of June 81, refers to
the expected battle:
We are on the eve OF great events. The
two armies are face 10 face. Al the corps
Of the Austrian army are concentrating up
on the line Of the Mincio. The provinces OF
the empire have been deuuded Of troops, and
the last columns IRE arriving by forced
marches upon the scene Of the contest. The
Austrian army has chosen It's position IL
occupies n line on the other side OF the
Chiese, the centre Of which rests upon tn !;
heights OF Castgliope, before Peschiera
the right wing extends to Tomato the left
10 Castel GotIredo. On the 18th the En-
pcror Francis Joseph reviewed the two corps
da,mee encamped at Tomato.
The allied armies followed the enemy step
by step, combining their movements. 1t i
possible that the pivot OF their position viii
be- the bourg Of Monte Chiaro, evacuated
prcipitately by the Austrian rear guard.
A French corps is advancing by forced
marches in the Nalteline, where the Aus
trians made feint Of descending from Bor-
mic TO threaten tho rear Of the allied armies.
The ground chosen by the Austrians foe
accepting battle, has been well studied by
their generals these positions served habit
ualIy for the grand manTuves OF the au-
tumn. The latter TACT is not ignored at the
ut the French bead quarters, and precautions
have been taken accordingly.
The game. then. will be played with
equal chances--a terrible game without
precedent in the military history OF modern
times.
| from tie L,erpcol Mercury Of June n
On Saturday last the Emperor o! Aus
| tria reviewed the 9TH and sth corps Of his
army at the camp of Tomato On this oc.
cason las Vienna telegraphic dispatch
! informs usl he was most enthusiastically
ehccred by the soldiers, the confidence Of
the troops having reached the highest
point" An this confidence they viii re
| qurc TO carry them through the terrible
struggle which lies before them, for they
are about to fight tif they have no, already
fought u great and perhaps decisive battle
with the Freuch. uude. the command OF
| Napoleon III. on the very ground on which
the Austrian army was 50 signally defeated
by the French under Napoleon Then
| htntrai bchapaIU-n Tue campaign VI
1896. II was at Tomato that General Bo-
napar,e defeated the Austrian army under
Marshal Wurmser. on the 81 OF August
1896 and u, the neighborng position Of
Caaiglione that he gained a still more de-
esive victory over the same army two days
later. Amer lapse OF six,y-,hre years
the French and Austr,ans again iaect on
the same ground. again TO hgh, for the do
minon Of Italy,
The position Of the Austrian army on
Saturday last according to Austrian and
Sandman aeeoup,-l extended from Tomato
on the southern bank OF the Lake OF Garlla
TO Cas,iglicne. ard further south TO Cas,l,
Gctlrcio. This is the front OF a range d
hills or rather the edge Of an upland plai !,
which separates the valley OF the Chies,
from the Lake OF Garda and the river Min.
clio, The high ground runs in southeast
erly direction from Castieliouc to Volta
near the river Mincio. The heights o
| castiyhone form the cSntrul anil IN, strong