The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-06-09
An American ns Aiss.andrta aud Turtn-
Interesting Description.

A correspondent OF the Philadelphia Press
writes from Turin by one Of the last steam.
ers, as follows:
reached Turin lew days ago, having
stopped en- route at Alessandria, the famous
stronghold OF Piedmont. 1t is in truth very
strongly fortified, bot being situated 10 the
midst OF a vast plain il does not impress you
with the least idea OF impregnabiity. There
has been most lncessant activity here for
twelve months past, in repairing. strength
ening, and throwing up new earthen breast
works around the town. The various roads
leading into the city have been thrown out
Of their straight lines. 30 that they are com.
manded from different points. and cross the
great fosse 10y temporary bridges, which can
be cut down in few inutes.
The city is entirely lost behind the forti.
tcations, which range with the surrounding
plain, 10 which an artificial slope has been
given, so that were it not for lew steepes
peepng up. at little distance, one would
scarcely be able to say where the town was
When ! was there some thirteen churches
had been converted into barracks, and il
was said that all but one or two would
very shortly be similarly appropriated. |
learn from II Protestant soldier, whose &c.
qualntance made, and who belonged to the
citadel, that they were taking in provision
Tor ten years siege! There is small place
here which was being but in order for the
royal family. Turin, not being fortified, the
King resides here during the time of war.
The plains Of Acssapdria are exceedingly
Hat and insalubrious, and its deadly miasma
will, no don t, make sad havoc among the
soldiers this summer brcakfasted on the
famous plains Of Marengo, only a few hours
from Alessandria. and us the country all
abou, here is particularly favorable for a
pitched battle, it is not at all unlikely that
the coming struggle will concentrate here
A. looked through the iron grating OF a
little msusoleum into which the bones Of
friend aud Toe have been indlscriminately
gathered, eoud not help thinking bow very
soon perhaps the dcath-wail of living thou
sands would again I've heard in that very
spot, and the Fontano agan flow with
blood, now coursiny through stout, proud
and careless hearts
The railways in Piedmont are excellent
The tunnels are frequent. and Of grea, length,
and 10 coming To Alessandria, one of them
particularly tried my nerves. We had u
train OF some fifty carriages, most of which
were filled with soldiers, 80 that We did not
get along very fast, and in coming through
the tunnel the gas and fumes from the en-.
CINE were almos, suffocatiug. You find the
usual first second. and third class of car
riages, but none of them constructed like
ours They are in compartments of six,
eight and ten persons, sitting face 70 face
You have only 10 take the first or third class
10 be considered a prince or pauper, while
the second class is supposed 10 be made up
OF the frs, medium.
Turin is beautifully situated a, the con
fluence OF the Po and Dora. in a rich plain
stretching TO the Alps, beautiful glimpses of
whish are caught from the long vistas Of It's
regular and well built streets. II vas raiu.
log the day arrived, and ioggy pail en-
shrouded everything in gloom but the mex,
day the sun revealed the snow-covered peaks
of the mountains rising in grandeur around
the town, and looking as though an army Of
giants bad bsea pitching their white tents
around Us during the night. This was al.
most the first snow OF any consequence
which bad tAlien this winter, and up 10 this
period the weather had been extraordinary
mild